Meeting Public Comments

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SSB 1145

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent’s or guardian’s right to make decisions affecting the parent’s or guardian’s child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.(See SF 496.)

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Rozenboom-CH, Celsi, Evans, Quirmbach, Sinclair

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: Room G15

Comments Submitted:

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The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

02-21-2023

DJ Hassel []

I am a retired PAC, from Broadlawns Medical Center. I would speak to p.2, lines 22& 23. There are over 100 strains of HPV viruses. It is well known that HPV Strains 16 & 18 are highly carcinogenic, capable of causing cervical cancer in females. If infected the cervix may go on to develop a malignancy. In the meantime it becomes a sexually transmitted disease spread by vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Males will have no symptoms until the malignancy is detected usually years later. Usually males will develop throat cancer. Somewhere, with someone, my daughter's second husband was diagnosed with throat cancer from HPV Strain 16 at age 48. He was treated by a well respected cancer center. He refused follow up. He died of the effects of Strain 16 at age 51. At the present time immunizations for HPV are recommended for boys and girls starting at age 12. This helps ensure they are safe from HPV. The immunizations are very safe. Side affects are mild and may include pain, redness, or swelling in the arm. These are the same potential sideaffects of any other immunizations .... tetanus, flu, pneumonia etc. A tremendous amount of pain and suffering, to say NOTHING of the financial cost of cancer treatment, could be avoided with the administration of an Inexpensive immunization. Please include HPV and HIV in this bill. Sincerely, DJ Hassel

02-22-2023

Teresa Mathews [- Citizen, Retired]

Stop the Hate! Do better, make better choices for ALL the students of IA. As a retired Special Education teacher, I see similarities between the hateful legislation which is proposed against LGBTQ Students, and what occurred in the past= Discrimination. Before Public Laws were changed in 197576, Students who looked different and learned differently (Downs Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, etc) were NOT allowed to attend Public Schools...Also, the sad history of Segregation, barring students of color from white public schools ALL of these bad decisions were finally changed, for the better through education and awareness.Do not continue this drastic, restrictive legislation that is hurtful to students! Stop promoting fear and hate. Be better. Provide free, appropriate public education for ALL Students.

02-22-2023

Barbara and Jim Dale []

We have great respect for educators and deeply regret the legislators' attempts to tell them how to do their job. We would prefer elected officials stay in their own lane providing for the needs of Iowa and Iowans as a whole rather than inventing problems that don't need the focused, sustained attention they are receiving. We need officeholders to deal with the real economic and environmental issues that affect all of us every day.

02-22-2023

Jonathan Danker []

This is a bill that will led to terrible consequences. A parent does have the right to make decisions for their kid but it does not have the right to make decisions for other kids. Public schools across the state are already doing a good job by banning books that are inappropriate for school but they should not ban books on showing True History and showing LGBTQ existing. Moms for Liberty does not represent every Iowan parent. They represent the people who are afraid of diversity and does not support free speech. Nicknames are very important to our society. This bill could also led to rise of depression among LGBT kids. Dont support this bill for the sake of the future of Iowa.

02-22-2023

Deborah VanderGaast []

Committee Members,I am asking you to consider the harm that antiLGBTQ bills are doing to Iowa youth. Many people think that the acceptance of queer people in our culture is causing an increase in the number of transgender and queer kids. It is believed that exposure to transgender and queer people in education, books, movies, music and the community is grooming kids to question their gender and sexual identity. This belief completely wrong.I am so glad that my children and their friends live in a world where they feel safe to be themselves, and where they dont feel like they have to fit into a box just to please other people. I am grateful for teachers that have been accepting of my childrens differences and have encouraged other students to do the same. Because of those teachers, my children have not had to endure the bullying I suffered through. Because of them, school was a place where my children felt safe so they could focus on learning. School is where my children thrived and blossomed as unique individuals.It saddens me to see this state, and many other states, trying to take away that sense of safety and acceptance at school for kids that are different in some way. Despite what those people claim, schools are not grooming kids to make them gay or trans. Those kids were already trans or gay inside, or feeling like they might be gay or trans. What changed from forty years ago is that kids no longer have to be afraid of showing their true self at school. They are safe to explore their identity and interests without being shamed or harmed.It is a beautiful thing that children today have more freedom to make their own choices about who they are and how they want to live when they become adults. Taking that away from them would be wrong. Please, dont let fear of people that are different force our youth into boxes they dont fit in and dont want to be in. Having grown up being repeatedly shoved down into that box, I know how painful that can be, and how the pain never fully goes away.

02-22-2023

Monica Leo-Jenks []

Please don't allow this meanspirited bill to gain traction! It serves no purpose except to make people feel bad. That's not the Iowa way! As a teaching artist, I have worked in schools all over the state and in numerous other states. We have some of the best teachers in the country; please allow them the discretion to teach the best way they they know. If you're worried about children receiving information they aren't old enough to understand, regulate the internet instead. Teachers do valuable work giving context to misinformation children get online.

02-22-2023

De Zenor []

Please let educators not politicians determine curriculum. Parents can talk with their teachers in person if they object to a certain lesson and the student can receive an alternative assignment. Please dont regulate our public schools from the statehouse. Let local school boards give guidance. Also, I believe we should support public schools not private schools with our tax dollars.

02-22-2023

Jacob Couppee []

I'm writing to oppose this bill. Parents already have a substantial amount of say in their children's education. They can opt for their child to be exempt from any curriculum or chapter of a book for any multitude of reasons. If that is sufficient, they may choose to relocate their child to another district and, now, can utilize vouchers to remove them from public school entirely. Adding additional scrutiny to education that penalizes teachers, student, and parents that choose to embrace a more open and welcoming form of diversity educations is not only arduous and persecutory, it's completely unnecessary and seeks only to further divide Americans by further restricting personal liberty and freedom. Both facets of American life that are the highest of protected values according to our state constitution, our inclusion in the US system, and even by our flag. Any parent can, and has the right to, remove their child from such educational efforts. But punishing those who wish to remain and learn is not the mark of a free state. Rather, it's the drive of an oppressive regime bent on destroying anything it deems as "other." Such regimes have no place or business in American political theater, as George Washington himself once stated "Happily, the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance..." This bill proposes to give both sanction and assistance to such ideologies, and therefore must be denied a vote and must be thrown out of the halls of the state capitol.

02-22-2023

Burke Strand []

You folks are overstepping and you know it. This is heavily biased legislation that in the end only benefits the party temporarily, sometimes causing unforeseeable consequences later. Please step away from this one.

02-22-2023

Mefferd, Marti []

This is not a good bill. Parents do not design curriculum. A certified educator does. The schools and school boards determine the duties and instruction. They can make suggestions to school board

02-22-2023

Deb McMahon [Retired NEA, ISEA, DMEA]

In your discriminatory manner and arrogant way, your policies may lead to more suicides for those whom you have pulled the welcome mat out from! Stop trying to dictate your morality while damaging our kids who deserve to be heard and welcomed!

02-22-2023

Julianne Hackett []

SSB1145: This bill doesn't establish parental rights regarding their child's education. It removes the parents responsibility and places that responsibility upon the educators. It is ludicrous to think that this law and others directed at public education will protect student from experiencing LGBTQ, HPV and HIV education. Student will resort to learning this information from their peers and the internet which is likely to be inaccurate. Passing this law will not make these issues go away! I have read comments from legislatures regarding kids pursuing sex change without their parents knowledge. This is not only untrue but impossible in our state until the child becomes of legal age. I would encourage each legislator to educate themselves regarding the processes required before a child can proceed with sex change treatment/surgery. Stop basing your vote on the untruths that you are hearing from a small number of your constituents and start representing ALL of us!I have included the website for the U of I LGBTQ clinic in hopes that you will take the time to educate yourself prior to voting on this legislation.https://uihc.org/services/lesbiangaybisexualtransgenderqueerandquestioninglgbtqclinic Best Regards,Julie Hackett

02-22-2023

Susan Petra [member of LWV Justice Committee]

I spent over 10 years becoming a professional in the field of education. I don't presume to tell a physician how to operate. It's hightime educators are treated as professionals. Let us do what we are prepared for. Public comments, questions & suggestions are always heard. But, do not tell me how to teach Truth. Or keep me from teaching Truth. Or attempt to limit the breadth of my knowledge.How is it some people claim to be 'Christians' but want to harm our youth by ostracizing some? What part of Christianity don't you understand? Their lack of understanding whatall goes into educating youth for the world we inhabit, is sorely evident. Let the trained Educators educate.

02-22-2023

Erin Elgin []

I am weary of the paranoia surrounding these kinds of bills, trying to fix an imaginary problem. While I agree that age appropriate materials sounds really good, the creators of this billwho I suspect were not residents of Iowaspent a lot of time spinning fantastic imaginings of all the "lewd" material that kindergarten through third graders will be exposed to. On top of this, the bill proposes that it would be OK to attack the school boards for noncompliance, then fine the school, then escalate punitive damages for something an outsider could deliberately misinterpret to support their claims. Public schools deserve more funding and parents should be aware of what their children are learning. But, seriously, requiring extra paperwork and documentation for something that doesn't actually happen? As underfunded as the public schools are, who is going to process all this CYA paperwork? Will teachers have to do it? Or will a Dolores Umbridge equivalent be appointed to oversee the school's compliance? We have real, genuine problems in Iowa's educational system: high burnout, turnover, inadequate wages, risk of bodily harm due to gun violence, and students who are more anxious and stressed than ever before. This legislation does not make any positive changes for Iowa's students in the future. It clutters up the legal texts with garbage and wastes people's time. As a parent of a middle schooler, I'm disgusted that the bill is removing education about HPV and HIV and that the plan is to publicly shame institutions and students on websites. There is no right to be forgotten in the U.S. and students' private information should remain private. Listen to the majority of Iowans who are not in favor of these new changes. Do not pass this bill.

02-22-2023

Summer Parrott []

As a Ceritifed Health Education Specialist and as someone who holds a PhD in Health Education and Promotion, I can attest that recent research supports increased health education to improve health literacy and decreased negative health outcomes. Give parents the right to opt out of health classes if they disagree, but removing critical health information from school curriculum is dangerous, irresponsible, and unsafe.

02-22-2023

Steve and Mona Gude []

Please oppose SSB 1145. As the parents of three kids who went through public schools in Iowa, we know that it is important for parents to be involved in the children's education and that families have a right to opt out of school activities if they so choose. However, they don't have the right to dictate to all other families in the school, district, or state. This bill should not advance out of your committee.

02-22-2023

Karen Maass []

I grew up in Iowa in a small farming community. I attended public schools . My Dad served on the school board. My family and my Dad would say that the politicians need to stay out of the classroom. We did not elect them to determine what is covered in the classroom or for them to ostracize certain students . The community wants all children of any gender, color, physical, mental or behavioral disability accepted into the classrooms. Politician should not be telling our community what books we can have in our library and what topics we can discuss. We did not elect them for this. We trust our teachers in our community . My Dad took his job on the board seriously and knew the community, the teachers and the staff better than someone sitting in the State house. Please stay out.

