V-eekly

Headlines about a School Resource Officer and Yes, the Governor is obsessed with us (Johnson County. Well, and trans people)

Last week the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) School Board and the Sheriff brought before us a contract to help pay for a School Resource Officer (SRO) to be embedded in their middle and high school buildings for a one year pilot program. To the CCA School Board's credit, they did quite a bit of work leading up to the contract they presented us- they sent out a survey, they hosted meetings with the Sheriff, and talked with other SROs in eastern Iowa. All of which are great practices.

I still expressed my desire to not fund the contract. That is my power as a locally-elected official. Just as it was within the School Board's power to decide that they wanted an SRO.

I denied it for many reasons. Here are a few:

1. There is ample research out there that shows that SROs criminalize students, disproportionately impact Underestimated (BIPOC, disabled, low-wealth, LGBTQ+) students, and fuel the school to prison pipeline. SROs are not counselors or experts in student wellness; their presence is linked to increased behavioral incidents, suspensions and arrests, as well as higher drop-out rates. Yes, CCA sent out a survey, but who was able to take the time to fill it out? Likely people who are already privileged enough to not have an SRO in their child's life.

2. This contract would have asked the county to pay for 15% of the salary an almost $500K expense. That doesn't include the training or materials or vehicles that we also invest in our deputies. This hits at a time when our Juvenile Justice Youth Development Board just had to turn down funding an application for the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County Youth Empowered to Serve (YES) summer employment program, which typically receives $33,000 per year to serve at risk youth. We know this program works and yet we could not fund it because of state restructuring and their overall mismanagement of aligning Iowan values and funding.

At the end of it all, CCA can still opt to fund an SRO at their school. The CCA board members were elected by their community to make those kinds of decisions. That's their charge as a locally-elected Board. But they will need to spend their own funds to do so.

I proposed, instead, to fund a pilot program that created a Threat Assessment Team to provide wrap-around services for children who may be experiencing activation in our schools. Additionally, I would also fund a pilot program that creates restorative justice circles in order to manage conflict within classrooms and around school property. These are practices proven to reduce harm, not only to our kids, but also to our society. We need more youth who are skilled in seeking repair when harm happens, because we can already see how much harm is all around us.

The Board listening to residents at our weekly work session.

Speaking of harm- What fresh hell has the Governor and her fellow Republicans unleashed upon the state? Nothing short of hatred and fear. Big dollops of it. Like the Enhanced Civil Rights Removal Bill (truly, the name says it all, I mean who removes civil rights?! Apparently Iowa does, as we know), signed into law this past week, which bars local government in Iowa from safeguarding vulnerable communities, including transgender people, immigrants, youth, and the working class. This past week, the Iowa House passed HF 2557, which creates an exemption to the legal definitions of child abuse and endangerment "for a parent’s response to a child whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth." In addition to putting trans and non-binary youth at risk in foster care or in the homes of their families of origins, this law would open the door to legalizing conversion therapy, an incredibly harmful practice that destroys young people and is roundly rejected by every reputable medical association, including the American Medical Association.

Like I said, the state legislature is obsessed with us in the most abusive and gaslighting way possible. By taking away rights and protections for vulnerable humans and telling us it will be better for Iowans. What lies. What atrocious, cruel, and destructive lies.

So what will we do to push back? Love. Obviously. Here's three with V to get us started:

1. Let's thank Aime Wichtendahl (she/her) for being a fierce advocate in the face of so much hatred and harm. She is the only transgender representative in the state of Iowa and has been out front fighting. Please join me in sending her some love. Here's her email address: aime.wichtendahl@legis.iowa.gov. and even if you're not in her district, you can still support her and sign up for her newsletter here.

2. Let's also thank our very own Coralville City Councilor Katie Freeman (they/them) for doing a stand up job in their first few months on the council. Katie is the first transgender City Councilor in Coralville and has been doing the quiet but hard work of shifting culture in their neck of the county. I plan on also sending them some love. Here's their email: kfreeman@coralville.org

3. I would also LOVE some support in keeping my seat on the Board! Please help me by lending me your time and care. We have phone banks and door knocking opportunities coming up over the next few weeks.

   1. Please sign up here to volunteer

   2. Please write a Letter to the Editor (it gets automatically submitted to local media for you!)

   3. Please submit an Endorsement (we will have it up on our website & post it to social media!)

I hope everyone stays safe and warm out there! It's supposed to be in the 70's by the end of the week!!

Maraming Salamat!!