Reynolds’ questionable calls add up

What would you call someone who turns down money for poor kids to eat lunch during the summer, takes money away from public schools and gives it to private schools, tries to weaken Area Education Agencies providing a service to kids who need help, and has loosened laws for kids to work more hours at 14 years old? Governor!

I wish I was making this up, but our governor is not kid friendly, at least not poor kid friendly. The Biden summer lunch program will serve 21 million kids who will be missing out on nutritious school lunches. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is a big proponent of the program. Only 35 states are participating with Iowa opting out.

Gov. Kim Reynolds thinks by making an EBT card available, Iowans can’t be trusted to make healthy food choices for their kids. While the state summer lunch program is a good program, it is more awkward to use by having to go to a designated site to get the food. Transportation could be a problem. Low-income families may not have a way to get to a designated location during the day. The summer EBT system is more convenient by preloading the card and shopping when it is more convenient or there is transportation available.

The changes proposed to AEAs have resulted in a lot of backlash the governor apparently didn’t expect. Those opposed to the proposal have been so vocal the governor is backing off and doing what she should have done in the first place, listening to those who would be most affected. Taking decision making away from the local school district and turning it over to the Department of Education makes no sense when you consider who knows the needs of the district the best. They know what the local schools need and what has been successful in the past.

That isn’t to say there is no room for improvement, but by making such sweeping changes before the public and the school administrators voice their opinion isn’t fair to the kids. They could be caught off guard in the new year and kids with special needs are the ones that will suffer. Of course, the AEAs do much more than work with special needs kids, they also provide teachers and administrators with unique training not to mention the other end of the scale for talented and gifted students.

Now Iowa taxpayers are on the hook for the third time in Texas. Reynolds is bending the rules by sending Iowa National Guard troops and Department of Public Safety personnel to the border to support Gov. Greg Abbott. The Senate has a bill that would support more troops at the border, she would better advised to talk to our two Republican senators about passing that legislation. Iowans shouldn’t have to foot the bill when there is federal money available if Congress would pass the bipartisan border bill.

Our governor may not identify with those of us with middle and lower incomes. With her popularity flagging, she has two years to prove she is working for all Iowans. Let’s hope she becomes a governor who works to make life better for all Iowans.

John Lehnst lives in Williamsburg.