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CLOSE UP. IT’S BEEN MORE THAN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE ARREST OF DES MOINES FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE FALLOUT CONTINUES TO UNFOLD. SINCE MR. ROBERT’S ARREST. MORE AND MORE ISSUES HAVE COME OUT REGARDING HIS INTEGRITY. THIS MORNING, WE SIT DOWN WITH THE DISTRICT’S INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. HOW DES MOINES SCHOOLS MOVE FORWARD AND BEGIN TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE WITH FAMILIES AND STAFF. CLEARLY, THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE HAVE NOT BEEN THE BEST, AND THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE. PLUS, THE GOVERNOR ISSUES AN EXECUTIVE ORDER CHANGING THE HIRING PROCESS, THE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR CHECKING WORK ELIGIBILITY AND CITIZENSHIP. ULTIMATELY, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON THE EMPLOYER TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THEY’RE HIRING ARE ELIGIBLE TO WORK AND MOURNING THE LOSS OF STATE SENATOR CLAIRE CELSI. HOW COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS ARE PAYING TRIBUTE TO HER LIFE AND SERVICE. THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS ����vlog EIGHT NEWS. CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. I’M CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER. WELL, IT’S BEEN A TURBULENT FEW WEEKS FOR DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF FORMER SUPERINTENDENT IAN ROBERTS. HE’S CURRENTLY IN THE POLK COUNTY JAIL, FACING FEDERAL GUN CHARGES AS STAFF AND STUDENTS CONTINUE TO PROCESS EACH NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE DISTRICT IS FOCUSED ON MOVING FORWARD AFTER WEEKS OF CONTROVERSY AND CONFUSION SURROUNDING ROBERTS, THE DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD HELD ITS FIRST REGULAR MEETING LAST TUESDAY, AND WHILE MANY IN THE CROWD OFFERED GRACE AND GRATITUDE, SOME SAY IT’S TIME FOR THE BOARD TO REBUILD TRUST FROM THE GROUND UP. WITH DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SPOTLIGHT, SOME SPENT TUESDAY’S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. WE THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK, THANKING BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR WORK. I REALLY DO MEAN THIS. SINCERELY. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. WHILE OTHERS SINCE MISTER ROBERTS ARREST, MORE AND MORE ISSUES HAVE COME OUT REGARDING HIS INTEGRITY, PLACED BLAME ON THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING IAN ROBERTS TO LEAD THE STATE’S LARGEST DISTRICT. THAT’S KIND OF A FAILURE ON ON THE END OF THE BOARD. I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME FOR THE BOARD TO RESIGN. FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES SAY ROBERTS DID NOT HAVE LEGAL WORK AUTHORIZATION WHEN HE WAS HIRED AS SUPERINTENDENT. THE BOARD SAYS HE PROVIDED A DRIVER’S LICENSE AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, STATING HE WAS A CITIZEN. IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING ROBERTS ARREST, NEW DETAILS HAVE EMERGED. DISCREPANCIES ON HIS RESUME AND PAST CHARGES. THE DISTRICT IS SUING THE SEARCH FIRM IT USED TO FIND AND HIRE ROBERTS, BUT SOME ARE DEMANDING MORE TRANSPARENCY. WE CALL ON THE BOARD TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE WHAT THE BOARD KNEW ABOUT ALL OF THESE MISDEEDS. BOARD MEMBERS COULDN’T DIRECTLY ADDRESS THOSE COMMENTS DURING THE MEETING, BUT IN THEIR WORK SESSION AFTER, IT’S BEEN A LONG TEN DAYS, SOME SPOKE UP. EVERYONE HAS TO DO A LITTLE SELF-REFLECTION, AND I KNOW MY BEHAVIOR WILL BE DIFFERENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. CLEARLY, THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE HAVE NOT BEEN THE BEST, AND THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE. BOARD MEMBERS ADDRESSING SOME CONCERNS, SAYING THE PATH FORWARD STARTS WITH KEEPING STUDENTS TOP OF MIND. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT DEPEND ON HOW WE CHANGE AND I ACCEPT THAT WE CAN DO THINGS A LOT BETTER. AND THERE’S A LOT ON THE LINE FOR DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WE’RE JUST WEEKS AWAY FROM A CRUCIAL BOND REFERENDUM VOTE FOR THE DISTRICT’S REIMAGINING EDUCATION PLAN. IT’S A $265 MILLION BOND THAT COULD RESHAPE DES MOINES SCHOOLS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IF VOTERS SAY YES, THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD WOULD PAY ABOUT $200 MORE A YEAR. THE MONEY WOULD HELP UPDATE AGING BUILDINGS, EXPAND PRESCHOOL ACCESS AND GROW CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH A LOT MORE. IT COMES AS THE DISTRICT’S LOST MORE THAN 2000 STUDENTS IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, AND IS ON TRACK TO LOSE MORE, LEADERS SAY THIS INVESTMENT COULD HELP KEEP FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT WITH MORE MODERN FACILITIES AND STRONGER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. FOLKS, WE CAN’T KICK IT ANYMORE. OKAY? OUR COMMUNITY IS IN TROUBLE IN DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOES NOT THRIVE. THE BOND NEEDS 60% OF THE VOTE TO PASS. WELL, RIGHT NOW, MATT SMITH IS CURRENTLY LEADING THE DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. HE’LL SERVE AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT THROUGH THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL YEAR. SMITH HAS BEEN FILLING IN SINCE ROBERTS DETAINMENT. HE ALSO SERVED AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT BACK IN 2022. HE’S WORKED IN THE DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, SERVING AS NORTH HIGH SCHOOL’S PRINCIPAL IN 2010 BEFORE MOVING TO ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES WITH THE DISTRICT. HE’S HERE WITH US THIS MORNING. MATT SMITH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. OH, IT’S MY PLEASURE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. WELL, IT’S BEEN A CRAZY FEW WEEKS FOR THE DISTRICT. I’M WONDERING FOR YOU. I MEAN, YOU’VE BEEN LEARNING AND REACTING TO EACH DEVELOPMENT, MANY OF THEM, AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE REST OF US HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT’S THAT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU FINDING OUT THESE NEW DETAILS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHILE ALSO FOCUSING ON RESTORING TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? YEAH. YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IT’S YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO SORT OF PROCESS KIND OF THE INFORMATION THAT KIND OF COMES IN. AND I RELY HEAVILY, YOU KNOW, ON MY FAITH AND MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY. SO I REACH OUT TO A LOT OF FOLKS AND SORT OF PROCESS OUT LOUD WITH THEM. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT QUICKLY, WE WE TURN TO OUR FOCUS ON STUDENTS. RIGHT. AND SO MY, MY SPIRIT IS ALWAYS ABOUT HOW DO WE ACTUALLY SERVE CHILDREN BETTER TODAY THAN WE DID YESTERDAY. AND SO RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS AND THAT CENTRAL OFFICE, OUR DISTRICT AND OUR STUDENTS ARE IN REALLY GOOD HANDS. WE’VE GOT LOTS OF INCREDIBLE LEADERS AND INCREDIBLE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE CREATING THOSE MOMENTS OF MAGIC EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH STUDENTS. AND SO THERE’S SO MANY GOOD THINGS GOING ON. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE GOOD THINGS AND CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS SOME DEVELOPMENTS. RIGHT. AND SO THAT’S WHAT THAT REIMAGINED BOND IS ALL ABOUT. IT’S ABOUT CREATING SPACES FOR STUDENTS THAT REALLY CULTIVATES THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN GROW TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE CREATED TO BE. RIGHT. AND SO, SO MANY OF THEM SHOW UP AT OUR DOORSTEP WITH CHALLENGES THAT THEY NEED TO OVERCOME. AND THESE SPACES ARE WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE, WHO THEY WANT TO BE AND WHO THEY DESIRE TO BE. AND IT GIVES THEM A PATHWAY. