(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad, First Lady Chris Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today rallied with over 100 Iowa students at the Iowa State Capitol to call for passage of the Bully Free Iowa Act of 2015. The students and Sioux City School District Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman joined the governor and lt. governor for a statehouse press conference, launched a new Bully Free Iowa web video and were scheduled to meet with legislators on the important issue of bullying in schools. The full Bully Free Iowa Act of 2015 can be read here.
"Every Iowa child deserves a safe and respectful learning environment. Together we can send a strong message to our children that bullying - whether it is in the school yard or on social media - is unacceptable," said Branstad. "The time to act is now, and let's act while students are still in school to send a message that their voices were heard."
"As a mother and grandmother, it troubles me to know that students are being bullied in Iowa schools and action hasn't been taken to prevent it," said First Lady Chris Branstad. "I was touched by the stories of Iowa students and teachers as we traveled the state on the anti-bullying listening tour. It is my hope that this is the year that we stand up to the bully and pass meaningful anti-bullying legislation in Iowa."
"Ensuring that Iowa students have access to a world-class education has been a priority of our administration since taking office," said Reynolds. "But if we are to continue to work to improve our schools, we must also act to provide a safe and secure learning environment that is free of bullying. Let's work together to give educators, students and school districts the tools to better address bulling in Iowa schools."