02-22-2023

Nicole Scott []

I would like to express my STRONG OPPOSITION to SSB 1145. This bill is NOT about parental rights, it is about fear and hate. Not teaching about LGBTQ+ people until high school invalidates families. How is a first grader going to make their family tree if she has two Moms? And if the teacher responds and acknowledges her family tree, the teacher faces a draconian fine? I am lesbian. I grew up in rural Iowa, going to Mass and CCD weekly. I had no examples of queer adults in my life, and I was loved by my mother and father in a single family unit. My sibling is straight. And yet, Im lesbian. My sexuality was not influenced by all of the heterosexual adults that made up my world. I grew up thinking that I was less than my peers. I was very aware that I wasnt like my friends in just this one way. Thinking that somehow teachers are plotting to turn students gay is, frankly, incredibly misguided. I couldnt be turned straight by teacher, my church, or my parents. Please, there is no recruitment of students to an LGBTQ+ life. I believe my story illustrates this. I had a thousand examples of a straight life. What about nicknames? Many are do not have a specific gender attached. If Andrew and Andrea both want to be called Drew, does the teacher really need written approval?! But this isnt about straight students, and I realize that. This is about invalidating students who dont fit YOUR model of a good kid. LGBTQ+ students are already SO much more likely to feel so isolated that they attempt to take their own life. Do we want more young lives to end in tragedy? Iowa is better than this bill. Please, vote no.

02-22-2023

Nancy Brown []

Banning books? Are you kidding me?!! Who's afraid of the big bad book? Stop offending us all with your horrible, no good, very bad decisions. Oops, I used literary references and showed off my education, there. Leave the curriculum up to the experts and forget about your "Go to Sleep like a good sheep" agenda.

02-22-2023

Julia Williams []

Just STOP with this cancel culture! This legislature needs to back off our skilled, dedicated teachers & let them teach. The world is much bigger than Iowa & to compete in a global market, students need ALL the science, history, math. Truth matters! Silencing voices only hurts our children's education. Underfunding Public schools hurts our next generation and those looking to move to Iowa. (Not to mention the brain drain of people looking for a more equitable type of learning) This effects all of us. Do not destroy public education.Parents have plenty of choice. Attend conferences! Chat with teaches. DO NOT IMPOSE YOUR STANDARDS FOR ALL. Choose the books for your home & leave us the same privilege.

02-22-2023

Aimee Bartlett []

Vote No. Parents already have a role as gaurdian and have a voice in their childrens education if they but reach out to the school and teacher. Legislators should protect the rights and liberties of all. These are not new topics and have had a place in the approved Iowa Dept of Education curriculum for years with no issue. There is no issue today that requires this legislation. Vote No.

02-22-2023

Pamela Wilson []

I have a gay grandson who came out in high school. He was later that year nominated to the winter dance court. this was in 2012. I thought how nice that gayness was accepted. And it was in Iowa until this legislative session. Being LBGTQ is not a choice, it is a fact of birth like your hair color. I worked with teenagers for 25 years in a mental health facility. Some who were LGBTQ had supportive parents. Some did not. I have known teens who have been battered, kicked out of the house and disowned. Gays do not recruit others to gaydom, they live and love quietly, for the most part. This bill will cause irreputable harm to some. Please do not take the decision to discuss a teen's sexuality away from them. Their life is hard enough.

02-22-2023

John Weston []

You must have lost your minds. For the party for smaller government you are sure doing big government moves to violate a person right to the pursuit of happiness. As an Iowan and Transfemale moves like this are dangerous to Americans as well as the future of Iowa because it will chase away not only younger voters but also show Iowa as a state of intolerance willing to compromise human decency for the sake of a dollar.

02-22-2023

william erdmann []

I hope all of you will condemn this hateful and nonsensical bill, Iowa used to be an LGBTQ haven in the midwest, we were a pioneer in marriage equality and set standard for education for decades, now you fools want to throw all of that into the toilet, and it makes your constituents sick. If you cant figure out how to fix anything perhaps you should all just go home and leave education along.

02-22-2023

Sarah Cisco []

Vote NO. What is wrong with teaching kids about AIDS/HIV? It is a disease. It doesn't matter how it's contracted, they should learn about it, the same way they learn of other diseases. Bottom line here, the GOP is trying to make sure kids are overly sheltered, undereducated; and are listening to a tiny group of super conservative Mom's. Listen to Iowans!!! All of these bills coming forth lately have shown to have very low support across Iowa, yet you continue to not listen and you vote against your constituents. Iowa is becoming a backwards hateful place to live.

02-22-2023

Terri Fritcher [- Select -]

I don't support this government intrusion into the private lives of citizens, especially our children. You will do more harm than good. You will have families leaving Iowa along with good teachers. We will be ranked so low in education. Just to own the libs. What happened to "small" government?

02-22-2023

Susan Van Woert []

I strongly urge each member of this subcommittee to vote to stop this bill, SSB 1145, from moving forward. I find such irony in the obvious cherrypicking by some legislators while claiming to prolife. Once these sweet babies are born and become school aged, then they are not worthy of the rights they deserve if they identify as LGTBQ or to know the actual history of our nation? That seems ludicrous. This legislation will impact the quality of life for many students who identify as LGTBQ. Many students are in situations where their home life would not be safe if outed to their parents. Trusted school employees are often a haven for them to learn to safety navigate living as they identify. Similarly, how can sharing information with students about HPV vaccinations be harmful for students? This legislation will not keep them from having sex. Some will not get the information they need from their doctors or parents. Hiding ones head in a bushel basket has not kept teenagers from engaging in sexual activity in the past. Rather, NOT having this information can lead to death by cancer. I urge you to allow teachers who go through so much training to do their jobs and protect and support our young people from ignorance, stereotype, and hatred. Finally, only when our children truly understand our nation/states true history, can we make the necessary changes to make life better for all. Let them learn the facts so they can make a better for ALL students regardless of their religion or skin color. Please stop this bill from moving forward.

02-22-2023

Abigayle Allen []

While I like to think the drafters of this bill have their heart in the right place, in practice such laws serve to do nothing but further marginalize children that already feel different and are at wildly higher risk of abuse from the very individuals that are supposed to care for them and this bill would further limit the options available to support these children in living a life that they deserve (and choose for themselves!)

02-22-2023

Jennifer Arturo []

With this bill you will be ending lives. Forced cis conformity will cause homelessness and suicide. There will be homocides of lgbtq youth and adults because of your hateful beliefs. Blood will be on your hands supporting this bill

02-22-2023

Carey Sahu []

This Bill will be detrimental Iowa educational system. I teach at Benton Community. I invite any Law maker and public official to visit Benton to have realistic view of public education . Educators are caring members of society. Students do need to protect from teachers and school systems.

02-22-2023

frances renfer []

I taught for 43 years! And of this is so dangerous for students! All students need to feel wanted, safe and be represented! Shame on Iowa Republicans. May all their children and childrens children be wildly diverse! Maybe then they will understand!

02-22-2023

Kahri Plein []

I do not support SSB 1145. As an Iowa parent, I already have parental rights over my children. My childrens public school has never infringed on those rights. If I do not wish for my children to read a book thats in the library, I will talk to my children about that myself. I do not need Iowa legislators to ban that book for everyone, especially when that book was chosen by teacher librarians who have been extensively trained to select books for a diverse population. Public schools love parental support and have processes in place for disagreements, including processes to question instructional materials and library books. I do not approve of legislation that bans books and creates unnecessary bureaucracy and this bill does both. This bill will only further contribute to the teacher shortage that we have in our state, eroding education in a state where it used to be a partisan priority.

02-22-2023

Lisa Hughes []

This bill will have so many unintended consequences that can already be pointed out.Not educating on HPV, the vaccination and how this virus is linked to cancers that could be prevented is being very short sighted. Why wouldn't you want teenagers to know that there are steps they can take to prevent a cancer? Are we going to stop educating on other actions that can cause cancer as well (smoking, sun protection...)? These are some very basic and cheap things that are preventative measures that could impact their health.Blocking children from identifying the name they want to be called in school impacts more than just the Trans community that you are targetting. It means anyone who is developing their own sense of identity and independance by wanting to go by a shortened name (Kim vs Kimberly, Sam vs Samantha, Bob vs Robert), wanting to go by their middle name, initials or a nickname will also have no choice in the matter. Why does it concern people so much on what a child prefers to be called? Does it really hurt you to hear someone called Lizzy instead of Elizabeth? That should honestly have no impact to your well being at all.This seems to remove more control from the local school board. Let the local communities determine if these are actual concerns within their school district instead of forcing even more larger government control. Thought the governors biggest saying 2 years ago was 'trusting Iowans to do the right thing' seems like you no longer believe that?

02-22-2023

Jim Glasson []

Gov. Reynolds massive education bill, including limits on LGBTQ education, nicknames, HPV curriculum and encouraging forced outing is a slap in the face to the majority of Iowans who are NOT ASKING FOR THIS, although I don't doubt that the small outofstate group like Moms for Liberty is pushing for it. This bill would also trample on the autonomy of local school boards. I thought Republicans liked local control, but evidently that is just lip service. Stand up for the majority of Iowans that strongly supports public education and inclusion, not your outofstate donors who are using you to wage a culture war.

02-22-2023

Kari Straube []

This bill seems to be an overreaction to inactive parenting. All parts of this bill already apply to schools, minus the penalties. Rather than penalize schools, let's consider the legislative cost of this bill to implement. Right now, curriculum and other items are posted in online classrooms. Parents generally have access to those classrooms but do not take the time to utilize it. Rather than pass laws that very few people will utilize in a meaningful way, let's consider ways to encourage more parent support of schools and school children. Let's incentivize being an active participant in your child's schooling rather than a reactionary inflictor of punishment.

02-22-2023

Kimberly Bahrenfuss []

As an Iowan, I am against SSB1145. Teachers are not responsible for telling parents about gender identity of students. I propose you write a bill giving ultimate control to parents, that if they wish to know how their child identifies, the parents have the right to ASK their child!!!!

02-22-2023

jonah higinbotham []

If I had been outed when I was a transgender student, I would've faced horrific amounts of discrimination and emotional abuse at home for it, worse than I suffered when I actually came out. This bill is dangerous, helps no one, and discriminates for no other reason than you don't like us existing.

02-22-2023

Teresa Baustian [citizen]

This bill serves no useful purpose. It reeks of having been crafted by interests opposed to public education and that by bombarding educators and school administrators with fussy but hostile nitpicking, our once exemplary public schools will be no more. But I especially wanted to voice opposition to the entire concept of a list of books to be removed from school libraries. This is not only an affront to the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution, but to the parental rights that the current administration touts. It should be obvious to Iowa legislators that whereever books are removed from a library at the behest of one group of parents, every other parent has just lost their right to make their own evaluation of their child's access to those books. And this affront to parents' rights and constitutional rights is magnified, if that decision in one school district obviates the rights of the rest of Iowa parents.

02-22-2023

Cassie Peters []

This bill is dangerous. People should be allowed to use nicknames and learn about health issues including sexually transmitted disease to prevent those diseases from happening. Anti LGBTQ laws are terrible.

02-22-2023

Lee Robida []

Just stop the hate of LGBTQ folks. Stop listening to a minority of folks who only want to divide Iowans. We are ALL CITIZENS of the same Iowa Constitution. It's scary as if were living in Nazi Germany, 1930's and the taking away of the rights of a few citizens, by one mad leader.Try to understand Trans Children and LGBTQ citizens.Are we going to allow one Governor, to deny the rights of a few, as those that wish to bury their hands in the Golden Dome Sand Box of Ignorance in the State Capitol city of Des Moines.STAND UP for ALL IOWANS.

