Coming up on CLOSE UP THE FUNDING FIGHT OVER IOWA’S AREA. EDUCATION AGENCIES CONTINUES AS HOUSE AND SENATE LAWMAKERS ADVANCE DUELING PLANS. THE PITCH FROM STATE REPUBLICANS AND CONCERNS FROM A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND A NEW IMMIGRATION BILL ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. WHY? SOME SAY IOWA HAS TO ACT, WHILE OTHERS SAY IT’S OVERSTEP. PLUS, GUNS IN IOWA CLASSROOMS. THE PROPOSAL THAT COULD HELP SCHOOLS ARM STAFF AND WHY ADVOCATES ARE SPLIT OVER WHETHER IT WILL HELP OR HARM KIDS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS IS KCCI EIGHT NEWS. CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO TO I’M KCCI CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER. IOWA LAWMAKERS SPENT HOURS IN FIERY DEBATE LAST WEEK FIGHTING OVER FUNDING CHANGES TO THE STATE’S NINE AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES, OR AAS. THE AGENCIES OVERSEES SERVICES TO ALL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND PROVIDE GENERAL EDUCATION RESOURCES TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. THE DEBATE COMES AFTER MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS, AND MOUNTING CRITICISM FROM PARENTS, STUDENTS AND OTHER EDUCATION EXPERTS. THE SENATE AMENDED THE HOUSE’S PLAN LAST MONDAY, CHANGING THE BILL TO GIVE SCHOOLS THE MAJORITY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. INSTEAD OF EA’S. STARTING IN 2025 AND SENDING THAT PLAN BACK TO THE HOUSE. BUT ON THURSDAY, THE HOUSE CHANGED THE BILL AGAIN, PASSED A PROPOSAL AND SENDING IT BACK TO THE SENATE. THAT HOUSE PLAN ALSO SENDS SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING TO SCHOOLS TO GIVE 90% OF THE FUNDING TO EA’S. SCHOOLS CAN CHOOSE HOW TO SPEND THE OTHER 10%. THAT BILL ALSO GIVES SCHOOLS FULL CONTROL OVER GENERAL ED AND MEDIA SERVICES. STARTING IN 2025, AND IT GIVES THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SIGNIFICANT OVERSIGHT AND AUTHORITY OVER EA’S INSTEAD OF LOCAL BOARDS. THE HOUSE ALSO ADDED OTHER EDUCATION PROPOSALS TO THEIR BILL. UNDER THEIR PLAN, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD GET 2.5% MORE FUNDING FOR EACH STUDENT NEXT YEAR. IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE PAY FOR STARTING TEACHERS TO $47,500. TEACHERS WITH 1212 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WOULD GET 60,000. THOSE SALARY INCREASES GO UP IN 2025 TO 50,000 FOR STARTING TEACHERS, AND $62,000 FOR THOSE WITH 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. THEIR BILL ALSO INCLUDES PAY RAISES FOR EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF LIKE PARAEDUCATOR, WHO WORK WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CLASSROOM. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SHARE PERSONAL STORIES ON THE HOUSE DEBATE FLOOR DEFENDING THEIR PROPOSAL. WE ARE NOT DISMANG OUTLING THE AA SYSTEM, AND THAT’S, AS YOU KNOW, THAT’S COMING FROM A PARENT OF TWO KIDS WITH DISABILITIES. THERE’S NO MONEY GOING AWAY FROM THAT SYSTEM. WE’RE JUST ADJUSTING HOW IT FLOWS. I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT AAS ARE NOT FAILING STUDENTS. THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE EAS ARE NOT FAILING THE STUDENTS. A PIECE OF THIS BILL THAT OR THIS AMENDMENT. THAT THAT, UH, I FOUGHT FOR REPRESENTATIVE HOLT FOUGHT FOR. REPRESENTATIVE WHEELER FOUGHT FOR. WAS A PAIR OF PAY OR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT COMPONENT. WHILE AA PERSONNEL ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE PARA EDUCATORS, ARE THERE EVERY DAY BESIDE MY KIDS. AND THEY’RE UNDERPAID. THEY CAN GO DOWN TO CASES AND MAKE MORE, OR THEY CAN GO TO WALMART AND MAKE MORE. THEY HAVE TO HAVE. A LOT OF TIMES KIDS IN SCHOOL THAT THEY’RE SAVING ON DAY CARE TO TO TO BE A PARA. HAVING HIGH QUALITY INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE POSITIONS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE TO GET THOSE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF THAT WILL HELP TEACHER RECRUITMENT. PARAEDUCATOR RECRUITMENT. