Des Moines, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds has approved a plan to provide Iowa’s public K-through-12 schools three percent more in general state support for the next academic year.
Republican Representative Craig Johnson of Independence says it’s a nearly 107 million dollar increase.
The plan cleared the Republican-led Senate Thursday and was approved by the House yesterday (Tuesday). Democrats like Representative Eric Gjerde of Cedar Rapids say public schools dealing with escalating costs will have to cut staff and programs.
Other Democrats object to providing public schools a budget increase that’s roughly identical to the amount private school parents will start getting in state-funded savings accounts next school year. Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City says rural schools are in a financial crunch.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans have agreed to spend three-point-seven billion dollars on school districts next year.
Four House Republicans joined House Democrats in voting against the bill. Three of them also voted against creating state-funded savings accounts for the parents of private school students. All of our area legislators; Senators Evans and Taylor and Representatives Wheeler and Dieken all voted for the bill.