02-22-2023

Lee Robida []

02-22-2023

Joann Eaton []

As a public school educator for 31 years in Iowa and a parent of three children, I am opposed to the SSB 1145. There is NO way teachers have the time to waste recording every book and all materials we choose to use to educate our students. Teachers need to be TRUSTED to make sound, educational decisions in our classrooms to educate our students. I have over 1,000 books in my classroom and use a variety of materials to meet the educational needs of my students. I dont have the time or energy the proposed documentation of materials would require. Please, treat educators like the professionals we are and start supporting us, rather than questioning our morals and ethics. I invite you to come and spend a day in my classroom. I believe you may have a different perspective on what public school teachers are really all about.

02-22-2023

Nathan Morton []

I dont even know where to start. This is a horrible bill attacking ALL children. I am opposed to this bill. This bill weakens the protections of all children and their educational opportunities based on whatever rightwing panic of the day is at play. Today its trans kids and black history, but these will not be the only targets. Eliminating protections for anyone is an attack on everyone. Deciding which history counts means no factual, evidencebased educational topic is safe.

02-22-2023

Laura Heithoff []

As a physician, when my husband first saw this bill, he frustratingly yelled, "Fine...give all the kids HPV and cervical cancer. Look how Indiana had a HIV crisis after denying education and prevention!" (And we REALLY wonder why physicians don't want to be here anymore.) As a teacher, I cannot understand how we are actively in the business of unprotecting kids and endangering them. You are living in a fantasy if you think all children come from safe families (Wasn't that part of the reason we HAD to go back to in person learning during COVID...kids were being abused??) Kids that are LGBTQ+ are already vulnerable and the adults in their lives need to be helping them and not actively hurting them. This includes YOU, lawmakers.I've lived in Iowa all my life except for the three years my husband was in residency and I've never been so embarrassed to tell others where we are from. I used to be proud to say I was from Iowa.

02-22-2023

Ann Meyer [None]

Respectfully, Do what is right. I ask that you give this bill a test. 1) Does it make the educational system better? Fairer? 2). Is this bill for the betterment of all children? 3) is this bill based on truths found in the United States Constitution?If not yes to these questions, then do not further this bill.

02-22-2023

Anne Wilmoth []

I am a lifelong Iowan, parent of two, and children's librarian. I trust my children's educators, who are trained and licensed, to teach scientific facts about human growth and development, including that HPV and HIV are diseases that exist, along with all other school curriculum as they see fit. I also value a school environment that is safe and supportive for all students regardless of gender identity. Finally, I trust trained and certified school district librarians to select books for their school community using reputable, longstanding professional trade journal reviews, bestseller and awardwinner lists, and established vendor websites, which is exactly what they are doing. School librarians are trained in collection development, intellectual freedom, and privacy, and they hew to these professional values by making selections of appropriate books for their students. Parents should have discussions with their own children at home around what books they cannot check out, if they are moved to do so. They do not get to decide for ALL children. Research shows schools with a trained teacherlibrarian perform better academically. Research also indicates the increased suicide risk for trans and nonbinary youth; protect trans kids and support them rather than further targeting them. They are children who deserve protection, too.

02-22-2023

Lisa Coffey []

Vote no. We need to allow children to feel safe in school and to be able to express themselves as they learn who they are. Children need to understand that they may not be identical to most others in their life and that's ok. Teaching that we are a binary is harmful and forces them to feel like if they do not fall in 1 of 2 boxes there is something wrong with them. Allow teachers to teach. Allow teachers to teach based on helping the students that they have in their classrooms. Allow teachers to be advocates and compassionate to the young persons they are teaching. Allow teachers to do their jobs & be the compassionate people they are

02-22-2023

Dessie Sliekers []

I am strongly opposed to this bill and urge you to vote NO. This is an omnibus bill aiming to roll a number of hurtful bills against LGBTQ youth all into one and its shameful. The aim of these bills is nothing more than to discriminate, ostracize and erase trans kids and all kids in the LGBTQ community.

02-22-2023

Chris Friedrick []

I cannot understand how a bill like this is being considered in my state. This bill goes against the consensus advice of essentially every medical association and organization. It will harm people. It will literally kill people. It will make our children less ready to encounter and excel in an evermore diverse society. It will criminalize good teachers and good teaching, thereby greatly exacerbating our already severe teacher shortages. And it will be a warning beacon to employers who might otherwise choose Iowa for their businesses and workers and citizens who might otherwise choose Iowa as their home state. Nothing good will come from this bill. The only beneficiaries will be a few religious zealot parents who are uncomfortable with discussions about gender, sexuality, DEI, etc. may have a minute possibility of putting off those discussions for a short while. I regret that my state no longer seems to be the welcoming, inclusive state we used to be.

02-22-2023

Kathleen Sharff []

Ths hill is trying to legislate parenting, censor mental and physical health, and promote discrimination. During formative exploration years of children, this bill will harm their mental and physical health. It is proven that children who are denied selfexploration with name changes, gender identity, sexual orientation are at a higher risk of suicide. This bill will harm many more children than it proposes yo help. The HOV vaccine is proven to prevent cancerwhy would this bill try to prohibit a life saving vaccine? Please read scientific research on all these topics. These are not political issuesthey are health issues. Everything in this bill is contrary to the well being and good health of our children. I oppose this bill. Vote no.

02-22-2023

Thomas O'Dopnnell []

We all want to protect children. We want them to be healthy and live long lives. This bill, sadly, doesn't do that. I puts schools and children in impossible positions. Schools must out a possibly trans student to their parents, or not provide that student the best environment for them to learn. This bill would insert state employees school adminstrators into the parentchild relationship. Do legislators really want that level of government intrusion? Trans students, meanwhile, would have to come out to their parents prematurely, risking their mental and physical wellbeing, or continue to suppress their true identity and suffer the psychological toll, including a greater risk of suicide. I believe schools should accommodate a student's wishes while counseling them to come out to their families as soon as possible to end this uncomfortable situation.The bill's measures to end education on HPV vaccinations also puts kids' lives at risk. Without this information, fewer boys and girls will be protected against a deadly preventable disease. This information doesn't compel or require children or parents to get the vaccination. It merely outlines the risks and the fact this vaccine is safe and can save lives.

02-22-2023

Stacy Young []

"Letting parents decide" means not allowing Moms 4 Liberty to make decisions for all Iowa parents. Let books remain. Let HPV and AIDS education remain. Stop threatening penalties for teachers and parents.

02-22-2023

Tiffany DeBow []

In Iowa a minor has a right to a degree of medical privacy starting at age 13. If they do not want their parent in their medical appointment, the parent is not allowed. Minors are their own people. They have a right to privacy even from their parent, especially if that parent poses a safety threat to that minor. Any why would we not teach kids for to stay safe from an STI like HIV/AIDS and a way to protect themselves from cancer caused by the most prevalent STI, HPV. How does any of this help our state? Vote no.

02-22-2023

Julie Zaugg []

The section of SSB1145 concerning book selection has a very simple winwin solution. Step #1 Require schools to post a list of all their library books on their webpage. Step #2 Post on the webpage a form to print out or submit electronically where parents may list all the books they do NOT want their child to read. The school must acknowledge receipt and put into action within (insert the time limit the senate approves of). No more steps are needed.This gives parents complete, quick and easy control of what they do not want their children to read. This gives other parents complete freedom from having their childrens choices limited by other parents. It spares parents from waiting for a ruling and waiting longer if they appeal. It prevents one schools ruling from impacting every other school, which is antilocal control.This is called compromise ladies and gentlemen. ALL parents will get what they say they want control of their own childrens reading materials. How simple is that? All the legislators get what they want supporting parents.Legislators say this is about parental control. So prove it.

02-22-2023

Tammy Burton []

How pathetically sad that some people believe that this is a valid use of legislative business. it seems like you are paying more attention to rumors and salacious misinformation than actual education needs. How low iowa has been brought by a base group of people.

02-22-2023

Kristen Friedrichs []

Please do NOT push this bill forward. This is a bad bill with tons of negative consequences. It also tries to "solve" problems that don't even exist. Please leave our public schools alone. Please leave our LGBTQ+ students and families alone. Your constituents do not want you to micromanage our schools. Again vote no on pushing this bill forward.

02-22-2023

Jason Agne []

Hi. I know you republicans don't actually answer to anyone who lives in the state, Corey DeAngelis is your de facto king, and your mind is made up no matter what anyone who lives here says, but I thought it would be helpful for the people who study this a hundred years from now to see that we weren't all angrily fostering whatever imaginary resentments your owners paid big money to tell us to foster. We're just outnumbered by those who are. I know this will affect you in no way other than maybe a slight chuckle at how it doesn't matter in the slightest if someone understands the situation you're still going to do it and you have a whole multimedia infrastructure ready to blame Democrats for the fallout; feeding the rage addiction of your base still further, in place of actually doing your job. It's not that I don't think you can change, it's that I'm convinced you take pride in tricking people into giving you what you want instead of earning it. At some point everyone imagines themselves getting recognition or praise for some accomplishment. It's sad to see a whole party dedicated to wanting the recognition and praise but by pointedly not doing the work needed to accomplish it, instead focusing all effort on putting up the appearance of having accomplished something (or at least the appearance of the other party being at fault for standing in the way). But I suppose that's what one should expect to be rewarded in an ideology so topheavy with narcissists who must maximize the return they get on any cost, with no consideration for the fact that the person they are making a deal with should also see some return because while you republicans seem to have a lot of trouble contemplating the idea of genders maybe not being so well defined, you sure don't have any trouble seeing grey area when it comes to defining a human worthy of their dignity. It's all a transaction and you've found a buyer that will give you money in exchange for inflicting a little more misery on the state, contribute to the fake grievance culture of the far right, and help in any way to inject as much toxic divisiveness as possible into everyone's daily lives. You ought to be embarrassed by yourselves but I know you are proud instead. The thought that you might be hurting people can't really weigh on your mind if you don't actually believe they are people. And without that weight it's impossible to come up with a convincing argument other than maybe "what if we set up a gofundme to match what your owners are paying you to, instead, do your job right?" But of course I'm not going to do that. Anyway we pretty much already have that with ActBlue, available for any of you to take advantage of by just being a Democrat. The fact that you aren't means it's not really about the money, which suggests it's about the pain. You're doing that on purpose, and so there is nothing anyone can say to convince you to stop being that way. The only possible hope is to drag it out into the open so that maybe the rageaddicts who voted for you consider how shallow and meaningless it really is to be your stooge. I don't have much hope that it will work but it is democracy to try, so here we are.

02-23-2023

Paul Schreier []

As a former crisis counselor, I am shocked at your ignorance and hatred toward LGBT students. Your negligence will lead to more suicides in a very vulnerable population. You should be ashamed of yourself. And speaking of ashamed, only weak and ignorant people ban books. Why are you afraid of letting people think for themselves? You've done enough to destroy public education in Iowa. Stop this nonsense!

02-23-2023

Donella Pauli []

The first thing I did before I decided to comment is the first thing all members of this committee should do: read the comments!Out of all these comments there are only two with which I don t agree.This is a terrible, hateful bill that will hurt our children. Parents dont tell a doctor how to perform surgery so why should parents tell teachers how to teach!Each school should take care of any book that a parent finds objectionable. Use the Reconsideration process. That is what it is for!When I first read about the part of this law that forced teachers to tell parents about any mention or discussion of gender topics, I just felt sick! So many students have no adult in whom they can confide so they choose a favorite teacher. If you take that away from them, what will they do? In my 43 years in education, I had students come tell me many things in confidence. I always kept that confidence, but urged them to share the problem with their parents.We just need to care for, support, and nurture all our young people. We cant discriminate against them.Please vote NO on this bill!

