Heartland AEA estimates millions of dollars in budget cuts under AEA reform
One of Iowa's area education agencies says it will likely have to face budget cuts once Gov. Kim Reynolds signs the AEA reform bill into law.
The Senate passed Tuesday afternoon in a 30-18 vote. The bill was previously approved by the Iowa House and now heads to the governor's desk to sign.
The bill shifts funding from AEAs to school districts. It also includes an increase to public school funding — and an increase in pay for teachers and education support staff.
Cindy Yelick, chief administrator of Heartland AEA, said they're looking at ways to modify their current system in anticipation of the bill becoming law.
"It's obviously going to be a time of change, and it's going to be a time of reinvention," Yelick said.
The bill would not make any changes to special education funding next school year. But starting in 2025, school districts would be required to give 90% of that funding to the AEAs. School districts would be able to keep the other ten percent.
"While policymakers have said there's no money leaving special education, they have allocated it in a different way," she said.
Also starting in 2025, school districts would have complete control over how to spend general education and media services funding.
Yelick said Heartland AEA has been in constant contact with the central Iowa school they serve as the bill made its way through the statehouse.
"We're looking at doing all the best planning we can and getting input from schools and districts on what they need and what their plans are for those funds," Yelick said.
But even with planning ahead, Heartland will likely face ten million dollars in budget cuts the first year the law is in effect. The following year, they'll face another eight million dollars in cuts.
Yelick says despite those changes — they'll continue to focus on the kids they serve.
"That mission and our value on helping our students is not going to change," she said. "Perhaps how we get there and how we provide that support is going to have to look different."
Gov. Reynolds is expected to sign the bill into law Wednesday afternoon. She thanked the Senate for passing the bill in a statement that read in part:
“I want to thank Senate leadership, as well as the education committee members and legislators who worked to keep the conversation moving forward. I also want to express my deep appreciation to the school district superintendents, administrators, teachers, board members and others who took the time to meet with us and discuss both the challenges and opportunities the bill presented. Their insight was invaluable to reaching a compromise."
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