Statewide Iowa (RI) — Senate Republicans are making their initial offer on state funding of Iowa’s public and private schools.
It would be a per pupil increase of 1.75 percent for the next school year. Governor Reynolds has recommended a two percent increase.
Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, who represents O’Brien, Osceola, and Buena Vista counties and parts of Clay and Cherokee counties, is a retired superintendent who says the goal is to make the decision quickly, so school officials can make decisions on next year’s budgets.
Margaret Buckton is a lobbyist for the Urban School Network and the Rural Schools of Iowa. She says due to declining enrollment, 90 districts will get less state support next year at that level. This is happening as state law recently required them to begin paying higher salaries to beginner and experienced teachers.
Fort Madison School Board member Rachella Dravis of Denmark, Iowa, is a recently retired teacher, and she says school boards will have to make unpopular decisions.
Under the Senate Republicans’ plan, the increase in state funding for public schools would be $145 per pupil. And each state-funded account to cover a student’s private school expenses would get a deposit of over $8,100.
KIWA Staff Photo