02-23-2023

Patricia Benson []

There is so much wrong with most of the line items in this proposal that it should all be dismissed. As an RN,I am particularly appalled by the idea of removing education regarding HPV and HIV/AIDS, and ageappropriate gender and sexually information from school curriculums. Also it is unreasonable to micromanage schools regarding curriculum posting. If this is required you will need to pay educators a much higher salary by withdrawing the funding for ESA's and putting it into public schools' coffers.

02-23-2023

Robert Mueller [PFLAG Mount Pleasant]

The reason we have a society is because parents are no allknowing. None of us are allknowing, but we need to provide a welcoming environment for everyone to have an opportunity to learn.The state is certainly the last group that should define what is and what is not the proper schooling and environment for children. Its role is to provide safety while advancing our society.The legislature and the governor need to get back in their lanes. There is strength in diversity. There is a great potential for harm in a onesizefitsall approach.

02-23-2023

Tom Smith []

I'm an honorably discharged veteran with a service connected disability. This bill is an embarrassment to the time I spent serving this country. Review the history behind the Don't ask, don't tell policy of the 90s. And those were adults, not children that this bill is targeting. This bill is outright discrimination against LGBTQ children. Ban books? Stop disseminating education about viruses? Stop embarrassing our state with these bills, stop bowing to pressure from a few.

02-23-2023

Ashley Laux []

As the mother of two daughters enrolled in Iowa public schools, I stand in opposition to this bill. This bill is harmful for children and families at many levels. One specific example: it is important for my children and others to learn about the HPV vaccine and HIV/AIDS as part of their health curriculum.

02-23-2023

Lori Vanlo []

This bill is atrocious. NAZIS love it though! Good job, you're following suit to a regime that killed millions. This is how it starts, you deny existence to a small group then keep going. Don't believe me... Google holocaust lgbtq+

02-23-2023

Dana Means []

I respectfully request that you each vote NO for this bill. The members of the legislature are neither health professionals or educators. This is a solution to a problem that doesnt exist. Please spend time, energy, and money on legislation that will improve the lives of ALL children in meaningful ways. Fully funding public education would be a great place to start.

02-23-2023

Brenda Schumann []

Let elected local school boards decide what is best for their district. One district should not rule all districts As a former teacher I feel you have no respect for the dedication and hard work of teachers. Schools are under funded and this can add more expense.

02-23-2023

Holly Herbert []

Banning forms of education and literature one does not argee with is a form of censorship and is one of the cornerstones of fascism. Do you want to be known as a fascist? If not, I urge you to stop this dangerous piece of legislation before it ever has a chance to reach the floor.

02-23-2023

Barbara Ferris []

This attempt to "Christianize" our public schools is going to destroy this country. How pathetic that the GOP continues to pass legislation making it easier to put guns in every persons hands and endanger our kids lives, now they want them to die from a disease which is HIGHLY preventable by informing them of a perfectly safe vaccine! Your idea of freedom is free to do what we , white Christian nationalist, say you can do. This is facisim!

02-23-2023

Jennifer Briggs []

I 100% support SSB 1145. This is common sense legislation and basic parental rights. There was a day such things were not needed to legislate through, but that day is no longer. Please pass this bill. It is vital.

02-23-2023

Mandy Gilbert []

Thank you for writing this bill that keeps parents engaged in their students education and aware of mental health and safety concerns while at school. After reviewing the comments, its clear many have not read or have been led astray on what this bill accomplishes. Others seem to believe children will be harmed by this bill and that majority of parents are not involved, caring parents. If that is the case, then CPS should already have been notified. Education is a PARTNERSHIP with parents and teachers. Some schools have lost that idea. We raise our children, are their first teachers in everything and do not need a teaching certificate to tell anyone that we will love them and care for them a million times more than a government agency. Sad that others dont feel that way. Thankful for the many teachers that care and teach my children but their upbringing, morality, safety, mental health is parents primary responsibility, not the school. This responsibility even means accessing material that a parent knows is harmful to their student, such as books that promote visiting porn sites for a student to explore their sexuality. No. While the worldview and unfortunately democrats have decided to make this a partisan issue, porn in images or written explicitly, should not be accessible to all children. Glad this bill will give transparency that many parents need to help them make decisions for their own child. Makes zero logic why anyone believes that parent approval is banning books. If you want your child to access books with explicit sex abuse, links to porn sites, then sign a sheet. Why are the democrats so angry that parents know what is accessible to their kids so they can decide what to opt out of? Unless they truly believe its the schools job to create a wedge between them and parents values. There are cases and bills being enacted across the country after many students have been harmed by parents not being notified of their students activities at school, read Sages Law in Virginia. Thankful Governor Reynolds cares about all students and parental rights.

02-23-2023

Pam Gronau []

There are many good aspects of this bill and I appreciate the Governors efforts in putting it forward. Parents do bear the ultimate responsibility for the upbringing of their children and I appreciate the Governor standing for parental rights.

02-23-2023

Cj Benes []

Children need time for fun, time to play and laugh and share. They need affection, respect and encouragement. They need security that is given with boundaries that will allow them to overcome their fears and give them a sense of safety. They need honesty experienced when adults admit their own mistakes and how they learned from them. They need patience and understanding when they make mistakes and for adults to remember they may be trying their best. They need to be taught forgiveness and how it feels much better than holding a grudge. They need encouragement and praise and love. They need others to appreciate their unique abilities and talents and to know how great they really are. To achieve this we need legislation that supports it and not some tangent that doesnt take children to a better place. Children need this common sense approach and protection.

02-23-2023

Jane Robinette []

I oppose this bill for many reasons. If one school district removes a book, that should not apply to every single school district around the state. One parent should not get to decide for all of the other parents in Iowa. This is absurd and antidemocratic and antiAmerican. A civics test requirement for graduation would impose an unnecessary obstacle to a high school degree, especially for those for whom standardized tests are difficult. Not mentioning HIV and HPV or its vaccine would put lives at risk, considering that HIV is still active and the HPV vaccine has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by a huge percentage. Prohibiting any mention of gender identity in K3 is a drastic "solution" to a problem we do not have. School employees should not be mandated to out their students for using a different pronoun or a nickname. Please oppose this bill.

02-23-2023

Katie Liskey []

I am a product of Iowa public schools as a 2020 graduate of Waukee High School. I was proud of my education and felt supported by my district and state at the time. However, I am ashamed to be from Iowa now due to bills like these. This bill serves no one. All that will be accomplished through the passage of harmful legislation like this is increased discrimination and struggle for groups of students who are already at a higher risk for suicide. If you claim to be "prolife" then maybe you should prioritize the protection of already living students instead of passing completely unnecessary laws to put them in even worse situations. Do better, Iowa.

02-23-2023

Cara Muta []

I strongly oppose this bill! Please do not allow this bill to move forward! We dont need the Iowa government parenting for us. Parents have always had a say in their childs education. They only need to communicate with their teachers, attend school board meetings and conferences, and pay attention to their kids. If they dont want their child taught certain things, they can opt out. But most parents know that school curriculums are created by knowledgeable professionals who have spent their lives wanting whats best for all kids. We should let them do their jobs without interference from legislators.

02-23-2023

Wendy Snelling []

Wow, could we go any farther in endangering the lives of kids? Honestly, who doesn't know someone that identifies with the LGBTQ community? They deserve to live their best lives. This bill is catering to the minority. Aren't you supposed to listen to the people and what we want? Iowans are not hateful, we care about children. In fact, I thought we we're making great progress in accepting all people and celebrating our differences and then we all know what happened. The flood gates we're opened and a few think they should make decisions for all.I say NO! Please reject this bill & stop the hate. Just stop all the hate. We have so many more issues that you could be working on besides endangering the lives of kids. This is dangerous and cruel. The fact that you want to remove education regarding HPV and HIV/AIDS is appalling. Please vote no. Thank you for your time.

02-23-2023

Ruth Henderson [Retired Teacher and Grandmother]

There are several items in SSB 1145 that I object to but as a former science teacher I must point out that omissions to human growth and development curriculums is wrong. I taught human growth and development for many years to both junior high and high school students. As uncomfortable as it could be at times, providing my students with current and factual information about disease and its prevention was an important part of their education and preparation for the realities of sexual contact. I would have been negligent had I omitted important information about vaccines that could save their lives. Information about HIV, AIDS, HPV, and the HPV vaccine needs to be required, not optional, in human growth and development and health curriculums.

02-23-2023

Kay Kopatich []

I am deeply disturbed by this sweeping bill that interferes with students lives and even places vulnerable LGBTQ children at risk. SSB 1145 is not needed! Please stay out of Iowa public schools with ill advised bills like this! They are doing a good job of teaching our children.

02-23-2023

MELISSA MCALLISTER []

My name is Melissa McAllister. I am a small business owner and resident in Ankeny, Iowa. I volunteer weekly in the schools, working with students directly. I am writing to you to beg you to vote no on SSB1145. This bill is incredibly dangerous and harmful to students who are in the LGBTQ community. Conversations with elementary school students about gender identity and sexual orientation are never about anatomy or sexual activity. They are about what families look like, respectful interactions with otters, and interventions to address bullying. This bill removes tools that keep kids safe.SSB1145 will negatively impact the mental health of LGBTQ youth at a time when its already in crisisa recent study shows 44% of LGBTQ youth in Iowa seriously considered suicide in the last year compared to 18% of nonLGBTQ youth. America is a country of freedom of speech and freedom of ideas. Those freedoms end when politicians begin censoring certain ideas simply because they find them uncomfortable. Parents already have the right to make decisions on what their children readthey can opt their child out of any instruction or reading assignment they deem inappropriate. Parents do not have the right to make decisions about what OTHER children read. Our public schools already have policies and procedures in place for challenging books.And, now were going to outlaw discussion of HIV and HPV? This bill will lead to so many terrible consequences for Iowans. Denial of a thing does not make it cease to existit just leads to an uneducated, atrisk society. As a mom of a transgender child, I beg you to prioritize the safety of LGBTQ kids over the discomfort of adults. I beg you to respect our public school teachers and let them do their jobseducating ALL children. I beg you to vote NO on advancing SSB1145.Melissa McAllisterAnkeny, Iowa

02-23-2023

Michelle Dalby []

There is no hate in wanting schools to do what they were created to do...TEACH my children. READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC are what the schools should be teaching. Anything outside of that is the parents choice. I have the right to have my children go to school and not be groomed in different sexual orientations but to receive an education so that they can graduate and find a career to continue their lives in a successful manner. Let's put the focus back where it belongs by supporting this bill.

02-23-2023

Kathy Geronzin [None]

This is highly dangerous legislation. The ramifications will be great and put students at risk because they need education on STDs and Iowa should allow schools to speak to students about issues that are important to them. Not all parents are nice people, passing this bill will put many students at risk. As a result of this legislation some students will die. Do NOT pass this horrible bill.

