Opinion : Pettengill explains amendment on IBSSS future as a 'school'

In the Statehouse

Iowa House Dist. 39 Rep. Dawn Pettengill March 28, 2010 On a Saturday evening, after two caucuses I'm sitting in the House Chamber and waiting for the Appropriations Committee to move out the Infrastructure and Standings Budget bills for debate. True to our word, we are trying to end our business 20 days ahead of time to save money. Honestly, after six sessions, I do believe we have lost something important during this one. That something is adequate time for the public and the departments to respond to the bills, but it is what it is. For instance, I am going to have to vote on a bill this evening that has not even been printed yet, let alone vetted by the people at home. Budget debates have went on all week, with a little policy thrown in. Mainly, they are policy decisions that did not make it through the committee process for a reason. One of those "little policy" pieces that have a BIG impact to us, was added to the Standings bill that was printed on Tuesday and went through the House on Wednesday. It asked the Board of Regents to do a study on the residential program at the Iowa Braille and Sight Savings School, determine what type of residence is best and form private and potential partnerships to deliver that service. The study is to be delivered to the Legislative Council, 24 of 150 leaders, by 8/31/2010. Several years ago, and since then, we have fought like crazy to keep the Braille School. But piece by piece, the Regents and management have taken things out. The world-renowned Braille library is gone. The athletic program is gone. Only life skills training and the resident program are left in the school itself. There were 34 children in 2006, now 9 and so far, there will be 4 next year. If the study comes back and says the children should live in a different place, there will be no children there, only administration - is that still a school? They will serve 400 children around the state, but is it still a school with no children learning in it? I don't think so. It will be an administration building or a structure similar to an AEA. When I first saw the language on Monday, I was ready to fight to save it for another few years. I went to several of my colleagues that are great strategists, who looked me in the eye and said "Dawn, it is the death knell. Do the best you can for the kids, the jobs and Vinton." After being committed for years to the school and truly loving the kids, the parents, the employees and the community's identity to the school, I had to do an about face. Sometimes the hardest thing to do and the right thing are the same. I put an amendment to the bill that said: If the study results say the children should move to a different location, we should consider that result, the same as a recommendation for closure of the school. Thanks to Rep. Hummel in the 80s, we have a roadmap to go by. That roadmap gets the Regents out of it and takes it to an independent, objective study by the Department of Management to look at the best thing for the children, the community and the employees. They would take the results and present the options to the Legislature next year and we decide. All legislators have students that will be impacted and we, not 24 people, should be the ones to make the decision of what is best. After the Legislature's decision on the new course, the children, their parents, their teachers and our community would have two years from that date to adjust to a new way. Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated by one vote. Apparently, the Majority Party thinks a school could be a place without children learning. Common sense would say otherwise. The majority rules in our government though, and we have to accept the outcome. As the situation progresses, I will keep you informed. What the people in District 39 believe is just common sense, you find very 'uncommon' here. We are laying off and firing people, forcing over $200 million dollars of property tax increases on schools and local governments, but have $3.4 million on a "Green Pilot Project" to heat streets and sidewalks and are giving birth control and vasectomies to people in the 300% above poverty level. Okay, that is $66,000 a year for a family of four. If you make that much and can't afford $34.00 a month for birth control, there is a problem with your budgeting. You sent me to Des Moines with District 39's common sense and I have voted accordingly. If you have any questions on anything from this session, Sen. Kapucian and I are scheduling some meetings soon around the district. Or you can contact me by phone at 515-281-7622. I am here for you. Finally, Jessica Rundlett, who has been by my side in all endeavors for three years, is retiring and will be student teaching next year. She has done such a fantastic job. I wanted to give her a raise two years ago and couldn't, so I gave her a new title...Chief of Staff. Her work did all of District 39 proud. If you see her, please give her your appreciation.