DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad’s executive order to create an office for bullying prevention in schools bypasses failed legislative action on the issue, but the Sept. 28 move raises questions about how the small office will tackle major problems.
Alan Heisterkamp is the director of the Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Northern Iowa, which will manage the Governor’s Office for Bullying Prevention.
The center has an operating budget of about $160,000, though it’s seeking $250,000 in state money. It’s unclear how much the center will spend on bullying-prevention training for Iowa’s school districts and other anti-bullying initiatives.
Some legislators and anti-bullying activists say a law is still needed to codify the executive order’s intent.