02-23-2023

Rosemary Kirlin []

I oppose passage of SSB 1145 as a whole. I read through the bill & it appears the majority of the bill is based on several false premises. The bill states pornography, sexually explicit material & sexually instructive material shall not be taught in school & if any such material is taught or shown to children the school shall be warned & then fined. I do not believe pornography has ever been taught or shown to school children in public or private schools & I do not believe the hysterical, histrionic people & frequently out of state people who make those claims because those who make those claims have done & are working to weaken & damage public schools & they have a clear political agenda that opposes the good of all Iowa students. I also oppose banning age appropriate education that deals with gender dysphoria, with gay individuals, and refuses to teach age appropriate information about HIV positive individuals or AIDS, and refuses to teach that people who receive the HPV vaccine BEFORE they become sexually active will prevent 80% of all cervical cancer & will prevent 90% of penile warts & penile cancer in adults (source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stdshivsafersex/hpv/shouldigethpvvaccine) I oppose any legislation that promotes the spread of sexually transmitted viruses that can cause cancer in adults who have sex in any position & regardless who a person has sex with. That is against the protection of human life. Also, I oppose involving the school district & the state in a students painful gender dysphoria in a way that requires reporting a young persons gender identity to parents or the state; especially the requirement to report a childs temporary or permanent gender identity to the state. This bill will increase the bullying & the suicide rate in children who are already vulnerable & in many cases subject to bullying & physical abuse. The state of Iowa should seek to prevent bullying & to decrease not increase the sense of separation that leads to a higher sic rate in children with gender dysphoria. Also, contrary to conservative, science free ideology there is greater genetic variability in human chromosomal make up than most people know of. (Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sexredefinedtheideaof2sexesisoverlysimplistic1/) I oppose any regulation that removes the requirement that all students & teachers be fully vaccinated for all common communicable diseases in order to protect the health & safety of all students in a public & private schools. The lives, hearing, eyesight, & healthy brain development of children in all schools deserves our full support. Vaccine disinformation, the idea that vaccines are harmful & not helpful to children is misinformation that has no basis in scientific research or fact. Online research is not in fact scientific research & is misleading. As a RN with a Masters degree in Public Health I oppose any effort to prevent age appropriate teaching information about the HPV virus, how slowly the HPV virus grows in the human body & how the HPV vaccine will protect children who are not yet sexually active from developing several forms of cancer in both females & males many years later as adults. Failure to teach age appropriate information about & that fails to require age appropriate children of both sexes be vaccinated against this endemic & almost entirely preventable cancer virus shows a callous disregard for human life. I also have serious doubts whether a state that openly expresses hostility & chronically underfunds public schools will actually adequately fund special education & the transpiration required for educating special needs students who are in private schools who may also need transporting for part of the school day to public schools that provide special education.This entire bill seems poorly thought out & entirely unnecessary in its current form. I oppose passage of this bill.

02-23-2023

Karen Karr []

I strongly disapprove of book banning! All this sounds like Nazi Germany. I support public education. I also strongly disapprove of giving state tax money to wealthy parents for private schools! Leave public school teachers and librarians alone! Stop being mean to gay students; they are born that way. Fully fund public schools and special ed programs!Karen Karr Council Bluffs, Iowa

02-23-2023

Judy Plank []

Please do not pass SSB1145. Right now, Iowa schools have a teacher shortage. State legislation as to how and what teachers must teach is better left to teachers and their local communities. If teacher openings in Iowa are to be filled, we should be making our schools safe for teachers, as well as students. Please do not continue to be involved in teaching and our schools. TThank you.

02-23-2023

David Alexander []

Support this bill! Education has been a honey hole for the Democrats to spread their lies. Parents deserve the right to know what is being taught to their children. They deserve the right to say no to surveys, literature and sexually explicit materials. Let's improve education and focus on how to be better children for the future with innovative ideas. Education is broken, let's fix it!

02-23-2023

Kathy Meyer []

Vote no. As a retired middle school teacher, Im opposed to your hateful legislation. This bill will place students in danger. Please let educators be the experts in curriculum and stop making these laws that discriminate.

02-23-2023

Kelli Wolf []

Please oppose this bill. As a proud Iowa public educator, I know Iowa is better than this, and our children deserve better than this. Dont encourage hate. Dont act contrary to what pediatricians and mental health experts know. Students need to be validated for who they are. Students need to know the facts about deadly STDs.

02-23-2023

Bridget Porto []

This bill is dangerous and will put so many lives of children at risk. For many youth, home is not a safe place, and school includes trusted adults to confide in. Imagine growing up hearing that everything you ARE is wrong, evil, and disgusting. Outing students will have devastating effects, and all because parents want to limit their children's view and experience of the world.

02-23-2023

Eric Saylor []

This is an appalling bill that the sponsors should be embarrassed to put forward. At no point in history have we looked back on those people who wanted to ban books, legally discriminate against minority groups, promote scientific ignorance, and limit individual rights and said, "yep, those are the good guys!" This is harmful, bigoted, and just plain mean. It helps no one, it improves nothing, it solves no problems. It will harm children, families, schools, teachers, and communities. It should be rejected out of hand.

02-23-2023

Bethany Kohoutek [NAMI Iowa]

Access to both longitudinal and pointintime data is critical in assessing youth mental health in order to target resources and support to children who need it the most. Different populations and demographics have different challenges; data is our ally and important tool in our toolbox when it comes to understanding childrens specific mental health needs. NAMI Iowa has concerns about any legislation that would reduce or restrict the ability to gather data. Thanks to consistent and widely delivered assessments, we can pinpoint reading and math scores by district, by grade, and even by school building in order to evaluate where our kids need extra help. We are able to screen and identify hearing and vision challenges, thanks to effective assessment tools. Why would we make data collection more difficult or onerous when it comes to our childrens mental health? We need more information, not less, when it comes to understanding the real mental health challenges our children are experiencing.

02-23-2023

Mary Kenyon []

I oppose this bill as it is harmful to young people. Our students need to learn about HIV and HPV so that they can make informed choices about their health. This bill exists because some parents don't want their children to have this information. This is all the more reason to make sure they learn this in school because we clearly can't count on all parents to educate their children. Tragically, we also can not count on all parents to support their children through the challenging emotions associated with self discovery. For those who do not find a safe and supportive adult in their own home, schools provide a safe haven. It simply is not the case that school employees are *leading* students to question their identities. Rather, when students are seeking a safe space for this exploration and discovery, they often find it at school. If you take that away, you are actively causing harm.

02-23-2023

Adam Wright []

Iam saddened to see our legislature take this bill up. Unfortunately many LGBTQ students do not come from safe homes in which they can discuss their sexual or gender identities with their parents or families. Instead if a teacher has concerns about a student's gender/sexual identity, I would much rather see someone like a guidance counselor or school mental health professional alerted to consult with the student. What also makes this a bad bill is that 45% of LGBT students have expressed suicide ideation in the last year. Outing theses students to their families would likely cause a rise in this statistic in this state. As for the "nickname" portion of the bill or respecting what students want to be called is that, respect. Many of our state leaders go by nicknames including our governor, 1st,3rd and 4th district Congresspeople, many legislators, etc. Kimberly Reynolds, Zachary Nunn or Ashley Arezholz anyone? As for sexual education in the schools, I would much rather have students learn about STDs and other forms of sexual education through a professionally curated curriculum than from sources such as TV or the internet, or their friends, which they will learn from anyways. Having an education on these matters will help them make prudent decisions regarding their sexual lives.

02-23-2023

Rachel Krofta []

As a school counselor, I am very concerned about the effect this bill will have on student mental health and the culture and climate of Iowa schools.LGBTQ students are more likely to report feeling unsupported in their schools, leading to lower school attendance rates, increased reports of bullying, and less academic success. LGBTQ students also have higher rates of suicide attempts than their heterosexual, cisgender peers, and the number one factor in improving outcomes for LGBTQ youth is creating supportive, affirming school environments for them. The number one protective factor in reducing suicide risk for transgender teens is having a supportive, affirming adult in their lives. Frequently, this supportive adult is someone at their school. Using the correct names and pronouns of transgender youth is suicide prevention. There are LGBTQ students, families, community members and educators in every community across Iowa, and putting limits on teachers' ability to acknowledge their existence and teach students about acceptance of all genders and sexual orientations is a huge governmental overstep. Please allow educators to provide accurate, ageappropriate information about identity, including gender identity and sexual orientation, and in doing so, create accepting environments where students learn to love their community members. Please support educators who care about ALL Iowa students and Iowa students and families by opposing this harmful legislation.

02-23-2023

Amber Evans []

Please just back off and let schools do their jobs. Let teachers TEACH. Stop making decisions about curriculum when you have not actually been a teacher. The government does NOT need to control schools.

02-23-2023

Madalyne Rutledge []

This bill will be detrimental to all children in the state of iowa. Removing basic education on healthcare and HPV will only cause cases to increase. This is about children safety and education they would not receive elsewhere. VOTE NO

02-23-2023

Oliver Bardwell [Iowans 4 Freedom]

I support this bill. However the age range should be k12 or at least k8. We need to get "Back to Basics" in education in Iowa. It's not the purview of our school systems to be constantly surveying our children about their mental health and sexuality or teaching our children about gender identity and sexuality. We don't need to be giving free advertising to Big Pharma. Let teachers be teachers and let our children be children.

02-23-2023

Gayle Murray []

What happened to the Republican party being for small government and individual freedom? I no longer recognize this party and what they are doing to our state. We used to be at the top of our country in education. Under the Republican leadership over the past decade, we have free fallen,dropping far from our once stellar educational system. This bill is beyond micromanaging and is a slap in the face to the PROFESSIONALS who have invested their lives in learning and developing best practices for what and how to teach our children. They do NOT need nontrained,uniformed and/or illinformed people directing and controlling their careers. Parents have choice and can choose to be involved without all of these punitive, harmful laws you are trying to implement. Please stay out of the classroom and allow the people who are trained to educate to do their job. You seem to be legislating from a place of fear. The vast majority of educators are superb humans who dedicate their lives to the children they serve. They do not need nor deserve to be feared. It's despicable to see what stress you are creating for our educators. Do better. Be better. Stay in your lane.

02-23-2023

Carrie Wright []

I am in favor of this bill. Gender identity and sexual activity are not subjects that should be introduced on a broad scope to all kids K3. If needed, parents should be the ones to decide what to share in accordance with their beliefs.These ideologies Im afraid are a trojan horse being introduced under a guise of empathy, compassion, and inclusion, while they really are the seeds for Marxist, socialist ideas. Spreading divisive concepts such as your family might not be a safe space but the adults here at school know better and are your family. These are intended to turn children against parents and into activists, such as Mao did in China 50 years ago.The decision about whether a child needs the HPV vaccine which protects against a sexually transmitted infection should be left to parents. This is not a discussion for the classroom, and the classroom should not be an advertising demographic for Merck. Another serious concern is that the clinical trial for this vaccine was not controlled against an inert placebo such as a sugar pill, so the claim that it is safe is only a claim that its as safe as whatever adjuvants were used in the socalled placebo pills. Unfortunately, this is a common practice in vaccine trials, so its not surprising there have been 424 adverse events reported in Iowa, 10 permanent disabilities, and 1 death. This is not a vaccine that should be promoted in schools, especially when someone that doesnt need it, could take it, and become vaccine injured.

02-23-2023

Julie Evans []

I taught for 30 years, all of it in Early Childhood, PreK to Second Grade. I partnered with parents when I could. Not all parents have their child's best interest at heart. I was a Mandatory Reporter and in 30 years, made 10 referrals. Everything from neglect to physical harm.I also tried to instill in the children I taught that everyone has value. Your single mom, your two dads, your grandparents are all PARENTS. Should I not say, "I can't wait to meet your dads (moms) at conferences? I actually said this quite a few times.Public schools are the backbone of a free country. Fully fund, and LET TEACHERS TEACH!

02-23-2023

Kristie Wendel []

You are endangering our public schools, allowing Christian Nationalism to influence policies, and blatantly ignoring the majority of Iowans interests. I fear that you will continue to just bulldoze this beautiful state with hateful policy after policy. The facts are there and they are being ignored. Kim has chosen career and money over our state.

02-23-2023

Barbara Spong []

This bill would be hurtful for all students, especially blocking good student/staff relationships. Sometimes, school is the only understanding environment that student's have. I am very opposed to the bill.A retired teacher

02-23-2023

Debra Dorzweiler []

The Iowa Legislature should stop trying to micromanage schools under the phony guise of "parents rights." Parents have plenty of opportunities to be involved in their child's education, but shouldn't be dictating the educational process for other children.

02-23-2023

J Scott []

I am in support of this bill that will protect children in our schools. This bill has NOTHING to do with bullying but is protection to innocent childrens minds. Schools should not be teaching children about gender and confusing those children who are confident in who they are. Im also in support of not teaching innocent girls about vaccines in schools. Teachers are not medically educated to do so and this is a decision between the parent of the child and their doctor. A small child should not be influenced in school one way or another on medical decisions. Please vote yes to this bill and support children in Iowa.

02-23-2023

Sam Fett [Samanatha Fett]

Thank you for bringing this bill forward! I support it as it contains many things need for transparency in our schools. First, the bill requires school districts to give written notice to parents before giving a survey gathering mental or emotional information from students. I know these surveys are administered often, But truthfully, parents did not give permission to give these surveys. One eighth grader told me he received two in the last week, one of the questions was: Whos do you think suicide rates are higher? Males or Females He was confused as to why he had to answer these types of questions and his parents were unaware. I am not saying we need to discontinue surveys; this bill just requires parental consent before the survey is given. Second, I do support limiting teaching gender identity and sexual identity in schools. Right now this bill outlines restrictions through 3rd grade and I would like to see that expanded to 8th grade. Gender is an abstract idea, and based on the Erik Ericksons Chart, of the 8 stages of human development children are only able to start comprehending selfidentity at about the age of 13 and introducing it before then is irresponsible. I also appreciate the piece in this bill that strikes instruction related to the HPV virus and the vaccine. It is not necessary to advertise for Merck, the sole manufacturer of the HPV vaccine in our education system and especially in Iowa law. Let's add additional content to this bill that follows the Protections Act to protect our children from sexually explicit material in books, just like we do online. Its really simple and its not about banning any book.

02-23-2023

Berleen Wobeter []

I taught in a middle school family and consumer science classroom. I paid special attention to making my classroom a welcoming place during class time and any time students wanted a safe place to be In our community that meant safe for Latinx students. When students feel safe they will open up. As a teacher that means filtering through it all and deciding if anything further needs to happen. Are they talking about guns, suicide, family life, etc. the idea that a teacher would need to warn a student that anything they say might need to then go to a parent if I hear something, is not safe or realistic. There is no perfect science to this but image our words were constantly monitored and if we said certain things the police would need to be informed. This type of monitoring does happen in the world and the outcomes are not good. Also I lived through the frightening start of AIDS when we did not know what was happening and watched as so many died. Why would any civilized society want to relive any part of that. The ideas in this bill need to be stopped

02-23-2023

Courtney Collier []

I support SSB 1145.This bill and other bills passed so far in this legislature are working to redefine what is and is not appropriate for public school education. These bills are necessary due to the gross overreach by the education industry including the teachers unions. Iowa parents do not send their children to school to be indoctrinated into a belief system including radical gender identity ideology. This and other nonacademic classroom instruction is destroying our childrens education. These topics are also leading to mental health issues in our students.Our children should be free to learn at school without being encouraged and influenced to accept a pop culture belief system promoted by the radical left. Our students are falling behind in academics because the education industry is spending valuable classroom time giving surveys inquiring about student beliefs and family values, invasive questions about students physical and mental health and focusing instruction time on learning about the far left belief of neo pronouns and gender theory.This bill also requires that students learn real American history and civics. This is important if we want America to continue to exist. Shame on the teachers who are teaching that America is bad and racist and collectively blaming groups of students based upon their skin color. Shame on the teachers who are teaching that Socialism is preferential to American capitalism.This bill also gives parents clear access to what their children are exposed to in school. Parents should know and have access to every portion of their childs curriculum. This bill also remove the requirement for students to be taught about the availability of vaccines for HPV. This is inappropriate content for school. Teachers are not licensed medical doctors. Teachers should not be instructing children on the availability of medical products. This is a conversation for students to have with their parents and their doctors.Encourage you to make sure that you clearly defined what is ageappropriate for human growth and development classes as there are some very dangerous comprehensive sex ed curriculum trying to infiltrate K12 education across this country.Please make sure if any surveys are given to students that parents receive automatically a copy of the survey and the results if their student participates. Also please make sure parents are informed on who will receive the data collected from the survey on their student and where it is stored.This bill also talks about the schools being required to give a list of all persons and direct contact with students, I would encourage that you also make sure this includes details about third parties such as the LGBTQ organization Iowa Safe schools and other organizations.I have a little bit of concern about page 9 line 6 where it begins discussion about choosing to not notify a parent about a student who is changing their gender identity at school, because they are afraid the student could perhaps be abused so instead they suggest to report this to the department of health and human services. I see this as a potential way for many false accusations or false reports of child abuse to be made by teachers who personally disagree with this legislation. I would ask that this portion cautions educators that reporting a false accusation to DHHS can lead to charges. I also would like to address page 10 of the bill line item one where it discussed about a school district not requiring any minor child enrolled in the district to engage in any activity or instruction provided by a guest or outside presenter or any activity or instruction that involves obscene material without providing the parent or guardian at least 48 hours prior to the activity or instruction. Id like to know why is this here why would we allow anyone to come into a school with parent permission or not, on school grounds and expose children to obscene or sexually explicit material? I like that this bill makes it clear in new code on page 11 line 22 that a parent bears the ultimate responsibility and has a constitutionally protected right to make decisions affecting the parents or guardians minor child including decisions related to the minor childs medical care moral upbringing, religious upbringing, residence, education and extracurricular activities. Our children belong to us. Not the school. Not the teachers. Not the school district. It is their privilege to educate our children academically with our permission. Everything else is offlimits while at school. We must protect parental rights and our children from the harmful ideologies that have infiltrated ou k through 12 education system.

02-23-2023

Lindsey Hannan []

I oppose this bill because it creates onerous regulations on our public schools that are already stretched thin. The bill panders to a minority of parents that ought to be more in touch with how to foster their children's education while living in a modern society.

02-23-2023

Debra Jensen []

Establishing penalties for teaching factual information will result in good teachers leaving education. It will hurt our ability to attract quality educators. You are creating a teacher shortage crisis in Iowa.

02-23-2023

Sophie Steffensmeier []

Vote NO! Just because one person is opposed to a book doesn't make it fair to take it away from everyone else. It also baffles me why you don't want our youth to know about and be aware of HPV and AIDS/HIV, let alone telling them potentially life saving information to prevent it. Iowa is already suffering from a shortage of teachers and overall brain drain. This bill would only worsen it. Vote NO!

02-23-2023

Zachary Williams []

The simplest way to put this is that I am VERY MUCH against this bill. As someone who has always considered myself to align more with conservative/republican policies, I cannot align myself with this legislation. This law completely removes local control from individual school boards in creating a state wide book banning list.Do you really intend to refuse High School diplomas to students who don't pass the citizenship test? Will this become retroactive?Schools and teachers providing appropriate education to young elementary students are the first and best line of defense against sexual abuse and sexual predators. Section 279.77 removes this line of defense by disallowing programs and curriculum discussing safe touches and unsafe touches (sexual activity).I have trouble comprehending which parental rights are being preserved with this bill. There are many ways that students/teenagers rights are being infringed upon, but no parental protections being added.

02-23-2023

Loree Horn []

I support this bill; however, believe it needs to be extended to grade 12. The primary focus of our education system needs to get back to educating on the basics reading, writing, math, etc to prepare our children for college/trade school and beyond. Teaching/pushing gender ideology has no place in public school. This is an issue between a child and his/her parents and if further help is needed, with a licensed therapist. Sexually explicit books also have no place in a school library for kids to freely look at / check out. Keeping them out of schools or requiring parental consent is not book banning as many comments have falsely stated. It is not healthy for young minds to be exposed to this type of material and schools should not be promoting this. Please pass this bill and protect children and parental rights.

02-23-2023

Brenda Smith []

I appreciate that this bill defines what should be taught in our schools on an age level, getting back to basics. This gives parents transparency in the our classrooms. We need to protect our children from sexually explicit material in classrooms and libraries and this bill helps puts processes in place for that.

02-23-2023

Josh Yeager []

I support the text of this bill, but I urge a revision to encompass prek thru 8th grade. School should be a safe place to learn about the world and to love everyone in it, but ages under 14 (and arguably above) do not have the wherewithal to absorb a concept such as gender identity in all of the recently proposed nuances without confusion being introduced into their lives. It is more than possible to be caring of others without a comprehensive (though i don't believe the instruction is comprehensive) of who they believe themselves to be. These are things that even adults struggle with. Thank you

02-23-2023

Bernie Scolaro [Sioux City Community School Board]

As a current school board member and retired counselor, I am appalled at the overreach by our government in wanting total control over public education. This is NOT about parent choice (although it sure makes it sound like a good idea, right?). Pass this bill if you dont care about the mental health of our students. Pass this bill if you want a continued rise in suicide among our LGBTQ and trans students. Pass this bill if you want our quality teachers to flee the state or at least the profession. As a counselor, I would respect the confidentiality of my students and yes we would protect the student who was not yet able to tell family of who they are. This is all part of human developmental stages but that is also something you are looking to block. Please do not annihilate students, and increase the bullying and shame they ALREADY feel and deal with. I understand these issues are part of a national movement but it doesnt mean its right or right for Iowa.

02-23-2023

Kellie Nath []

Stop SSB 1145. All parts of this bill are government over reach looking to make problems and more hardships for Iowa's most vulnerable Lgbtq children. These kids know that the Governor and Legislature are coming for their rights! Iowa already has an above average suicide rate, why are their so many bills that will increase the death toll? I know so many families, like mine, that have called Iowa home for their whole lives and are now going to have to flee the state to save our children. Iowa Hate has replaced Iowa Nice. School should be a safe place. This bill would make that impossible.

02-23-2023

Lisa Petrie []

There are so many aspects of this bill I'm opposed to that it's difficult to know where to begin. But two things are especially egregious: punching down on trans kids, and creating a statewide "blacklist" of banned books. Also, it's sheer lunacy not to inform students about the potentially lifesaving HPV vaccine. We are becoming a backward state. Population growth is already slowing. Our young people will leave. It will be impossible to attract a trained workforce.Parents already have every right to review curriculum, and challenge materials. These processes are completely transparent. Parents have many opportunities to be involved in their child's education. Please get out of the way and let our school officials and trained teachers, librarians, and guidance counselors do their jobs.

02-23-2023

Rachel Williams []

I am the parent of 2 children, one in high school and one in middle school in Anamosa. I do not believe a statewide book removal list (essentially banning books at a state level), or statewide regulations regarding gender identity or sexuality, qualify as smallgovernment or local control. It is also not about parent rights or parent choice. Parents do have rights their right is to build a strong relationship with their child. In a loving, supportive relationship that fosters open communication, a parent will talk with their child to know what books they are reading, they will talk with their child to know what is happening in their life related to health and sexuality. Mandating schools and teachers on a statelevel, instead of decisions on policy and procedure being made locally, actually takes away my right as a parent for my children to access materials and engage in trusting relationships with caring adults in their schools. It takes away my right as a parent to be involved locally in decisions made for our school district.This bill removes local control. Our school boards have been elected by local citizens to determine what policies, procedures, and resources are needed in our community.

02-23-2023

Jennifer Allen []

I STRONGLY OPPOSE SSB1145. This bill seeks to sanction the bullying of LGBTQ children, families, and teachers. With these demographics already being at elevated risks of depression and suicide, this green light for discrimination and bullying is unconscionable. Of equal concern is the elimination of education about a VACCINE FOR CANCER. Withholding information from students about a vaccine that is universally recommended by qualified medical providers and can save their lives is utterly appalling. There is absolutely no harm being caused by this instruction, but here will undoubtedly be harm caused by it's elimination.

02-23-2023

Teri Patrick []

I support this bill. There are many items in this bill that ensure parents have the authority over the education of their children including; transparency in curriculum, prior consent on surveys and permission required on medical and gender issues. I also support the vaccineHPV instruction being removed from curriculum that is a personal discussion between family and medical professional. I appreciate the statewide notification on books removed. In addition I would like to see books follow the same protections and restrictions as districts use when prohibiting access to sexually explicit content on the internet and school issued devices Children's Internet Protection Act. Districts already acknowledge that this content is harmful to minors, I would like to see those same protections on books as well.

02-23-2023

Shelly Northway []

Vote NOSchools are to be a safe place for ALL students. School May be the students only safe place. Teachers and law makers do not know a childs home life. How can you guarantee students safety? A teacher should not hold that responsibility. Stop trying to parent our children.

02-23-2023

Anemarie Gane Ganea []

Vote yes for the bill. Local school board doesn't even acknowledge the parents anymore. They all vote against the parents and only for teacher's union. Every person is different, matures different. From what I noticed in last 2 years is a group of people who want special privilege and special rights. LGBTQZY...whatever it is has no place in schools. Someone's sexual preference, stays with them private, not in the classroom. Stop confusing children. This bill needs to cover children from K12 grade. Hopefully by then kids mature enough to research medical terms and really understand them. Is anyone taking real biology and anatomy anymore? that really helps understanding human body and all the changes that our bodies go through to mature. A book that is explicit on gay sex is not learning, and has no place in schools. If parents/adults are so adamant about the LGBTQZXY alphabet books they need to purchase them for their own library and explore it in their own time and place.Yes, I like to see the curriculum , I want to know what my child is learning in classroom. I don't agree with mandatory surveys and pronouns. I read some of them and definitely opted my child out of them. Yes. I am involved 100 percent in my child's life at school, sports, etc. So yes, this bill is great.

02-23-2023

Janice Dickerson [Iowa Association of School Librarians]

I am writing to express my opposition to SSB1076 Division II. As a concerned citizen and career librarian, I strongly believe that this legislation will deteriorate the quality of education for all students and will take away the expertise that teacher librarians bring to school buildings and communities.Teacher librarians have three primary focus areas in their curriculum: that is to create students who are passionate readers, discerning consumers of information, and responsible digital citizens. They are the experts at fostering these areas in their students and in building the library spaces and library programs that every school deserves. Teacher Librarians are highly qualified teachers and instructional leaders who are uniquely positioned to impact every student and every teacher in a school. Removing the requirement of a masters degree for K12 Teacher Librarians will leave more of Iowas children without access to the unique instructional opportunities provided solely by the teacher librarian. Iowas classroom teachers will also be without access to the collaboration, instructional support and resources provided by a certified teacher librarian. I urge you to make amendments to SSB1076 and to work toward alternative solutions that will better serve the needs of our students and our community.Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.Sincerely,Janice Dickersondickerson4packmchsi.com

02-23-2023

Judith Maxfield []

I am against this bill as it infringes on freedom of speech. I believe it can harm children and places the view of the few over the view of many. It breeds distrust of teachers by children who might confide in a teacher.Please do not let SS 1145 be passed on.

02-23-2023

Lois Taber [Retired Teacher]

Parents and educators need to work together for what is best for the children. Many companies with their ads and social media are using their influence to sway peoples beliefs. Loud mouth activists are trying to sound as if they are the majority in rule. If parents dont wish their children to be exposed to certain material in the school setting, that is their choice. Please respect their decision to guide their children and trust them to know their families needs the best.

02-23-2023

Cynthia Turner []

Dear Congress,This entire year this body has been trying to pass legislation to control and take away freedom of the citizens of Iowa. We do now need a small group of people to make laws and demand what we do in our local schools. Some congress people are making uplying about things going on in schools by suggesting bad books are in libraries and teachers are reading them to students. The problem is these people are not telling the truth and actually they are the only ones who have the nasty books. Congress members continue to allow to let these people have a seat at the table but won't let regular Iowans be heard. This is the same issue as we have had with the voucher bill. We voted for people sniffling our voices and need to get the Iowa voice back. Repeal vouchers vote the way Iowans feel. Truck companies over Iowa liveshow horrible!

02-23-2023

Rebecca Dirks []

Just look at the overwhelming public sentiment. Iowans do NOT want this kind of government involvement in our schools. There is a clear minority of parents who want to force their belief systems onto every public school student and teacher. Vote no. This bill harms students and will drive quality teachers out of our state.

02-23-2023

Rebecca Dunk []

Our children are the responsibility of their parents until the age of majority. Parents should have the legal right to all information related to their childs emotional and physical health. Parents should also have the right to decide if they do not want their children to have access to pornography and obscene material found in school libraries. For example, Assassination Classroom about students killing their teacher, Boy Toy about a twelve year old having sex with their history teacher, etc. etc. Unless something is done soon, we will have children who are experts about everything sexual but without the skills to be a productive successful adult.

02-23-2023

Laura Ebinger []

In addition to needless, non research based government intrusion into education brought on my a small vocal minority, this bill is bullying a vulnerable population. Also, the book objecting and banning is so tone deaf. We are losing teachers who feel our legislators dont trust them to teach and who weve unfairly put additional burdens on. Each classroom teacher has their own library in addition to the school library and youre putting a ridiculous burden on our school staff to catalog and monitor. Let our Iowa teachers teach. Let our students think for themselves.

02-23-2023

Sarah Chang []

My faith calls me to strongly oppose SSB 1145, a bill of massive government overreach by the supposed party of small government. The very few who support this bill frame it as back to basics education. But acknowledgement of diversity in the classroom does nothing to diminish learning of the basics, while underfunding public education and wasting districts meager remaining resources on busywork and defending dubious claims from anyone who feels like bringing one DOES diminish the learning of ALL students. This bill is an affront to every schoolaged child, and an attempt to impose the fringe views of a few parents on all of Iowas children. There are already systems in place for parents to opt their kids out of practically anything at school, and those with concerns should be using them on an individual basis, not censoring what information everyone else is allowed. There is no freedom when it is only offered to certain types of people. SSB1145 is reprehensible, dangerous, and inexcusably unAmerican.

02-23-2023

Betsy Fickel []

It is absolutely beyond any bit of common sense or logic that this bill should even be necessary. It needs to be expanded of Pre K 12. Why? Because those are the years of emotional manipulation, especiallt when getting too the jr. and high school ages. Teen females seem to be more prone to fad suggestions. IMO, most of the males that choose this is to gain entrance into locker rooms and lust satisfication. these are young people trying to figure out who they are in the quamire of life. Many have absolutely no direction and sway to and fro with the current wind of fads. I applaud the legislators and the parents bringin awareness and trying to control this absolute insanity. Years ago, when common sense prevailed, adults would have been committed to psychiatric care.

02-23-2023

Edie Freise []

Local control is a cornerstone of public education. Local school board elections and decisions are the appropriate approach to public education. Communities vary throughout the state and in keeping with smaller and less restrictive government, leave the decisions to local policy makers.Trying to dictate political agenda under the disguise of parent choice, is not in the best interest of all students. Parents are not educational professionals. Legislation must reflect local rule, respectful to all students and choices. For those families that want to discriminate and control the environment, they now can go to the funded private schools. The role of public education is to expand horizons and knowledge, not limit it to some narrow perspective. LOCAL RULE!

02-23-2023

Carrie Dodd []

Please vote no. It is not a parent or guardian's right to tell schools/educators what to teach or not teach just because they don't like something. Schools have always let parents opt their student out of things they don't like while everyone else gets to learn the curriculum a professional, licensed educator, with years of training and experience, has created and that has also been approved by building/district administration. Teachers should not have to worry about parents getting them firedI think they have enough going on without worrying about going to jail because a book said something one parent disagreed with. If the goal is to drive every teacher out of state or out of teaching, Republicans are reaching their goal. My question is: who will be left to teach?

02-23-2023

susan andersen [educator]

All children need to feel safe in school settings.These proposals do the exact opposite.Adults who care about ALL children should be able to give them support.When children don't feel safe at home, they need other adults in their lives to help them.The Iowa legislature does not appear to care about children.In fact, the adults, in this case, are acting out of their own fear notshowing regard to children.

02-23-2023

Edward Dunk []

Please pass this legislation. Parents have the responsibility for their childrens physical and emotional health until the age of majority. It is wrong for schools to hide information from the parents. Schools should focus on working with parents to instill values such as respect, kindness, dependability, etc. It is wrong for educators to tell children it is ok to keep secrets from their parents.Children do not have the emotional maturity to make adult decisions. Lets allow our children to enjoy their childhood without the concern of everything sexual.Books available in libraries should be age appropriate and never include pornography and violence.

02-23-2023

Amy Dea []

I am in support of this bill. Thank you Governor Reynolds for protecting Iowa students. I am in support of the bill extending protection to students K12. Parents are responsible for their children until they are 18 years old. We sacrifice in so many ways to instill our values in our children. The schools have overstepped and made it possible for parents to chose the school they believe is best for their child. Superintendents in an oversight committee on Monday doubled down on sexualizing our students in public schools. At some point the legislators have to take control of the damage these administrators are doing to Iowa students. I believe passing this bill will also provide better transparency in our schools.

02-23-2023

Anita varme []

Please stop the attack on our children! Every individual has the right to live their life on their own terms as ;pmd as ot doesdn't infringe on others rights. Please show some kindness and empathy when passing legislations.

02-23-2023

John Olsen []

Dear Committee Members, please vote against this bill. This bill only harms Iowans, rather than benefitting Iowans. Do not punish teachers for being accepting of ALL families and ALL students. What if one student asks the teacher about another student who happens to be transgender? What is the teacher supposed to say? They would not be allowed to say anything even if the transgender student is being bullied. In addition, not allowing teachers to teach about HIV and HPV is putting the future health of Iowans in danger. Did you know that currently the population that is seeing the largest increase in HIV is among white intravenous drug users? Let teachers teach about health with information provided by health experts. I would rather have students learn about how to avoid these diseases rather than contract them. VOTE NO on SSB1145!

02-23-2023

Concerned citizen Citizen []

I as an educator strongly support Bill SSB1145.Sex/Gender should be prohibited from educational curriculum.If teachers and unions would stay in their lane and spend more time on the basics such as reading, Writing, and math maybe Iowa students scores would start to show more growth. Iowa needs to go back to being on top for education.Parents should have authority over their childs education.Please vote YES for this bill.

02-23-2023

Jennifer Gardner []

Please leave schools to create policy and teach kids. That is what they do best. They have the training, knowledge and concern for ALL kids. I have so many issues with this bill. Please do not pass it!

02-23-2023

Barbara and Jim Dale []

We want Iowa's children and students to have the best education possible, preparing them for adulthood and citizenship. To us that means that each child's individual needs be met insofar as possible. Their health, personalities, interests, capabilities and characteristics need to have the respect and care of school personnel. Their home and family conditions must also have consideration, and if those present challenges to them or to the school, respectful communication should prevail.We believe Iowa's schools have traditionally maintained such standards, though in recent years divisive social issues have created stresses. Usually local elected boards of directors have managed to navigate these in concert with administrators and faculty.We hope that status will continue without the extensive interference or micromanagement of the Legislature. Laws must exist to ensure safety and uphold educational goals, but we object to legislators making specific judgments that encourage inequality in treatment of particular students and subject matter. We want children who are not white, affluent, cisgender, or of seemingly unlimited ability to have the same respect and consideration as "majority" students: to be made to feel they are persons of worth who can make their own contributions to society. When the schools model such community, we all benefit.

02-23-2023

Tracy Lucht []

This bill is a travesty, the latest in a string of disasters laying waste to public education in this state. I moved back here in 2007 to raise a family in large part because of the excellent schools. I wouldnt make the same decision today. I was once proud to be an Iowan. Now Im just embarrassed. Tracy Lucht

02-23-2023

Sandra Baringer []

I support the portions of the bill on civic education. I oppose the censorship of education about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. These portions of the bill are a threat to public health, and also involve the erasure of a very dark episode of US history during the 1980s when the threat of AIDS was ignored by the thencurrent federal leadership. Over 700,000 people have died of AIDS in the US, and the death rate peaked in the early 1990s at over 50,000 per year. People still die of AIDS at a rate of 13,000 per year. Withholding this information from children who are old enough to be sexually active, no matter what adults tell them not to do, is morally reprehensible.

02-23-2023

Ai Wen []

I am strongly against having the government involvement in public school's decisions on what and how the children should be educated. Please leave the job to the educators. Parents and guardians should for sure be involved in the kids' education, but that's what the school board meetings and conferences are for. It's not the government's job to determine what should or should not be done by the educators.

02-23-2023

Kathy Cunningham []

Please leave our teachers and children alone. Its already hard enough for lgbtq children in these trying times without you trying to take away their often only safe place. And if you want Iowa to have teachers please stop trying to force your beliefs and teaching methods on them. You should all be ashamed of yourselves if you vote for this bill.

02-23-2023

Teresa Weidmaier []

Against this ridiculous over reach in our schools. My sons is a 7th grader in public school. If you want to focus on real issues affecting pur students, maybe try fully funding public education rather than coming up w more non sense that teachers and admins have to deal with. Iowa is better than this.

02-23-2023

Gabrielle Eaton []

Iowans do not want these ridiculous rules being pushed by out of state special interest groups. Trust our public educators to make smart decisions for their students. I am the product of a quality Iowa public education. I did not need the state government telling my teachers what they couldnt teach me out of fear Id end up woke and neither does my child.

02-23-2023

Bonnie Stalzer []

The government needs to stay out of what and how our children are taught. You can not regulate how a child is raised and what to believe. That is the parents responsibility and if you take away or add curriculum based on one group vs another group our children are the ones who loose out. Our children should be taught REAL history, acceptance of each others differences, and that those differences are not wrong or hateful JUST different. If we allow this in our schools the government will be entering our homes next. STAY OUT!

02-23-2023

Amy Leister []

As a pediatric nurse for over 30 years, children need safety and support at school sometimes school is their only positive in life. Our elected officials need to focus on mental health access and care, education standards and funding for innovation, gun safety, and support for our teachers. This bill is harmful, deplorable, and simply wrong.

02-23-2023

Mary Knox []

I am against SSB 1145. I'm against all of the education bills. Iowa's education was not broken, until it was underfunded. Why is the party of small government forcing their value system upon educators and the population alike? We used to be naive enough to think that lack of knowledge about things like sexual transmission of disease, sexual preference, or even pregnancy, kept kids safe. But we got wiser. This happened 60 years ago. Please keep your legislation out of our schools. Teachers are our strength in Iowa. Let's reward those who teach, and start funding education again.

02-23-2023

Renee Nauman []

The current bills being proposed for the regulation and oversight of public education are a gross overreach by the government of Iowa and do no represent my, as well many others, beliefs or values. I grew up in a family of public school educators. My grandmother, my uncle, my mother, and now 2 of my sisters are all teachers/administrators of public schools. They are well trained, well educated, competent professionals in their field. They are well versed in child developmental stages, expectations, and limitations. They have been trained to adjust and modify their approach and content to appropriately meet the needs of every child, increasing their probability of success. They, teachers and school administrators across the state, should be the ones determining what curriculums should and shouldn't include. And just as parents can right now, parents can opt their kids out of certain content if they have strong reservations about it. This is no different than my profession. I am a nurse practitioner. I am medical professional responsible for offering the best evidencebased care available to my patients. As a trained professional I decide what is most appropriate for each patient. I educate them on it. And then they have the option to "opt out" if they don't agree or don't want to follow my recommendations. We must respect our educators professional abilities just as we respect our primary care providers. Allowing the government or parents make these oversight rules is like asking "Dr. Google" about your rash, abdominal pain, or swollen gland. Bad decision!

02-23-2023

Tucker Cassidy [Upgrade Medicaid]

I must say that as a taxpayer and the Sun, nephew, brother, and cousin to dedicated individuals who teach, there are many things with this bill that I have a problem with. And they are fewer than the folks previously mentioned.Also, as a individual who attended the University of Iowa to get a graduate degree in social work, I also understand mental health issues and the types of psychological trauma surrounding gender dysphoria. I do feel that the creators of this bill do have the children's best interest in mind. However, by forcing teachers to divulge That one of their students is questioning their sexuality to their parent, you are only ticking away one of the most sacred parts of a relationship between a student and a teacher. Teachers are there in ways that parents can never be. As a mentor, and adult that does not judge them, or as a safe nonjudgmental third party. Students oftentimes share parts of themselves that they feel they cannot share with their parents. And many times this is for good reason. It gives these kids an outlet to be supported instead of fearing the reprisal of how their parents will react. Teachers will always go to a parent to share things about a student, if the student feels comfortable with that decision as well. Obviously cases like where a student is feeling suicidal, the teacher is a mandatory reporter, and will act as such. But to force teachers to out their students for having questions about their sexuality is only removing a support network for that child.Teaching kids about STIs like HPV, HIV, and AIDS is absolutely 100% preventative sexual education that will save their lives. Typically, multiple forms of cancer are caused directly by HPV. Instructing children on the existence of these types of diseases, if anything, are going to most likely keep children from engaging in sexual activity before they are developmentally ready. And when you are dealing with developing adults, which children technically are, it's always best practice to give them information that will protect their health so that they can be all that they can be.On a personal note, I attended paralegal schools until I was in 6th grade. Even in parochial school, we learned about basic sexual health, anatomy, and the like. This was right around the time that HIV and AIDS had started sweeping across the US. We learned so much about the consequences and the responsibilities of sexual activity, and took those lessons to heart. Now that we live in an environment that has even more sexually transmitted infections and diseases, shouldn't kids know about these things in a safe and not judgmental environment? An environment that they can ask questions in? So that they better understand all of the consequences and health risks?Please, save these kids' lives and remove this portion of the bill from the rest of its legislation. It's just fool hardy and unnecessarily risking public health.

02-24-2023

Jane Leigh [Clinton Veterinary Clinic]

Please do NOT vote for this ridiculous and dangerous bill.Book banning is a slippery slope, and the government has no business trying to parent our children, or second guess our educators.

02-24-2023

Olga Lazareva []

I am writing to express strong opposition to the SSB 1145. I was born in former Soviet Union; I remember reading mimeographed Solzenytzin's Gulag Archipelago in secret. At that time, United States was viewed as a bastion of freedom and free speech where nothing like that could have possibly happened. It pains, angers, and confuses me to read that Iowa legislature is considering banning books in schools as a part of SSB 1145. The notion that parents must be able to control what their children are exposed to is a transparent excuse. One parent may be objecting to the book that other parents are perfectly fine with; why are the objections of that parent sufficient for banning books for all children? Most importantly, however, do we really want to emulate former Soviet Union in trying to control knowledge and information? Nothing good came out of that then, and I don't imagine the outcome will be any different now.

02-24-2023

Caciona Bernstrom []

The way you are all welcome to let neurodiverse and disabled children suffer and die to uphold the "Rights" of christofascists is repulsive. this state continues its slide into theocratic corpocracy and the Republicans love every second of it. The absolute fear that the GOP has of others being happy in lives that doesn't look like there's is so much projection and cowardice its seeping from their pores. This bill is an abomination and will end in dead children who choose suicide over the unending suffering that you people pout them through. shame on all of you that want this.

02-25-2023

Mike Sherman []

I strongly oppose this legislation. Our schools already have plenty of oversight and options in place to provide healthy opportunities for children and families. Please dont pull schools into your culture war.

02-26-2023

Susan Pundzak [retired public school teacher]

Parents have never had more say in curriculum. There are reconsideration committees and processes in place already. These punitive measures go beyond the scope of what the Legislature should be doing.Attacking public schools and teachers to carry out one person's vendetta is shameless.

02-26-2023

Emma Elam []

I am a queer parent of a kindergartner and this bill would actively hurt my family and families like mine. Children should be able to use the name that best fits them, whether that be a nickname or a name that fits their gender identity. Students should feel safe at school and gender expression is part of that. As to removing STI education from the curriculum that is a slippery slope to increased rates of infection and teen pregnancy. The best way to keep our children safe is to educate them and while some believe that should be the responsibility of the parents the importance of standardized education supercedes that.

02-26-2023

Stephanie Trannel []

Please do not support SSB 1145. This bill is a convoluted mess that does nothing to improve Iowa schools, nor does it do anything to improve students' lives, nor does it promote better educational outcomes. This bill is a ridiculous combination of things that some legislators have decided are scary. We get it, they're afraid of people who are different from them and they're afraid of students being accurately educated. I'm so tired of this legislative idiocy that's crafted nationally and being introduced locally. Please focus your efforts on legislation that actually helps Iowans.

02-24-2023

Fred Maharry []

I am very concerned about SSB1145. This bill will limit what educators can do to meet the growing and diverse needs of students. The bill will take even more local control away from educators and board members. Who will keep track of meeting all these requirements? This bill will create more unnecessary bureaucracy for public schools. Finally this bill will send the wrong message to educators and young people in Iowa at a time when we must come together and support all students in order to protect them and prepare them for the future. Thank you for considering my thoughts on this proposal.

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