Gazette Daily News Podcast: Tuesday, January 23, 2024

– Burglaries under investigation at scene of fatal C.R. apartment fire

– Iowa educators: Study area education agencies before making changes

– Gov. Reynolds: Iowa does not need all 9 of its area education agencies

– Longest-serving Iowa State Provost Jonathan Wickert stepping down

– Nominate a student for Excellence in the Arts!

Episode Transcript

You are listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Tuesday, January 23. This podcast gives quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Nine burglary incidents are under investigation at the scene of a fatal apartment fire in Cedar Rapids. On December 5, the South Chalet apartment building at 210 19th St. NE caught fire. That fire killed 71-year-old Wasfia Elshannaway. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental though the fire investigation is ongoing according to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. Friday, former tenants were able to go back into the building for the first time since the fire. Then, tenants discovered their possessions had been rooted through and items were stolen. As of Monday, nine third-degree burglaries have been reported at the property since Friday. Former tenant Anna Peterson said a gaming system, a kitchen knife, a bathroom scale, a box of cables and some microphones were stolen from her apartment. But other high-value items, like a computer tower and some monitors, were left behind. The nine burglaries are under investigation.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said Friday she does not believe all nine of Iowa’s area education agencies are necessary. Area education agencies or AEAs provide support and expertise to schools, like special education services. In a Friday letter to Iowans, Reynolds wrote, quote, “Over the years, AEAs have expanded well beyond the scope of special education, providing a wide array of other offerings for teachers, schools and districts. These range from athletic coaching certification, cybersecurity and classroom book sets, to providing graphic design and printing. In fact, only about one-third of the services AEAs list today are focused on supporting children with disabilities.” end quote. Reynolds has proposed overhauling the 50-year-old system to improve special education services and outcomes for students with disabilities. Here’s how she aims to do it.

Reynolds wants to change AEA’s funding structure. She says Iowa is the only state where state and federal money goes to AEAs to fund provided services. Instead, Reynolds proposes sending money directly to K-12 public school districts, which would determine whether to use the money for AEA services or find similar services from a different AEA or a private company. Currently, AEAs are overseen by locally appointed boards. Reynolds wants AEAs overseen by the Iowa Department of Education. While Reynolds has proposed overhauling Iowa AEAs, the governor insists she isn’t calling for their closures.

Now, educators across the state are asking for a yearlong comprehensive study of AEAs before changes are made. According to reporting from The Gazette’s Grace King, Drake University School of Education Dean and former Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise said he appreciate the bill’s intent to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of AEAs. Wise said he would like to see a comprehensive review of the system before making rapid changes.In his five years as director of the education department, Wise said AEAs were critical to improving early literacy and providing mental health resources, career and technical education and computer science. Wise said quote, “We could not have done the work we’ve done as a state without the support of AEAs”.

If you’re looking for more information on this story, there are two stories linked in this episode description. One gives a closer look at what AEAs do and another is a closer look at Governor Reynolds’ proposal.

Iowa State University is launching a search for a new provost after Senior Vice President Jonathan Wickert announced he is stepping down this summer. Wickert is among the longest-serving provosts in the nation. He will join the ISU faculty as a mechanical engineering professor June 30. In a statement on his resignation, Wickert said quote “12 years in this role is a long time.” end quote. Wickert first joined the ISU faculty in 2007 as chair of the mechanical engineering department. He served as Iowa State’s College of Engineering dean from 2009 to 2012 before starting as provost in July 2012 following a national search. ISU administrators said the search for Wickert’s successor will follow, quote, “a timeline and process similar to the university’s provost search in 2012” end quote when Wickert replaced former ISU Provost Elizabeth Hoffman.

Do you know a high school student who is an outstanding artist, musician or performer? Nominate them for The Gazette’s Excellence in the Arts event. Excellence in the Arts is a night dedicated to celebrating the achievements of students in the visual, digital and performing arts. The event will take place Sunday, March 24. The deadline to nominate students has been extended to January 24. Submit nominations at arts dot the gazette dot com. Find the link in this episode’s description.

Finally, let’s take a look at today’s weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Today will reach a high of 33 degrees and a low of 31 degrees. Today it will snow. Expect about one to three inches of snow accumulation. Wednesday is expected to reach a high of 36 degrees and low of 33 degrees. Expect rain.

Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. Stay up to date with the latest news from Eastern Iowa at the gazette dot com. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com