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL TO EITHER BECOME AMELIA EMPLOYED OR TO ENROLL IN A 2 OR 4 YEAR COLLEGE, OR TO ENROLL IN A MILITARY OF THEIR CHOICE. AND SO WE WANT TO CREATE THOSE VERY DISTINCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM THAT HOPE AND THAT JOY OF LEARNING BACK AGAIN. WE’VE TALKED SO MUCH. I MEAN, FOR MONTHS, HONESTLY, ABOUT THIS REIMAGINING EDUCATION PLAN. IT’S IT’S WIDE. THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS TO IT. BUT I ALSO WANT OUR VIEWERS TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT’S ON THE LINE IF THIS DOESN’T PASS. YOU KNOW, YOU’VE MENTIONED THE POTENTIAL FOR STAFFING CUTS FOR BUILDING CLOSURES. YOU KNOW, TANGIBLY WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS DOESN’T PASS? YEAH, I MEAN IT. THERE’S A LOT AT RISK HERE. IF IT DOESN’T PASS. SO WE WILL NEED TO CUT STAFF. THAT’S GOING TO 83% OF OUR BUDGET IS STAFFING. AND SO WE WILL NEED TO CUT STAFF. AND THAT THAT NUMBER COULD GROW EVERY YEAR. IF THIS DOESN’T PASS WE WILL NEED TO ACTUALLY TAKE MORE BUILDINGS OFFLINE IN OUR DISTRICT. AND HONESTLY, WHAT IT ALSO MEANS PRACTICALLY IS IF NOTHING CHANGES, THEN NOTHING CHANGES, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF STUDENT OUTCOMES AND STUDENT RESULTS, THIS PLAN IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE PHYSICAL PLANT INFRASTRUCTURE. IT’S ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THOSE SPACES. THE PROGRAMING THAT OFFERS STUDENTS SOMETHING BEYOND HOPE, RIGHT? IT ALLOWS THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES IN IN OUR CULTURE AND IN OUR IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR NATION WITH CLEAR PATHWAYS TO A WORKFORCE THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCES WITH, THAT THEY’VE GOT INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, THAT THEY’VE GOT EXPERIENCES AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSEWORK. SO ALL OF THOSE BECOME POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS WITH THIS INVESTMENT IN THE BOND. AND IF IT DOESN’T PASS, THERE’S GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES FOR US AS A DISTRICT AND AS A COMMUNITY. BECAUSE THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE AND LIFT UP IS STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION. AND SO IT’S GOING TO BENEFIT 30,000 STUDENTS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND THE 30,000 STUDENTS BEYOND THAT. RIGHT. SO THIS IS A GENERATIONAL INPUT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO IS A VALUE ADD FOR HOMEOWNERS, RIGHT? INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS TEND TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE AND INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES. IT SPURS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY. SO IT REALLY IS A WIN WIN WIN FOR ALL OF US, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE. WHEN YOU SAY THAT STAFFING CUTS ARE ON THE LINE, HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING? YEAH. SO WE’RE DETERMINING THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY OUR ENROLLMENT. THAT IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE. AND IT’S ALSO VARIABLE BY THE SUPPLEMENTAL STATE AID THAT WE GET FROM THE LEGISLATURE. SO WE’RE HOPING FOR A WELL ABOVE 2%, WHICH HAS BEEN THE AVERAGE FOR THE LAST DECADE. AND SO THOSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS HELP. SO WE WILL DETERMINE THAT THROUGH THE COURSE OF OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. BUT IT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT. I WANT TO SHIFT GEARS HERE A LITTLE BIT TO A BIG CHANGE THAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THIS PAST WEEK. THERE ARE NEW REQUIREMENTS NOW FROM THE STATE LEVEL TO USE E-VERIFY WHEN WHEN CHECKING WORK ELIGIBILITY. