Mary Lou Freeman
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Fifty-Second District
Statehouse: (515) 281-3221
e-mail – mary.freeman@legis.state.ia.us
HOME ADDRESS
203 Villa Road
Alta, IA 51002
Home: 712-732-3781
House of Representatives - State of Iowa - Eighty-First General Assembly

FREEMAN FOOTNOTES

January 27, 2005

This session has started out with a whirlwind of committee activity with daily budget sub-committees taking up the large share of the morning, and standing committees meeting in the afternoon. While this format makes a lot of sense in that we are off to a good start and making good use of time, it does really make it difficult to visit with constituents who come to the Capitol, return phone calls and answer mail.

It is certainly proving to be an “education” for me to serve on the Economic Development Budget Subcommittee. While I am well aware of the Department of Economic Development and the programs they have to offer, I was not well acquainted with other agencies included under the purview this budget.

One of the agencies which presented to us this week is the Iowa Finance Authority. The Authority, under the direction of Mike Travomtina, works with communities in Iowa to provide affordable housing. In more recent years they have also made investments around the state for assisted living facilities and housing renovation. They are also working with the Main Street program to rejuvenate the second floors of main street buildings into upscale living spaces.

On Thursday there was an impressive display in the rotunda of Science and Math programs from around the state of Iowa. One of particular interest to me was the NASA Explorer School’s exhibit, a program designed to increase student interest and ability in math, science and technology by allowing them to apply them to real-world issues and problems. Funded by NASA, the program requires that a school district designate a “team” of 3-4 classroom teachers, 1 administrator and 1 informal member. This team is then trained by NASA to explore and utilize new avenues for teaching and learning within the school district.

Sioux Central Schools, Sioux Rapids, is currently the only school district in Iowa to achieve the designation of a NASA Explorer School. The Sioux Central team is motivated and excited about the opportunities that this program has allowed them to experience.

This week we have had visitors from Iowa Central Community College and area pork producers who were attending their annual awards conference.

Please stop by if you are at the Capitol. I can be reached via email at mfreema@legis.state.ia.us or mfreema@iw.net ; phone 515-281-7481 (weekdays) or 712-732-3781 (weekends)