Hull, Iowa — Governor Branstad has signed a bill that will increase general state aid to public schools by 40-million dollars for the next academic year. Senate File 166 stipulates that the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2017 is 1.11 percent. Republicans say the move was fiscally-responsible. Democrats say the increase is not enough.
Boyden-Hull School District Superintendent Steve Grond says in the short term at least, it won’t affect their school district.
He tells us what those long-term effects might turn out to be.
To clarify, Grond says that the plan at this point is to eliminate an elementary position, but add a half-time high school position, meaning that under the current plan they would come out with half of a full-time position fewer teachers.
Grond says they are trying to be good stewards of the money they are given.
The bill passed the Iowa House 55-40 on February 6, 2017 and the Iowa Senate on February 2, 2017, 28-21.
