Don’t fast-track AEA changes

I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the proposed cuts to the Area Education Agencies (AEAs) in our community. As a concerned parent and former school administrator who has personally witnessed the invaluable support and services provided by the AEAs, I believe it is crucial to shed light on the adverse consequences that may arise if these cuts are implemented.

My daughter, Michelle, was born in Waterloo and faced numerous challenges right from birth, including club feet, developmental issues, and significant cognitive challenges. It is only because of the proactive and immediate assistance provided by the AEA that Michelle received the necessary support to thrive and grow until she aged out of the agency’s services at 22 years old.

We experienced the need to relocate frequently due to our careers in the education sector. Despite moving to different areas in the state, each AEA we encountered seamlessly picked up where the previous one left off, ensuring that Michelle's services and support remained of consistent quality. From Waterloo (Central Rivers AEA), to Danville (Great Prairie AEA), Harris Lake Park (Prairie Lakes AEA), Cherokee (Northwest AEA), and finally to College Community School District (Grant Wood AEA). At each location, the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) supported by the AEAs were instrumental in Michelle's development, particularly in terms of gaining social skills and receiving speech therapy. The services provided by the AEAs were not just exceptional but also interconnected, catering to the diverse and specific needs of my child.

My grave concern with a proposal to change AEA services lies in the practicality and feasibility of attempting to line up all the services currently provided by the AEAs. It is unrealistic to expect parents to shoulder the responsibility of identifying and coordinating these services, which the AEAs consistently and automatically offer. Moreover, this would not only prove to be a cumbersome task for working parents but also run the risk of lacking the seamlessness and cohesion that the AEAs currently provide. The current structure not only supports children like my daughter, who received special education services, but also Michelle’s general education peers who also benefited from resources, interventions and guidance provided by AEA staff.

I urge the legislators to reconsider the proposed changes to the AEAs. These agencies play a fundamental role in providing support that is essential for the growth and development of all children including those with special needs. Reducing the scope of services provided by the AEAs would be detrimental to the well-being and future prospects of countless children and their families.

Our children's education and well-being should remain a top priority, and fast-tracking changes to a system as fundamental as the AEAs is shortsighted and would fail an entire generation of children.

Mick Starcevich worked for six years as a teacher, four years as an assistant principal, two years as a principal, 23 years as a superintendent and 14 years as president of Kirkwood Comunity College.