Government : In the Statehouse: My biggest failure -- Iowa Braille School closing

In the Statehouse: My Biggest Failure

Think about it. What is your life’s biggest failure? Can you name it? Mine will be with me for the rest of my life. My biggest failure is not being able to preserve a quality continuum of education for Iowa’s blind children. From the reduction of students to the last student walking out the door to now, the Board of Regents selling our Braille School and campus (which began in 1862!) for a measly $1. It physically hurts. If I feel this way, how do the people who have given their lives to teaching and encouraging at the school feel? How do the alumni and parents of the blind feel? I will tell you, devastated and heartbroken.

I want to apologize to Vinton, to the alumni and employees past and present. I am your voice and did not speak well enough, did not portray your value well enough and I failed. And it isn’t just me, many of us feel this way. We had press conferences, we educated legislators, we worked our hearts out. I spoke on the floor many times about how important the school was to the students and our community. We fought and asked, no, we begged for help. We did everything we could and could not stop the destruction of a quality education for blind kids. We didn’t give up, but lost every battle and the war.

The war ended years ago at the Des Moines Public Library on July 1, 2010 with a vote of 24 – 1. There were people who should have spoken and didn’t, you could say they went along to get along. The President of the National Federation for the Blind, the Special Education Director of Grant Wood, the Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind, even two people from Vinton. The only no vote was cast by Robert Spangler, alumni and warrior. And in 2011, the last student left.

In 2008, I walked out of the alley behind 4th Street and saw the flood of 2008 creeping up to the courthouse. Looking around, I stopped thunderstruck and called my legislative mentor, explained what was happening and said I have NO idea what to do here. He told me to be the leader your people need at the time. So I did everything from console people to help deliver pizzas to get roads opened. But THIS time, again I have no idea what to do except be there for you as support and keep my eyes open for opportunities to help.

Speaking of opportunities, with every down side there is an upside. Looking ahead to the future, your city leaders and Mayor have to be forward thinking visionaries all the time, every decision. Not all of them are as critical as this one, but thinking objectively on this decision, there could be delicious lemonade made from these lemons. When you give your feedback to the City Council and Mayor, try to think beyond our hurtful loss of a wonderful tradition and culture to constructively, what we could do with this priceless property for only one dollar. Truthfully, I can see a lot of good uses. Would you rather keep our treasure in the hands of the city? As much as I detest the way the Board of Regents has handled the Blind Education Continuum, I’m thankful they gave you the first shot at the property. That was the right thing to do.

Make your voice heard and let your leaders sift through the feedback and financials. Whatever they decide, I have faith and support them. “Be the leader your people need at the time.” When you’re part of a community, leadership applies to us all.

Your friend and representative,

Dawn Pettengill