The two districts that makeup South Hardin schools will be pledging all possible funds to Central Rivers AEA for the upcoming school year.Because of a new state law, districts get to choose how much funding they’ll give to their AEAs.Across the state, no changes will be made to special education services in the upcoming school year. However, districts do need to decide how they’ll spend money for other educational needs and media services like technology and mental health.Districts get 60% of the funding, while 40% will go to the AEAs.Doctor Adam Zellmer serves as the shared superintendent of South Hardin schools — including both the Eldora—New Providence and Hubbard—Radcliffe districts.He said the school boards for both districts passed a resolution to commit all of its funding for both educational needs and media services to its AEA — Central Rivers.Zellmer said he’s fearful of the effects that the new legislation will have on smaller schools in particular — just like his districts totaling just under 1,000 students.”When you start to put a price tag on people and their time, which we haven’t had to do before, that becomes scary to the guy who’s seen the bottom line budget in small schools,” he said.Zellmer said that while it makes sense to reevaluate the effectiveness of AEAs, he disagrees with the rapid and major changes the state has chosen to make.”That part of the bill where we’re going to study AEAs, I think that’s great. Let’s study them and find out what’s working, what’s not working,” he said. “But to really dismantle the whole system and then start the study process really didn’t make a lot of sense to me, and I just didn’t see why it couldn’t have been held off another year.”Other schools across the state are also making their funding decisions.Theron Schutte, the superintendent of Marshalltown community schools, said the district will commit all of the available educational services funding for AEA use.However, the district has decided to not pledge any funds towards media services. Starting in the fall of 2025, 90% of special education funding will go to the AEAs. The remaining 10% of special education funding will go to schools to decide how it’s spent. Zellmer said at that point, he plans on reevaluating the needs of the districts when committing the money.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI
The two districts that makeup South Hardin schools will be pledging all possible funds to Central Rivers AEA for the upcoming school year.
Because of a new state law, districts get to choose how much funding they’ll give to their AEAs.
Across the state, no changes will be made to special education services in the upcoming school year.
However, districts do need to decide how they’ll spend money for other educational needs and media services like technology and mental health.
Districts get 60% of the funding, while 40% will go to the AEAs.
Doctor Adam Zellmer serves as the shared superintendent of South Hardin schools — including both the Eldora—New Providence and Hubbard—Radcliffe districts.
He said the school boards for both districts passed a resolution to commit all of its funding for both educational needs and media services to its AEA — Central Rivers.
Zellmer said he’s fearful of the effects that the new legislation will have on smaller schools in particular — just like his districts totaling just under 1,000 students.
“When you start to put a price tag on people and their time, which we haven’t had to do before, that becomes scary to the guy who’s seen the bottom line budget in small schools,” he said.
Zellmer said that while it makes sense to reevaluate the effectiveness of AEAs, he disagrees with the rapid and major changes the state has chosen to make.
“That part of the bill where we’re going to study AEAs, I think that’s great. Let’s study them and find out what’s working, what’s not working,” he said. “But to really dismantle the whole system and then start the study process really didn’t make a lot of sense to me, and I just didn’t see why it couldn’t have been held off another year.”
Other schools across the state are also making their funding decisions.
Theron Schutte, the superintendent of Marshalltown community schools, said the district will commit all of the available educational services funding for AEA use.
However, the district has decided to not pledge any funds towards media services.
Starting in the fall of 2025, 90% of special education funding will go to the AEAs. The remaining 10% of special education funding will go to schools to decide how it’s spent.
Zellmer said at that point, he plans on reevaluating the needs of the districts when committing the money.
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play