An ongoing discussion about a proposal from Governor Kim Reynolds has been getting a lot of attention in the early stage of the legislative session.

Since Governor Reynolds delivered her Condition of the State Address, she is looking to make some changes to the nine regional Area Education Agencies (AEA) and their services with public schools. Greene County School District Superintendent Brett Abbotts says some of the updates that he has seen is that school districts would have control over the funding for AEAs and not just being used as a “pass-through,” the AEAs having sole responsibility to provide services for special education students, along with direct oversight from the Iowa Department of Education. 

House District 47 Representative Carter Nordman tells Raccoon Valley Radio having better oversight is one of the main issues he believes needs to be addressed with the AEAs.

“We have a large system, about $500 million a year, that essentially has no oversight. They not only provide the services, but provide their own oversight. So. there’s a lot of questions and a lot of concerns with how the AEAs are operating. I don’t think any government entity should be exempt from some kind of review or reform.”   

Abbotts believes some of the cuts that are being talked about are eliminating the media services that the AEAs provide, including online teacher training programs, media specialists and librarians in schools, and delivery services, and cutting the School Improvement Facilitator, which Abbotts explains Greene County Schools currently use.

“Who has been truly phenomenal in helping us set up our Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) at all three buildings. They have been a tremendous driver for us. That, unfortunately could be a portion that would go away, which has been instrumental in our school district, and I know that would be echoed by a neighboring school district as well.”

Abbotts adds the other services the district uses from the AEA are occupational and physical therapists, speech, audiology, and behavior services; and supports for students with autism. Nordman says this bill is heavily being looked at and will not be taken lightly during this year’s session.