State Sen. Eric Giddens (D-Cedar Falls)

Greetings friends and neighbors! Fall is in full swing now, and I’m loving it! I hope you are, too.

Last month I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Cedar Falls High School and enjoyed touring this impressive new facility. I’m proud to have been a part of the early stages of its planning when I was on the Cedar Falls School Board. Our students and our community will undoubtedly benefit from this new school. I’m excited about the new learning environment our young people will experience in this building, but great schools are more than just learning labs for students, they are anchor institutions for our communities. They are cultural hubs, and they are critical for the health of local economies. Cedar Falls and the greater Cedar Valley region will continue to thrive for generations to come due in no small part to the new Cedar Falls High School. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this dream a reality!

In other education news, I held a Public Education Round Table on Saturday, Sept. 21 with several education leaders from across our Senate District. They shared the impact recent legislative changes have had on their districts and the range of challenges they’re experiencing. I’m grateful for their participation in this discussion and for the great turnout from community members who care deeply about our public education system. I will continue to do all I can to support our prized public schools!

As always, please reach out to me at eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov or (319) 230-0578 if I can be helpful with anything or if you have any issues or concerns you’d like to share with me. It is an honor to serve!

A New School Year Brings New Challenges

I recently posted a public survey that asked, “How are policies enacted by Iowa’s majority party legislators affecting your public schools?” I combed through your survey responses to discover what changes you and your children are experiencing this school year. Here’s what you said:

By far the biggest change you said was affecting your public schools this year was private school vouchers. Respondents said vouchers are taking money away from public schools, creating an unfair imbalance that favors private schools and larger, urban districts. In rural districts, vouchers are leading to budget cuts, which in turn lead to overburdened teachers, unfilled vacancies, a lack of resources, and teacher burnout.

Over a dozen respondents worried that the state was becoming unwelcoming and unsupportive of teachers and paraeducators. A lack of professional development resources, growing class sizes, and reduced services are leading to teachers leaving Iowa altogether.

Cuts to Iowa’s Area Education Agencies were another primary concern. You worried that AEA employees are being stretched too thin and that funding cuts are causing school districts to do more with less.

I hear you.

Iowa’s public schools, especially those in smaller, rural districts, are facing unprecedented challenges this school year. Where we should be eliminating barriers to a child’s success, Iowa’s majority party lawmakers have instead erected new ones.

Not so long ago, Iowa was a national leader in public education. We can get there again. Next session, I will work with my colleagues to strengthen public education that supports students, families, and teachers.

Iowa’s Public School Funding Gap

Iowa’s public education funding lags well behind inflation and our public school kids have been severely shortchanged over the past seven years. This is according to data from Iowa Senator Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames). Sen. Quirmbach, who has a Ph.D. in Economics, worked with the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency to dig deeper into the state’s K-12 funding history since Kim Reynolds became governor. Iowa’s K-12 funding is down $440 million for the 2024-2025 school year when taking into account inflation-adjusted dollars.

An average student entering eighth grade this year has seen their individual education funding shortened by $3,663 since starting first grade. The total shortfall since 2017, under the Reynolds administration, when compared to inflation comes to $2.1 billion.

This chronic underfunding of our public schools must change, our kids deserve better.

Nursing Homes

The Iowa State Auditor released a report last week that found that the gap between inspections of nursing facilities are 17 months on average, which does not meet federal requirements. The audit report also shows that staffing levels remain low in Iowa, while staff turnover remains high.

Make a Plan to Vote!

Whether you vote absentee by mail, vote early in-person, or vote at the polls on Election Day, make a plan for how and when you are going to vote. You can find voting resources at https://voterready.iowa.gov/.

Free Mental Health Counseling

The University of Iowa’s Telepsychology Training Clinic (TPTC) offers free, short-term (5-10 sessions) counseling to Iowans who may have limited access to mental health care. The TPTC is currently accepting referrals for new clients. Please contact scheduling@uitptc.com or 319-535-0437 to inquire about services. Iowans who’d like to use the free service can find more information at the clinic’s website: https://education.uiowa.edu/research/research-centers-and-initiatives/rural-psychology-collaborative.

State Senator Eric Giddens represents Iowa Senate District 38 including Cedar Falls, Hudson, Traer, Dysart, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, Gilbertville, Washburn, LaPorte City and Mount Auburn. Contact Sen. Giddens at 319-230-0578 or eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov.