Gazette Daily News Podcast: Monday, Mar. 11, 2024

– Private schools wonder how they’ll be affected by proposed AEA bills

– Gov. Reynolds proposes fix to Iowa’s splintered mental health system. Will it help?

– Government Notes: Cedar Rapids community garden plot rental opening Tuesday

Episode Transcript

Welcome to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast for Monday, March 11, 2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from the Gazette newsroom. I’m Becky Lutgen Gardner.

First, private school students would still receive special education services under proposed AEA bills in the state legislature, but private school educators are worried about funding.

Under the proposed legislation, public school districts would receive an allocation for education services provided by AEAs, but that leaves out private schools.

It is unclear how special education services for Iowa students in private schools would be funded if lawmakers approve proposed legislation to reorganize the funding and oversight of Area Education Agencies.

Private school educators also worry how the proposed bills would affect their ability to pay for media and other education services that are crucial to teaching students and are currently provided by AEAs.

According to a letter posted to the Iowa Association of Christian Schools’ website earlier this month, Quote: “It looks like the bill allows non-public schools to participate in every program we currently participate in, but it does not clearly state how the dollars will flow through public districts to the AEA to provide those services.”

Last month, House Republicans proposed their own bill after they blocked a more expansive and dramatic proposal from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. Her proposal would have allowed school districts to spend their special education dollars outside the AEAs.

The House bill keeps Iowa’s AEAs as the state's sole provider of special education support.

State funding for special education services would go to the school districts, and they would be required to use that funding with the AEAs.

Public school districts would receive an allocation for media services and other education services provided currently to the AEAs.

The districts would be able to choose whether to use that money with the AEAs or with another party once the bill is fully phased in for the 2026-27 school year.

The Senate AEA bill has moved out of committee but has not reached a floor vote.

It differs significantly from the House proposal and would allow schools to seek special education services outside the AEAs. The chambers will need to agree on a single bill to send it to Reynolds to be signed into law.

This still leaves non-public school officials wondering where they fit into the media and other education services allocation.

Up next, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is also proposing to streamline Iowa's treatment networks for mental health and substance use issues.

Currently, the treatment networks are made up of 32 regions — 13 for mental health and 19 for substance use issues.

Reynolds’ proposal calls for seven unified Behavioral Health Districts. That setup is meant to answer advocates' calls to treat these issues under combined funding streams.

But even with those proposed changes, advocates say the state still must address fundamental issues like low Medicaid reimbursement rates that hinder access to services.

Finally, residents can begin leasing garden plots at Cedar Rapids parks starting Tuesday, March 11th.

Garden space can be leased at the Northwest Recreation Center at 1340 11th St. NW. Rentals open at 8 a.m. Tuesday and continue weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Garden plots have been added to Lincolnway Park as part of the city’s plan to expand community gardens and achieve its Community Climate Action Plan goals. The goal is to ensure residents have affordable and accessible options for growing food.

Two of the eight new garden sites selected from city parks are now open—Sinclair and Lincolnway. Future garden spaces are planned at Cherry Hill and Tokheim parks in the northwest quadrant, Noelridge and Twin Pines in the northeast quadrant, Huston Park in the southeast quadrant, and Reed and the new westside library park in the southwest quadrant.

Parks and Recreation Director Hashim Taylor said in a statement, “We are excited to offer more gardening opportunities in our parks this year; Garden plots have become increasingly popular and sell out quickly. We look forward to providing even more in future years.”

Renters can only use plots between the spring and fall growing seasons. Products may be grown for personal use, and the sale of produce is allowed with “public markets,”.

Monday’s weather will be Sunny, with a high near 71. Monday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 46. Tuesday will be partly sunny, with a high near 71.

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.

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