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING WITHIN THE AA SYSTEM, AND IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THERE DELIVERY. IT’S GOING TO BE OVERSIGHT. MAYBE SOME ADMINISTRATION THINGS, BUT IT’S GOING TO MAKE THE WHOLE SYSTEM BETTER. WE HEAR ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL ALL THE TIME. THIS BILL GIVES ESSENTIALLY LOCAL CONTROL TO OUR SCHOOLS, GIVES THEM A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OF THE MONEY. THEY KNOW THEIR STUDENT POPULATION, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE BETTER THAN ANYBODY. YOU GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OF THEIR MONEY. YET I HEAR ON THE OPPOSITE END THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW GOING TO RESULT IN MASSIVE LOSSES AND ALL THIS. DO WE TRUST THE SCHOOLS OR DO WE NOT TRUST THE SCHOOLS? DO WE TRUST OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, OR DO WE NOT TRUST OUR SUPERINTENDENTS? THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY SEE FIT. HERE’S AN EMAIL FROM A SUPERINTENDENT THAT I THINK IS QUITE FRANKLY, FAIR AND IMPORTANT. EA’S PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS, BUT THERE IS GROWING CONSENSUS THAT THE EXISTING MODEL MAY NOT BE THE MOST EFFICIENT OR COST EFFECTIVE. BY EMPOWERING INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS TO ACCESS AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES DIRECTLY, WE CAN ENHANCE FLEXIBILITY, TAILOR SERVICES TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS, AND STREAMLINE THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. I PROPOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE THE AD AND MEDIA SERVICE DOLLARS FOR THE 2024. THE 2025 SCHOOL YEAR ALLOW DISTRICTS TO PURCHASE SERVICES EITHER FROM THE EAS OR OTHER PROVIDERS, PUSH SPECIAL ED FUNDS THROUGH TO THE EAS FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND HE WANTED TO CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE DIDN’T GO THAT FAR WITH IT. THE TOP TWO TIERS OF THE AA LEADERSHIP PAY STRUCTURE MUST BE CAPPED AND RESTRUCTURED, PUTTING THE EXCESS DOLLARS BACK TO STUDENTS. THAT’S HIS TAKE. HE’S BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. YES, I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT. THIS IS GOING TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. YES, I BELIEVE THIS IS LOCAL CONTROL. YES, I BELIEVE THIS PROVIDES CERTAINTY FOR THE EAS. AND YES, I BELIEVE IT PROVIDES CERTAINTY FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. BUT SOME SCHOOL SUPERINTENDE DENTS SAY DIVVYING UP FUNDING TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF KEEPING IT ALL WITH THE EAS, COULD DISRUPT SERVICES TO THEIR STUDENTS AND INCREASE THE WORKLOAD FOR THEIR SCHOOLS. I SPOKE WITH SUPERINTENDENT MARK LANE FROM WOODWARD GRANGER SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT HOW THE PROPOSAL WOULD IMPACT HIS COMMUNITY IF IT’S SIGNED INTO LAW, WHAT SERVICES DOES THE AEA PROVIDE TO YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT? WE REALLY RELY ON HEARTLAND AEA. WE’RE A PART OF THE HEARTLAND AA SYSTEM. WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE AA SYSTEM TO PROVIDE OBVIOUSLY SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR TEACHERS AND WITH OUR PRINCIPALS. UM, WE ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE RELY ON THE AA FOR MEDIA SERVICES, WHETHER THAT’S SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONLINE TOOLS THAT OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN USE OR KIND OF THE TRADITIONAL VAN DELIVERY TYPES OF MATERIALS, LIKE ADDITIONAL BOOK SETS, UM, TEACHING MATERIALS THAT TEACHERS CAN CHECK OUT. SO I KNOW THOSE ARE THOSE ARE SERVICES THAT WE RELY ON. AND THEN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. UM, I WOULD SAY WE TAKE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF THOSE IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY. WE PARTNERED WITH HEARTLAND AEA AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE PROVIDED EVERY EMPLOYEE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A TRAINING CALLED CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, FIRST AID, UM, AND THAT WAS DELIVERED, YOU KNOW, FREE OF CHARGE TO US, UM, JUST AS PART OF OUR SERVICES THROUGH HEARTLAND AEA. SO NOW WALK ME THROUGH YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE AEA PROPOSALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FLOATING THROUGH THE IOWA STATE HOUSE. YOU KNOW, WHAT’S YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THOSE PROPOSALS TO REFORM AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES? YEAH, FRANKLY, THEY SCARE ME. UM, THEY MAKE AN UNPREDICTABLE FUTURE FOR US. UM, YOU KNOW, I THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, I’VE SPOKEN A COUPLE TIMES IN PUBLIC COMMENT. I’VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY WITH FOLKS. UH, I’VE STRONGLY, UM, STATED MY BELIEF IN CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT AND THAT ALL OF US IN EDUCATION VALUE THE CONCEPTS OF CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT. UM, BUT BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT THAT, UH, THESE EFFORTS AREN’T GOING TO LEAD TO CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. UM, SOME OF MY GREATEST FEARS ARE, HONESTLY, THE DIMINISHED POWER OF A DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, UH, AS WE SILO THESE MONIES, UM, THIS IDEA OF TEN PER MY SCHOOL DISTRICT BEING ABLE TO RETAIN 10% OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING, UM, IN MY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT’S A LITTLE BIT OVER $30,000. UM, FRANKLY, I DON’T SEE THAT THAT $30,000 WILL HAVE THE POWER TO DO GOOD WORK AND FUND GOOD, GOOD WORK IN A SILO IN MY DISTRICT. I THINK IT’S MORE POWERFUL. UM, IN HEARTLAND, AEA UH, I DON’T KNOW THAT THE VALUE OF THAT 30 TO $35,000 IS AS POWERFUL WHEN IT’S NOT IN THAT COLLECTIVE POOL THAT CREATES UNIQUE PROGRAMING LIKE, UM, UH, A SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY SERVICES. UM, EDUCATION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THOSE SERVICES ARE UNIQUE. UM, AND CAN BE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT ONLY BE ONE STUDENT IN MY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT NEEDS A PARTICULAR SERVICE. UM, AND I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN $30,000 TO PROVIDE IT. YOU ALSO MENTIONED YOUR CONCERNED ABOUT UNCERTANTY IF THIS PROPOSAL BECOMES LAW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, UNCERTAINTY WHEN YOU’RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE’S CHILDREN IS SCARY, RIGHT? WE SERVE PEOPLE’S MOST BELOVED, UM, THE MOST THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THEIR LIFE. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN OF MY OWN. UM, ONE OF MY CHILDREN RECEIVED EARLY ACCESS SERVICES STARTING AT SIX MONTHS OLD FOR A HEARING IMPAIRMENT. UM, AND AS AN EIGHTH GRADER, HE’S, UH, HE’S IDENTIFIED AS A TALENTED AND GIFTED STUDENT AND BENEFITS FROM HEARTLAND AEA IN THOSE SERVICES AS WELL. AND SO WHEN YOU DEAL WITH UNCERTAINTY WITH PEOPLE’S KIDS, UM, AND YOU CARE ABOUT PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE THAT SCARY, UM, AND SO WHEN YOU FEEL STRONGLY THAT YOU’RE PROVIDING GREAT SERVICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEARTLAND, AEA, UM, AND THERE ISN’T A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT IT’S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN THAT GOES AWAY, RIGHT. UM, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT REPLACEMENT WHAT’S THE REPLACEMENT FOR WHAT WE HAVE NOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS. UM, NOW DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN IOWA. GOOD PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION. ARDON GOOD PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE AA SYSTEM. THEY’RE RETIRING BEFORE THEY REALLY WANTED TO. THEY’RE GOING INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE. CASS. THEY’RE LIKE, THEY’RE JUST DONE. LIKE, THIS WAS TOO STRESSFUL. THIS WAS TOO MUCH. AND THEY’RE JUST DONE. AND SO CAUSE AND EFFECT ARE NEVER CLOSELY RELATED IN TIME, UM, I THINK WE’LL BE PAYING COSTS FOR WHAT HAS OCCURRED THE LAST THREE MONTHS, FOR YEARS TO COME STRAIGHT AHEAD, A BILL PROTECTING SCHOOLS THAT WANTS TO ARM THEIR STAFF, THE ADVOCATES ARGUING THAT BILL IS CRUCIAL TO SAVE LIVES, WHILE OTHERS SAY IT’S TOO RISKY. BUT FIRST, A BILL AUTHORIZING IOWA JUDGES TO DEPORT UNDOCU IMMIGRANTS. WHY THE GOVERNOR VOWS TO SIGN IT INTO LAW, AND WHY SOME WARN IT COULD HURT THE STATE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES IN OUR CONSOL STITUTION WHERE IT SHOWS THAT STATES HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY. STATES HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST AN INVASION. IT’S HEAT MONGERING. IT VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ROUNDED