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR DISTRICT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY WORK THERE OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK THERE? YEAH, SURE. I MEAN, AGAIN, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY TAKE IN THE GOVERNOR’S. NEW LAW AND WE WILL WE’LL APPLY. RIGHT. AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE COMPLIANT AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR STATE AGENCIES AND OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES. AND SO WE TAKE IN ALL THAT INFORMATION. WE LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS. AND THEN WE WILL APPLY THAT ACCORDINGLY. ARE THERE ANY AUDITS CURRENTLY GOING ON OF OTHER EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DISTRICT? THERE ARE CREDENTIALS. THERE ARE IMMIGRATION STATUS. YEAH. I MEAN, WE WORK WITH OUR ATTORNEYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, AGAIN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE AUDITS THAT WERE THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED. AND SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE’RE MAKING SURE THAT ANY SORT OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE’VE GOT, THAT WE ARE TIMELY WITH OUR RESPONSE AND THAT WE ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR ANY SORT OF CONVERSATIONS OR, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. I JUST ASK BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WONDERING, YOU KNOW, THEY THOUGHT THIS NEVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN WITH WITH IAN ROBERTS? HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN? BUT IT HASN’T HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO MAY BE LESS HIGH PROFILE? SURE. YEAH. WELL, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT BECAUSE WE ARE PURSUING LITIGATION. AND SO A LOT OF THAT IS SORT OF PROTECTED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON OUR PRACTICES AND OUR PROCESSES EVERY DAY. THAT’S OF COURSE, KIND OF HYPERSENSITIVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS BUILT AROUND TEACHING AND LEARNING, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IS A PART OF WHAT WE DO, RIGHT? AND SO IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS STEP BACK AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, HOW CAN WE HAVE IMPROVED THIS PRACTICE OR THIS PROCESS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TOPIC IS. AND THEN WE COME BACK AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND DO BETTER THAN WE DID THE DAY BEFORE. YEAH. AND PART OF THAT IS FORWARD LOOKING RIGHT WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU SERVING AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. I THINK THE DISTRICT HAS STRUGGLED WHEN IT COMES TO CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP OVER THE LAST THREE SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE LEFT UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU’RE KIND OF THE HELM OF THE SHIP, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATING, HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE UNCERTAINTY. BUT WHAT DOES THE DISTRICT NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THERE CAN BE CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP IN THE FUTURE? YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE’S PROBABLY A MILLION THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, RIGHT? BUT I THINK THE CONTINUITY THAT THAT MATTERS THE MOST IS WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. RIGHT? SO THE CONTINUITY OF CONTINUING TO PUT AMAZING EDUCATORS AND LEADERS AND, AND ASSOCIATES AND DRIVERS AND FOOD NUTRITION WORKERS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT THAT COME TO WORK EVERY DAY, DAY IN, DAY OUT AND GIVE 150% TO LOVE, CHERISH AND ACADEMICALLY. CHALLENGE OUR STUDENTS. THAT’S THE CONTINUITY THAT THAT MATTERS MOST RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, THERE’S A THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO SORT OF REFLECT ON WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND DRAFT A NEW VISION OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE FUTURE. I’M SUPER JUST HUMBLED AND AND HONORED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE DISTRICT AGAIN. I’VE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS. IT’S MEANT THE WORLD TO MY FAMILY AND ME, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, AND WE FEEL IT IS A BLESSING, ACTUALLY, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN DES MOINES AND WORK IN DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SO WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY. AND MEET THE CHALLENGE OF THE DAY AND LEAD THROUGH THAT, AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. YOU’LL SERVE FOR TWO YEARS AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. DO YOU WANT TO APPLY AFTER THAT? I MIGHT I YOU KNOW, IT’S I HAVEN’T REALLY PUT A TON OF TIME INTO THINKING ABOUT THE THE LONG TERM. AFTER THE TWO YEARS. MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW HAS JUST BEEN STRICTLY ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE NEED TO GET DONE NOT ONLY THIS WEEK, BUT NEXT MONTH AND THIS SCHOOL YEAR? HEADING INTO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SO I’VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEAM ON JUST SORT OF MAYBE SHUFFLING SOME STRUCTURES AND DELEGATING SOME NEW RESPONSIBILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS, THAT WE SERVE AND OUR STAFF. RIGHT. AND SO I THINK A LOT OF TIMES IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS WHERE IT’S IT’S CHALLENGING EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE DISTRICT, BUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE. I THINK OFTENTIMES THE STAFF CAN GET LOST IN THIS, AND THEY DO AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE THINGS. AND IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE LIFT UP THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND CONTINUE TO POUR INTO THEM THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND JUST BEING THERE WITH ONE ANOTHER. RIGHT. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WILL HELP CREATE CONTINUITY IS THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE CONTINUE TO HOLD EACH OTHER TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN OUR LOWEST MOMENTS. AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US REALLY QUICKLY. BUT I WANT TO ASK IT BECAUSE I THINK AS YOU, AS YOU MENTIONED, STUDENTS ARE, YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS ON RIGHT NOW. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO SAW IAN ROBERTS AS A ROLE MODEL AND ARE NOW REALLY STRUGGLING AS HE’S MIRED IN SCANDAL TO RECONCILE, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY SAW THEMSELVES IN HIM VERSUS, YOU KNOW WHAT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT THAT HE’S BEEN YOU KNOW, THE CHARGES THAT HE’S FACING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE CONFUSED AND DISAPPOINTED? YEAH, I WOULD TELL THEM TO TO CONTINUE TO LEAN ON STAFF. WE’VE GOT STAFF THERE THAT ARE TRAINED TO HELP SORT OF PROCESS THROUGH THE EMOTIONS AND THE FEELINGS THAT STUDENTS ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW, AND IT’S COMPLEX AND IT IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE HE HE WAS ABSOLUTELY A ROLE MODEL TO SO MANY OF OUR KIDS. AND THESE ARE THESE ARE NOT EASILY SOLVABLE, YOU KNOW, EMOTIONS TO SORT OF WORK THROUGH. AND WE DEFINITELY DON’T WANT STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY DO THAT ALONE. WE WANT THEM TO TO BE WITH ADULTS THAT ARE TRAINED IN SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH THIS. AND WE OFFER THOSE SERVICES AND WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND BE ACCESSIBLE FOR STUDENTS. WELL, MATT SMITH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE IT. IT’S A PLEASURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP. NO RELIEF IN SIGHT AS CHINA HOLDS OUT ON SOYBEAN SALES. WHAT FARMERS ARE DOING TO SURVIVE. BUT FIRST, I DON’T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT DEFENSE TO SAY THAT, OH, I WAS EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THAT FOR ME. AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN IOWA FOR THE USE OF E-VERIFY. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY IN OUR STATE. LAST THURSDAY, GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TIGHTENING HOW STATE AGENCIES VERIFY EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY, A MOVE SHE SAYS SHE MADE, QUOTE, IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS WITH THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ����vlog BEAU BOWMAN, SHOWS US HOW THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WILL WORK TO ARRIVE AT FOLLOWING THE IAN ROBERTS ARREST IN DES MOINES. GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS IS NOW REQUIRING ALL STATE AGENCIES TO USE E-VERIFY WHEN HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES. E-VERIFY ALLOWS ANY ENROLLED EMPLOYER TO CHECK EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. A QUESTION THAT NOW REMAINS IN REFERENCE TO SCHOOLS IS WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF RUNNING THE VERIFICATIONS? THE STATE LICENSURE BOARD OR THE DISTRICTS THEMSELVES? I DON’T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT DEFENSE TO SAY THAT, OH, I WAS EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THAT FOR ME. WILLIAM HALE IS AN EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY AT GUZMAN LAW IN SIOUX CITY. HE SAYS DISTRICTS SHOULD ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, EVEN IF THE IOWA BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS RUNS E-VERIFY, HALE RECOMMENDS THE DISTRICTS DO IT TO CURRENTLY, ABOUT 45 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE ARE ENROLLED. IT WOULD BE PRUDENT, FOR SURE, AT THE ACTUAL HIRING LEVEL, THE SCHOOL ITSELF, THAT THEY TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THEY’RE HIRING ARE ELIGIBLE TO WORK, HALE SAYS. E-VERIFY DOES WORK WELL, BUT IT DOES HAVE ITS OWN ISSUES. THERE’S STILL A CHANCE THAT PEOPLE COULD SUBMIT FALSE DOCUMENTS OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY’RE STEALING SOMEONE ELSE’S IDENTITY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND SUBMIT THOSE DOCUMENTS WHERE THE DOCUMENTS MAY BE VALID. IT JUST MIGHT NOT BE CONNECTED WITH THAT PERSON. SO THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT SLIP THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO IMPLEMENTS THE SYSTEMATIC ALIEN VERIFICATION FOR ENTITLEMENTS PROGRAM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SAVE. THE SAVE PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT AND ONLY AVAILABLE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS OPPOSED TO ALL EMPLOYERS. IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE STATE AGENCIES WHO ALREADY USES IT TO CHECK IMMIGRATION STATUS. FOR THOSE SEEKING BENEFITS AND LICENSES, BEAU BOWMAN ����vlog EIGHT NEWS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP. IOWA FARMERS ARE FEELING THE FALLOUT FROM THE TRADE WAR WITH CHINA. WHY? SOME ARE SPENDING BIG JUST TO STAY IN BUSINESS AND HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF STATE SENATOR CLAIRE CELSI AS PEOPLE WHO KNEW HER REFLECT ON HER LEGACY. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. MANY IN CENTRAL IOWA ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF STATE SENATOR CLAIRE CELSI. SHE DIED LAST WEEK AT AGE 59 FROM AN UNDISCLOSED HEALTH CONDITION. AS A DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR FROM WEST DES MOINES, SHE WAS OFTEN HERE ON OUR SHOW. SHE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM SHARING WHAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER AND A FIERCE FIGHTER FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVED IN. ����vlog MARCUS MCINTOSH SHOWS US HOW COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS ARE REMEMBERING KELSEY’S LIFE AND SERVICE. JUST HEARTBREAKING. FOR CAROL PALMER, THE WORDS COME EASY WHEN DESCRIBING HER FIRST THOUGHTS WHEN LEARNING STATE SENATOR CLAIRE