It’s Teacher Appreciation Day today, where we thank the committed professionals who get up each day to prepare our state’s children for the future. And many of them in Iowa could probably use an extra reminder of how grateful we really are for all their hard work. Google even has a nice little “Doodle” for it on their search bar right now.
But if you were looking at Governor Terry Branstad’s schedule this week, you sure wouldn’t know what we’re celebrating today.
Branstad’s schedule this week is completely devoid of any type of teacher appreciation event today or any other day, even though it’s jam-packed with other activities. Today he attends a business roundtable, visits a water quality wetland, goes to a Home Base Iowa event, tours a pharmaceutical company and holds a book signing. Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds makes stops at a bakery called Sweet Freedom, tours Upper Iowa Beef and goes to the Swine Educational Center in Cresco (she definitely drew the more delicious schedule).
Later in the week Branstad participates in Tulip Time in Pella and recognizes Iowa Egg Month.
To be fair, Reynolds is visiting several high schools in Cresco and Bettendorf for STEM tours, capping it off with an appearance at a STEM conference in Urbandale. But it does seem odd that if Branstad can sign a proclamation for School Nurse Day on Thursday, he can’t also give a nod to the teachers working in those schools as well.
And it’s not like Branstad doesn’t give some attention to organizations or movements that don’t necessarily align well with his political base. Also on Thursday he signs a proclamation for National Day of Reason, which is a day advocating for the separation of Church and State, opposed to the efforts by the religious right to influence public policy.
So it makes you wonder if Branstad still feels a little uncomfortable with just how badly his administration has underfunded public education in this state, especially with his veto of the one-time school funding last year. School districts have been forced to lay off teachers all across the state and many positions have gone unfilled as they struggle with the meager increases that the Republican-run House and Branstad approve each year. While teachers may receive a lot of appreciation from their students, parents and community members today, they sure haven’t gotten much from their Governor – substantive or symbolic – anytime recently.
Here’s Branstad and Reynold’s full schedule if you’re interested:
Monday, May 2, 2016
Gov. Branstad holds administration’s weekly press conference
Governor’s Office – Robert D. Ray Conference Room
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, IA
9 a.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce meeting
650 S Prairie View Dr.
West Des Moines, IA
9 a.m.
Gov. Branstad attends Executive Council meeting
Governor’s Office-Robert D. Ray Conference Room
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, IA
10 a.m.
Gov. Branstad speaks at Iowa Student Loan Challenge
Des Moines Botanical Garden
909 Robert D. Ray Dr.
Des Moines, IA
3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Gov. Branstad attends Business Roundtable
Humboldt City Hall
29 5th St. South
Humboldt, IA
10 a.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds meets with The Denver Diplomat Group
The Dinner Bell
107 S State St.
Denver, IA
10:30 a.m.
Gov. Branstad visits Pocahontas County Water Quality Wetlands
Approx. 4 miles North of Gilmore City – West on 480th St.
Gilmore City, IA
11:30 a.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours Sweet Freedom Bakery
10 West Spring St.
New Hampton, IA
Noon
Gov. Branstad attends Kossuth County Home Base Iowa event
Iowa Lakes Community College
3200 College Dr.
Emmetsburg, IA
1 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends STEM Tour
Crestwood High School
1000 Schroder Dr.
Cresco, IA
2 p.m.
Gov. Branstad tours Pharmacists Mutual Companies
808 Hwy 18
West Algona, IA
2:30 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours Upper Iowa Beef
4614 US-63
Lime Springs, IA
3:20 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours Swine Educational Center
Howard County Fairgrounds
220 7th St. W
Cresco, IA
4:40 p.m.
Gov. Branstad holds Iowa’s Record Setting Governor: The Terry Branstad Story book signing
Mansion Museum
366 N Clark St.
Forest City, IA
5 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Howard County Economic Development Dinner
Howard County Fairgrounds Expo Center
220 7th St. W
Cresco, IA
5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Lt. Gov. Reynolds meets with President Paula Carlson and tours Luther College
Luther College – Dahl Centennial Union
700 College Dr.
Decorah, IA
7:30 a.m.
Gov. Branstad visits Hancock County Health System and Hancock County Memorial Hospital
Hancock County Memorial Hospital
532 1st St. NW
Britt, IA
9 a.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds meeting in Allamakee County on the Importance of the Mississippi River
Allamakee County Conservation Board Boat Ramp
427 N First St.
Harper’s Ferry, IA
9:30 a.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends small business roundtable
101 N Vine St.
West Union, IA
11:30 a.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends Buchanan County Home Base Iowa event
Independence American Legion Hall
205 2nd St. NE
Independence, IA
1:30 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds tours Swiss Valley
11744 Edgewood Ave.
Luana, IA
3:30 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends Eastern Iowa Construction Association Annual Meeting
Elmcrest Country Club
1 Zach Johnson Dr. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA
6:15 p.m.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends STEM Tour
Bettendorf High School
3311 18th St.
Bettendorf, IA
1:45 p.m.
Gov. Branstad signs School Nurse Day proclamation
Governor’s Formal Office
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, IA
2:30 p.m.
Gov. Branstad signs Day of Reason proclamation
Governor’s Formal Office
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, IA
2:40 p.m.
Gov. Branstad signs Iowa Egg Month proclamation
Governor’s Formal Office
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, IA
3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 6, 2016
Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds attend Department of Energy’s Quadrennial Energy Review Task Force meeting
State Historical Building
600 E. Locust St.
Des Moines, IA
8:30 a.m.
Gov. Branstad attends Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony
Oran Pape State Office Building
215 E 7th St.
Des Moines, IA
10 a.m.
Gov. Branstad attends Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day Ceremony
Vietnam Memorial
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, IA
11 a.m.
Gov. Branstad attends Urbandale Home Base Iowa Event
Urbandale Veterans’ Memorial
SW quadrant of 86th St. and Douglas Ave.
Urbandale, IA
1:30 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Reynolds speaks at Iowa Central Community College Graduation Commencement
Dr. John E. Hodges Fieldhouse
One Triton Circle
Fort Dodge, IA
6 p.m.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Lt. Gov. Reynolds attends STEM Early Childhood Spring Leadership Institute
Holiday Inn
4800 Merle Hay Rd.
Urbandale, IA
8:15 a.m.
Gov. Branstad attends March of Dimes Central Iowa Chapter March for Babies
DMACC Campus – Main Parking Lot
2006 S. Ankeny Blvd.
Ankeny, IA
9 a.m.
Gov. Branstad participates in Tulip Time activities
Pella, IA
2:15 p.m.
by Pat Rynard
Posted 4/3/16