UP AND THEN PUT ON A PLANE AND SENT OUT A STATE. A BILL AUTHORIZING IOWA LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ARREST SOME UNDOCU IMMIGRANTS IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS PASSED THE PROPOSAL, MAKING A LEGAL REENTRY A CRIME IN IOWA, AND ANYONE WHO TRIES TO ENTER THE STATE AFTER THEY’VE ALREADY BEEN DEPORTED OR BARRED FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES COULD BE CHARGED WITH AN AGGRAVATED MISDEMEANOR, AND THE BILL ALSO ALLOWS IOWA JUDGES TO SEND ANY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT CHARGED BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THE PROPOSAL MIRRORS A CONTROVERSIAL TEXAS IMMIGRATION LAW THAT’S CURRENTLY HELD UP IN COURT. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ARGUES THAT ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN OVERSEE IMMIGRATION ISSUES. DESPITE THOSE LEGAL CHALLENGES, IOWA’S REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAY STATES NEED TO TAKE ACTION THEMSELVES TO DEAL WITH THE SPIKE IN ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS. WE SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN HOLT, WHO LED THE IOWA HOUSE BILL. HE SAYS THE PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE IOWA MORE SECURE. I THINK EVERY STATE’S A BORDER STATE AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL COMING INTO THE STATE, UH, KILLING OUR CITIZENS. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE HAVE SEX TRAFFICKING. WE HAVE WE BELIEVE WE HAVE LABOR TRAFFICKING GOING IN, UH, GOING ON IN IOWA. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE CONNECTED TO WHAT’S GOING ON ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. SO I THINK THAT EVERY STATE IS A BORDER STATE IN DEALING WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR THINGS THAT TEXAS ARE RIGHT NOW. WE NEED A SENSIBLE IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT WORKS. WE NEED TO SECURE THE BORDER. IT IS SIMPLY A FACT THAT WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, HE ENDED SO MANY POLICIES THAT WERE IN PLACE THAT WERE CREATING A SECURE BORDER, AND HE ENDED ALL OF THOSE POLICIES, WE NEED TO SECURE THE BORDER, AND WE NEED AN IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS. SO THAT PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO SNEAK INTO THE COUNTRY AS THEY’RE DOING NOW. THE REALITY IS, AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE COUNTRY LEGALLY AND WE HAVE THE SITUATION WE’RE IN, THESE PEOPLE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE ARE GOING TO LIVE IN FEAR AND LIVE IN DARKNESS. SO IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT WORKS, PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR. THAT’S ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE HAVE THAT THERE’S LABOR TRAFFICKING GOING ON, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY’RE AFRAID THAT THEY COULD GET DEPORTED AND THEY’RE HAVING TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS. JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. IF WE REESTABLISH THE RULE OF LAW, PEOPLE CAN COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND NOT BE AFRAID. GOVERNOR KIM KIM REYNOLDS SENT OUT A STATEMENT AFTER THE BILL PASSED, WRITING, QUOTE, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE FAILED TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS AND IN DOING SO HAVE COMPROMISED THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR NATION AND THE SAFETY OF ITS PEOPLE. STATES HAVE STEPPED IN TO SECURE THE BORDER, PREVENTING ILLEGAL MIGRANTS FROM ENTERING OUR COUNTRY AND PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS. AMERICANS DESERVE NOTHING LESS. SHE ALSO SAID SHE PLANS TO SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW, WHICH WOULD TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR. BUT SOME IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY SAY THE BILL WOULD ENCOURAGE RACIAL PROFILING AND WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE. I SAT DOWN WITH ACTIVIST JOE HENRY, WHO SAYS THE BILL COULD HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ACROSS THE STATE. WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS BILL, WHAT IT WHAT IT IS TO US, IT’S RACIAL PROFILING. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT PLAYS PASSES A TARGET ON 220,000 LATINOS HERE IN THE STATE OF IOWA. WHAT IT SAYS IS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE FROM BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITIES, THAT WE ARE TO BE QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES. AND IT FORCES LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS TOTALLY WRONG. THIS IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT HAS TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION. WE URGE THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE NOT TO SIGN THIS INTO A LAW. THIS WILL CREATE HAVOC. THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON FAMILIES WHO ARE MIXED STATUS. THIS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT UPON OUR ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY IN AGRICULTURE, CONSTRUCTION, IN MEAT PROCESSING WHERE WE HAVE MANY MIXED STATUS FAMILIES, WE HAVE MANY IMMIGRANTS DOING THE HARD WORK IN THIS STATE. SO IT CANNOT HAPPEN. THIS IS WRONG IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. YOU MENTIONED, UM, FEDERAL LAW. I KNOW STATE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, THEY’RE ARGUMENT FOR THIS WAS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF HANDLING THE SITUATION AT THE US SOUTHERN BORDER. THEY SAY THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS, AND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE ACTION TAKEN BY THE STATE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ABDICATING THAT RESPONSIBILITY. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING IS, IS A BLATANT LIE. THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A BILL IN CONGRESS THAT CAN BE PASSED. THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY INDICATED THAT HE WILL SIGN THIS BILL THAT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE SENATE. AT ONE POINT, IT HAD SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. IF THIS BILL WAS TO BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT, WHICH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN INDICATED HE WOULD SIGN, IT WOULD SPEED UP THE PROCESS FROM SIX YEARS TO SIX MONTHS TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEBODY SHOULD STAY HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE ABOUT 12 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN THE UNITED STATES. WE CAN SPEED UP THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET A FAIR HEARING AND THEN HAVE THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES REMOVED FROM THIS COUNTRY, AND THERE WOULD BE MORE FUNDING, SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR BORDER PATROL IF THIS BILL WAS PASSED. SO THAT’S THE ANSWER HERE. IT’S NOT TO PASS SOMETHING ON A STATE LEVEL THAT VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW OR STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP ARMING IOWA TEACHERS. WHY? SOME ARE WARNING IN IOWA HOUSE BILL COULD CREATE CHAOS IN THE CLASSROOM, WHILE OTHERS SAY IT’S NECESSARY TO KEEP KIDS SAFE. IT’S BEEN NEARLY FOUR MONTHS SINCE THE DEADLY SHOOTING AT PERRY HIGH SCHOOL. THE TRAGEDY PROMPTED LAWMAKERS TO TAKE UP SCHOOL SECURITY MEASURES THIS SESSION, WORKING TO HELP PARENTS FEEL SAFER SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL. BUT THE PROPOSALS HAVE SPARKED CONTROVERSY OVER HOW TO IMPROVE SCHOOL SECURITY AND WHETHER ACTION WILL ACTUALLY PROTECT STUDENTS OR PUT THEM IN FURTHER DANGER. HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE PASSED A PROPOSAL AIMING TO HELP SCHOOLS ARM TEACHERS AND STAFF. THAT BILL WOULD CREATE A NEW PERMIT ALLOWING STAFF TO CARRY GUNS AT SCHOOL. ANYONE ARMED WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE SEVERAL IN-PERSON TRAININGS EACH YEAR. SCHOOLS THAT ARM THEIR STAFF, AND PEOPLE CARRYING GUNS WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, MEANING THEY CAN’T FACE LAWSUITS FOR USING REASONABLE FORCE AT SCHOOL. LAWMAKERS SAY THAT SHOULD HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS KEEP THEIR INSURANCE, BUT SEVERAL HAVE SPOKEN OUT WITH CONCERNS ON THIS BILL, INCLUDING MARSHALLTOWN’S POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL TUPPER. HE SAYS THE LEGISLATION IS AN EFFORT TO FIND A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO A COMPLICATED PROBLEM, WHICH HE SAYS