Iowa
As Kim Reynolds pitches special education changes, Department of Education posts 29 new jobs
Kim Reynolds unveils plan to overhaul Iowa’s Area Education Agencies
Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa’s Area Education Agencies need to be overhauled to give school districts more control over special education services.
Special to the Register
One day after Gov. Kim Reynolds called for widespread changes to Iowa’s special education system, the Iowa Department of Education had already posted 29 job openings for a new Division of Special Education.
Reynolds used her annual Condition of the State address Tuesday night to call for an overhaul of Iowa’s nine Area Education Agencies, which assist students with disabilities.
Under current law, Iowa school districts send their state and federal funding for special education to one of the state’s nine AEAs and then rely on the AEAs to provide special education services to their students.
Reynolds’ proposal would give school districts a choice in how they use that money, allowing them to continue working with their local AEA on special education services or retaining their funding and using it how they see fit, including working with neighboring districts, hiring additional special education teachers themselves or contracting with a private company for services.
More: Kim Reynolds proposes in annual speech to boost Iowa teacher pay, overhaul AEAs, cut taxes
As part of the change, Reynolds is creating the new Division of Special Education, which will be housed within the Iowa Department of Education under Director McKenzie Snow.
If Reynolds’ proposal becomes law, the state would take about $20 million in funding that currently goes to the AEAs and use it to hire a total of 139 employees to staff the new Division of Special Education.
The job postings that went online Wednesday include the positions of division director, deputy director, several bureau chiefs and a number of consultants who would focus on areas like individualized education programs for students with disabilities, professional development, accreditation, finance, grants and more.
The two job openings with the highest salary ranges are the deputy director, at a range of $126,800 to $180,100, and the division director, at a range of $107,500 to $167,900.
Reynolds said in her Condition of the State address that the AEAs “operate without meaningful oversight.” She intends for the new division within the Department of Education to provide oversight of special education services in districts around the state, which she hopes will improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities.
Reynolds said the changes will benefit school districts by giving them more flexibility to decide how to spend their special education funding.
“In short, each school will decide how best to meet the needs of their students,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said the changes sound like the state is moving towards privatizing the services offered by AEAs.
“I know a lot of families with special needs children are so dependent on those services,” Jochum said. “My concern is this … it sounds like we’re beginning to privatize even the Area Education Agencies. This is going to have the biggest impact on rural Iowa.”
More: Perry shooting looms large as Iowa lawmakers gavel in. Here are some of their priorities:
Reynolds also used her speech to try to preempt critics who have accused her of cutting funding to the AEAs.
“Now, I know there are parents of students with disabilities who have been told that we’re planning to end the AEAs or even cut services their families depend on,” she said. “Let me speak directly to you: That claim is categorically false. In fact, we are notreducing special education funding by one dime.”
AEA leaders warned last spring that they faced what they called “unsustainable” budget cuts after the Iowa Legislature reduced their state appropriation by $30 million last year as part of the state budget, which Reynolds signed into law. Republican leaders said at the time that all but one of the nine AEAs still received more money than the prior year because of the state’s increase in overall education spending.
Reynolds’ proposal would also prohibit the AEAs from offering services other than those related to education.
At a rally in the Iowa Capitol on Monday, Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek noted that AEA staff responded to Perry to offer support to the community after the shooting — something that would be outside their authority if Reynolds’ bill becomes law.
“Our AEAs provide valuable resources far beyond just that of working with special education teachers,” he said.
Des Moines Register reporter Katie Akin contributed to this story.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.
Iowa
Two Iowans sentenced to prison for creating child pornography
Child abuse: What signs to watch for if you suspect it
Child abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional and medical abuse, as well as neglect. Learn about signs, risk factors, how to get help.
Wochit, Wochit
Two Iowans will spend decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to separate child exploitation offenses.
Martin Menjivar, 59, of Iowa City, was sentenced Thursday, March 26, to 42 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography possession. It comes days after Pry’Shayn Mosley, 21, of Fort Dodge was sentenced to 25 years for exploitation and receipt of child pornography.
Iowa City man picked up children from school, abused them
Menjivar, a citizen of Honduras, was charged in May 2025. In court filings, prosecutors say Menjivar was entrusted to pick up children, some as young as 5, from their elementary school and bring them to his wife’s home for after-school babysitting. In at least two cases, Mejivar used that access to get children alone and touch them inappropriately, recording the interaction on video.
Investigators reportedly found dozens of illicit images and videos on Menjivar’s electronic devices. Menjivar also previously worked as a school photographer in Honduras, and investigators found he had hundreds of photos from his former employment that focused on children’s clothed genitals.
“Defendant’s horrific actions of creating and collecting child pornography show violence against young, vulnerable children and a severe danger to the community,” prosecutors wrote in presentence filings.
Menjivar also has been charged in Johnson County with second-degree sexual abuse against two different children, apparently in relation to the same conduct. That case remains pending, with a plea hearing scheduled in May.
Fort Dodge man gets 25 years for enticing children
Mosley, who was sentenced March 23, was charged in January 2025. Prosecutors alleged that in 2022, he enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photographed or recorded it, and distributed the resulting pornography to others, including additional children.
In addition, during a warrant search that located drugs, guns and electronic devices containing child pornography, Mosley tried to get a juvenile at the scene to conceal drugs from the investigators.
Mosley pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation and receiving child pornography. Additional drug, pornography and exploitation charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Menjivar was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, while Mosley’s case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Attorneys for Menjivar and Mosley did not immediately return messages Thursday seeking comment.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
Iowa
Jada Williams among eight Iowa State players headed to transfer portal
Audi Crooks, Jada Williams reflect on loss to Syracuse
Iowa State’s Audi Crooks and Jada Williams discuss what went wrong in the second half for the Cyclones’ to fall to Syracuse.
Iowa State’s first-round exit from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament has triggered a mass exodus, with a reported eight players leaving the team to enter the transfer portal.
Junior forward Addy Brown announced her decision to “move on” from Iowa State and enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Tuesday, March 24.
“This decision comes after a lot of thought about my future and goals,” Brown wrote in a post shared to social media. “While it’s never easy to move on, I believe this is the right step for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue to grow and chase my dreams.”
By Thursday, March. 26, several other players followed suit. Junior guard Jada Williams confirmed she’ll be “pursuing my dreams elsewhere” for her senior season. She added in a social media post, “Iowa State will always have a place in my heart and I’ll never forget the Iowa State way.”
Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2025-26 season after playing for Arizona for the first two years of her career. William averaged career-highs in points (15.3), assists (7.7) and field goal percentage (41.7) in her lone season at Iowa State.
Iowa State freshman guard Reese Beaty, freshman guard Freya Jensen, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, sophomore guard Aili Tanke, junior forward Alisa Williams and junior center Lilly Taulelei all intend to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.
The transfer portal opens on Monday, April 6, following the NCAA Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Could Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks be next? Crooks declined to answer whether she would return next season following Iowa State’s 72-63 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, March 21. She instead said, “We’re all still processing everything and just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everybody is mentally OK through this tough time.”
Crooks had 37 points (17-of-25 FG) and five rebounds in the losing effort against Syracuse.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.
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Iowa
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