Ames Tribune
An Iowa lawmaker on Tuesday called Ames Black Lives Matter at School week an abuse of power and misuse of resources, while district leaders defended the importance of affirming diverse identities in the classroom.
The district kicked off Black History Month on Feb. 1 with the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, during which teachers engaged students with a set of 13 guiding principles through free resources from outside organizations. Stated goals for the week included to affirm students diverse Black identities, offer them a sense of belonging they might not otherwise have been feeling, and expand students perspectives on Black history and life.
Iowa House Oversight Republicans Blast Ames School Officials For One-Week Black Lives Matter Curriculum iowapublicradio.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from iowapublicradio.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
New Ames special education director Thomas emphasizes system of supports
Ames Tribune
Adaptations made necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to offer Ames special education students new ways to be more involved in classrooms with their peers or access services at home, according to the district s new director of special education.
The district announced earlier in February that Deani Thomas would start July 1 in the role, replacing Darcy Cosens, who is retiring.
Thomas said she started working for the district in 2002 at Ames Middle School, her first teaching job, and has been in special education ever since. She is currently a special education and Title I coordinator, which is a job she s held since 2019.
An Iowa House of Representatives committee wants to hear from Ames Community School District officials how classroom materials were prepared for the district s recent Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.
Ames Tribune
There will be a few more students physically at Ames schools Monday than before, as a new state law promoting in-person learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic takes effect, but Ames Community School District says it is ready to continue to safely accommodate students in classrooms.
Monday s changes also come as the district gauges families interest for remote learning for next year.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed in January a law that requires Iowa school districts to offer a 100% in-person learning model for their students.
Some districts around the state, such as Des Moines and Iowa City, have subsequently had to prepare for thousands of students returning to classrooms Monday.