COULD LEAD TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. TUPPER CALLED THE PLAN A, QUOTE, BAD IDEA. AT LAST WEEK’S MARSHALLTOWN SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, HE SAID HE’S CARRIED A FIREARM PROFESSIONALLY EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS AND KNOWS HOW DIFICULT IT IS AND HOW MUCH TRAINING IS REQUIRED. KCCI SPOKE WITH TUPPER ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND WHY HE’S SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT. I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT SCHOOL BUILDINGS SHOULD HAVE STRONG SECURITY, AND I AM IN FAVOR OF ARMED SECURITY, BUT BUT IT SHOULD BE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SECURITY. TEACHERS HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN THAT I’M ALLOWING THEM TO CARRY CARRY GUNS OR ASKING THEM TO CARRY GUNS IS A WISE THING TO DO. AND IT JUST IT’S SOMETHING ELSE FOR THEM TO WORRY ABOUT AND TO THINK ABOUT. WHEN YOU’RE WORKING IN A CLASSROOM WITH SMALL CHILDREN ESPECIALLY, AND THERE’S A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS GOING ON, I’M WORRIED ABOUT AN ACCIDENT OR A TRAGEDY THAT COULD OCCUR THAT WE HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT. THE HOUSE PROPOSAL DOES INCLUDE A NEW GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP SCHOOLS HIRE AND KEEP SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. TUPPER SAYS HE SUPPORTS THOSE PIECES OF THE BILL, AND HAVING ARMED SECURITY GUARDS AT SCHOOL. I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE FUNDING TO HELP SCHOOLS ENHANCE THEIR THEIR PHYSICAL SECURITY IN THEIR BUILDINGS. I LIKE THE IDEA OF FUNDING FOR MORE TRAINING FOR MAYBE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DEAL WITH, UM, VIOLENT EVENTS. THE MARSHALLTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT USED AN IOWA SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT MADE AVAILABLE BY THE GOVERNOR IN 2022 TO FUND SCHOOL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS. EACH BUILDING HAS A SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM THAT MEETS REGULARLY TO GO OVER PROTOCOLS AND COORDINATE WITH FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THE BILL STILL HASN’T PASSED THE SENATE, AND TIME IS TICKING UNTIL SESSION ENDS. IN THE MEANTIME, OTHERS ARE SPEAKING OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, INCLUDING THE IOWA FIREARMS COALITION, WHO SAYS IT GIVES SCHOOLS THE FLEXIBILITY TO BETTER PREPARE IN THE CASE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER. SO IF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER GETS INTO YOUR SCHOOL CLASSROOM, WHATEVER TIME AND MATH ARE YOUR ENEMIES, THE LONGER IT TAKES FOR A RESPONSE, WHETHER THAT’S LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SOMEBODY THAT WAS ARMED IN THE SCHOOL, THE HIGHER THE NUMBER GOES. SO THE RESEARCH OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS SHOWS THAT IF YOU DON’T SHUT THIS DOWN IN THE FIRST 30S TO ONE MINUTE, YOU’RE LOOKING AT DOUBLE DIGIT VICTIM COUNTS. AND IF IT GOES OUT TO THREE MINUTES, YOU’RE TALKING POTENTIALLY UP TO, YOU KNOW, TEENS AND 20S OF VICTIMS. SO THE QUESTION IS, IF LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN’T BE THERE IN THAT PRECIOUS FIRST 30S TO ONE MINUTE, WHO CAN? AND WE HAVE FOUND ACROSS THE STATE THAT THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT HAVE SOME BACKGROUND IN FIREARMS WHO HAVE RAISED THEIR HAND AND SAID, SEND ME. WE’RE NOT MAKING PEOPLE DO IT. WE’RE JUST PRESENTING IT AS AN OPTION FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THAT, UH, WHEN THE TIME COMES, THEY’RE WILLING TO DO IT. UM, STILL TO COME ON, CLOSE UP. SLASHING STUDENT DEBT. THE LATEST ACTION FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. THIS WEEK, THOUSANDS OF IOWANS BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF STUDENT DEBT LOAN RELIEF. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED AN ADDITIONAL. $5.8 BILLION FOR 78,000 PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT INCLUDES TEACHERS, NURSES, FIREFIGHTERS AND MORE. NEXT WEEK, EMAILS WILL GO OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY, LETTING THEM KNOW IF THEY CONTINUE PUBLIC SERVICE WORK. THEY’LL HAVE THEIR LOANS FORGIVEN. WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY.