Gazette Daily News Podcast: Monday, Feb. 19, 2024

–'They Never Gave Up on Her“

– Flawed FAFSA rollout impacting students, schools, campuses across Iowa

– Theatre Cedar Rapids transitions into next century

Episode Transcript

Welcome to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast for Monday, February 19, 2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from the Gazette newsroom. I’m Becky Lutgen Gardner.

Up first, many families and educators — are worried about the impact two bills progressing through the Iowa Legislature could have on the way area education agencies serve students with special needs.

Both proposals — one in the House and one in the Senate are based on the urgings of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who argues Iowa’s AEAs have become too bloated and too ineffective in raising the academic performance of students with disabilities. She also says the state is spending more than other states do in serving them.

Gwendolyn Clouse is a 5-year-old with a rare genetic disorder. She relies on crucial services provided by Iowa’s AEAs for communication, mobility, and overall well-being. However, the proposed bills threaten to cut funding and change the way AEAs operate. That raises concerns about access to these vital services for Gwendolyn and countless other children with special needs.

Gwendolyn's family credits AEA therapists with giving her a chance to communicate, learn, and participate in life despite her challenges. The proposed changes could limit access to essential equipment, expertise, and support.

Gwendolyn’s mother, Natalie Clouse says the AEA, "Never treated her like she was a lost cause... They never gave up on her."

Next up, the FAFSA application process is plagued by delays and errors which is causing anxiety and uncertainty for students, counselors and colleges across Iowa. FAFSA is crucial for many students seeking financial aid for college.

The key problems include the fact that the new FAFSA platform was released months late which hindered early applications. Once launched, students encountered glitches and problems with the new platform. And colleges haven't received student aid data, delaying their ability to offer financial aid packages to prospective students.

The consequences include fewer applications being submitted. Iowa universities and colleges report the number of submitted FAFSAs is down significantly compared to last year. Seniors also report being stressed out about deadlines and being able to afford college.

Financial aid offices report being overloaded with managing new rules and truncated processing times.

Katie Anderson, college and career counselor for Solon High School says, " Low-income and first-generation students are really impacted. Especially when they are relying on financial help and are trying to make their final college decision based on what financial support they may be getting from different institutions.”

Finally, Theatre Cedar Rapids is transitioning into the next century. Changes are beginning for the nonprofit community theatre which was founded by Grand Wood and his friends in 1925.

Grant Wood gathered his friends to perform a play in his studio in 1925. That event is considered the beginning of TCR. The theatre has grown over the years, from a small group of volunteers to a large organization with a $3.5 million budget.

But TCR does face challenges including the need to expand its facilities and keep up with the changing business model for nonprofit community theaters.

Despite those challenges, TCR executive director Katie Hallman says she is confident in the future of the theater. She says that her job is to be a steward of the theater's long history and to do her best to ensure its future.

Our weather for today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Mostly sunny with a high near 49. Tonight, partly cloudy with a low around 30. Tuesday will have sunny skies and a high near 50.

You can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in this episode’s description or at the gazette dot com.

A new season of Pints and Politics is under way, featuring Gazette reporters, columnists and partner Iowa Public Radio. Buy your ticket now for the next round this Thursday, February 22nd, hosted at Big Grove in downtown Cedar Rapids. Go to thegazette dot com slash pints.

Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. I’m Becky Lutgen Gardner.