CELSI PASSED AWAY MONDAY. PALMER SAYS HER FAMILY AND KELSEY’S FAMILIES WERE CLOSE WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG. ONE OF THE PALMER GIRLS WOULD BABYSIT THE CELSI CHILDREN. SHE REMEMBERS CLAIRE CELSI AS A CHILD, VIVACIOUS, VERY STRONG WILLED. I MEAN, AS A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL PERSON AND KIND CHILD. DESERVED TO BE RESPECTED. CHARACTERISTICS. PALMER SAYS CELSI CARRIED THROUGHOUT HER LIFE AND INTO THE STATE HOUSE. I JUST LOVED LISTENING TO HER SPEECHES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR OR WHETHER SHE WAS BEING INTERVIEWED BY SOMEONE, AND SHE WAS ONE SMART COOKIE AND SHE JUST SHARED HER INTELLIGENCE WITH EVERYBODY, AND SHE ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP EVERYONE. CELSI IS WELL RESPECTED IN THE HALLS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE. KNOWN AS A FEARLESS ADVOCATE AND TRUTH TELLER FOR WOMEN, THE ELDERLY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THAT WE DON’T FUND THEM PROPERLY. A KNOWN FIGHTER CHARACTERISTICS REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE EDDIE ANDREWS WILL NEVER FORGET. YOU NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE SHE STOOD. SHE WAS ALWAYS IN THE DISCUSSION. SHE WAS ALWAYS IN THE FIGHT, CHALLENGING PEOPLE, ADVOCATING FOR HER CONSTITUENTS. ALWAYS A CHEERLEADER. IOWA STATE SENATOR JANET PETERSON SAYS LOSING CLAIRE CELSI IS CRUSHING. AND SHE SAYS WHEN THE HURT GOES AWAY, MEMORIES OF WHAT CELSI STOOD FOR WILL REPLACE THE STING OF HER DEATH. SHE WAS LOVED FOR SPEAKING HER HEART. AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T AGREE WITH CLAIRE, YOU HAD TO LOVE HER FOR STANDING UP THERE AND JUST JUST SAYING IT LIKE IT IS. AND YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO THAT. MARCUS MCINTOSH ����vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. SUCH A LOSS. A SPECIAL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 30TH TO FILL CHELSEA SEAT. THE ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN STATE SENATE DISTRICT 16. THAT INCLUDES PARTS OF CLIVE, WINDSOR HEIGHTS AND WEST DES MOINES. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. FOR IOWA FARMERS, THE TRADE WAR WITH CHINA ISN’T JUST POLITICS. IT’S PERSONAL. THEIR BIGGEST BUYER HAS STOPPED PURCHASING SOYBEANS, BOYCOTTING OVER U.S. TARIFF POLICY. ����vlog SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL SHOWS US HOW FARMERS ARE ADAPTING TO SURVIVE THE SOYBEAN STANDOFF. WE’RE IN NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTY, IN THE CITY OF BOUTON, WHERE FARMERS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE SOYBEAN CRISIS AND TRYING TO MINIMIZE SOME OF THE DAMAGE. A CONSTRUCTION CREW IS BUSY BUILDING TWO NEW GIANT GRAIN BINS FOR FARMER MIKE BRAILSFORD. IT’S A $1.2 MILLION PROJECT HE’S CONSTRUCTING THANKS TO THE SOYBEAN TRADE PROBLEM. MOST YEARS WE GO AND WE WILL SELL SOME AT HARVEST. BUT YOU CAN’T DO IT THIS YEAR. YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE MONEY, BRAILSFORD FARMS 6000 ACRES AROUND DALLAS AND BOONE COUNTY. AFTER 50 YEARS IN THE FIELDS, HE SAYS THIS IS THE WORST TROUBLE FOR FARMERS SINCE THE FARM CRISIS OF THE 1980S. HE SAYS HE AND OTHER FARMERS AND CO-OPS ARE BUSY BUILDING ADDITIONAL STORAGE, SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO SELL SOYBEANS AT A LOSS THIS FALL. ONCE AGAIN, IT’S SUPPLY AND DEMAND. AND IF CHINA DOESN’T BUY OUR BEANS, THEN WE HAVE NO PLACE TO GO WITH THEM. AND THEY’RE. AND THE ELEVATORS CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH TO THEY RUN OUT OF ROOM. BRAILSFORD SAYS HE SAW THE SOYBEAN CRISIS COMING, SO HE ORDERED THE GRAIN BINS LAST SUMMER. IT’S A GAMBLE HE HOPES WILL PAY OFF ONCE CROP PRICES REBOUND. THAT MEANS SELLING SOYBEANS AND NOT TAKING A HANDOUT. NO FARMER WANTS TAXPAYER MONEY. WE WANT TO BE A BUSINESS LIKE JOHN DEERE AND PIONEER. WE WANT TO SET OUR PRICES AND MAKE BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS. TODD MAGEL, ����vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY.