DES MOINES – After Iowans packed a statehouse public hearing last night to support school funding next year, State Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City voted for a 6% increase in basic state aid for schools next year.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from local school leaders, parents, and teachers that shortchanging our children will shortchange Iowa’s future,” said Rep. Steckman. “I was proud to stand up for our students today and support a 6% increase in school funding next year.”
An alternative plan offered by the Governor and Republicans provides only a 1.25% increase in school aid next year. If adopted, the Republican plan would be the 3rd lowest increase on record for schools and drop Iowa to 40th nationally in per student state funding.
Iowans from across the state came to a special public hearing at the State Capitol on Monday to tell legislators the Republican funding plan would raise class sizes, delay technology purchases, increase property taxes, and reduce opportunities for kids.
“We can invest in our future and keep the state budget balanced. After years of stagnant funding, our kids deserve world class schools and they can’t afford to wait another year,” said Steckman.
The bill, House File 80, now goes to the Senate.
Why do people think that money is going to make education better?
The school systems have all the tools they need now to create a quality education.
Better equipment, latest technology, better buildings, and more pay hasn’t worked.
This 6% nonsense is just to grab political acceptance from the voters who don’t have a clue what it takes to provide a good education.
And again politicians show no shame using our kids to get votes.
@watchdog-Iowa students are near the bottom not because of teacher salaries but because of teacher and union attitudes. Get rig of the unions and make them do the job they are paid to do and the grades will improve.
NO.
Be honest and straight with the Iowa public. Most of a 6% spending increase is for the
teacher union annual salary/benefits cost increases. Same demand and claims from
them every legislative session. A broken record just keeps on playing the same tune.
@Patrick M-Isn’t it a shame that children are losing because of union profit’s?
How can Bumsted say we are Number 1 in education? NO matter which side of the aisle you are on– it is just statistically not true. I applaud Sharon Steckman on her efforts to assure the students and parents that we can do better. It is shameful that we have 50 states and Iowa ranks 40th in per pupil spending in the nation. Yet, gov.Bumsted can put a 9% increase in the budget for his office??? For our kids to compete globally for jobs, we need to be there for them….Cmon Gov. get a grip.
Us vultures living off the flesh of the hard working PRIVATE CITIZEN deserve more comfort than you unfortunate non public servants. And as stupid as you are we will prevail.
Gee, that’s hard to believe? People benefitting from our tax dollars don’t think we give them enough? Hard to believe.
The average Iowan, (non government employee) is making less money than they did in 2009.
Gas price dropped, so right away raise the gas tax.
Schools who get a increase every year, who are showing declining results every year, think they need more?
Get real
@sad-every year they want more and more and show less and less results. It used to be unions were not allowed in the schools and our schools were rated number one and two in the nation. We had one principle and one vice principle with a secretary. We had one superintendent who had one secretary. Our football teams were always towards the top and our wrestling and baseball teams were number one. Then we got the unions and our schools and all their functions went down the tubes. You figure it out.
@sad cont.-I almost forgot, we had a hell of a lot more students then and a hell of a lot more schools. This was all before they allowed unions into our schools. Just look at Newman, a non-union school that is doing just fine. Now, what does that tell you?
Newman is an entire different thing. All area churches give a percentage, the Archdiocese of Dubuque gives a percentage, families pay a very high tuition, the Newman Foundation and Development Office raises a great deal of money, there are grants, local foundations give, God’s Portion’s Day raises over $ 200,000. The parents give a ton above and beyond tuition and fund-raisers. There are far less students than in the public system. You really cannot compare apples to oranges.
And, the religious community- nuns and priests are paid totally different that the regular teachers there, which saves money. They do not support as many sports and other activities, and clubs.
As far as tax money spent in education. Why is it ok for Fran McAffery and Fred Hoiberg to get paid over a
$ 1,000,000 of our taxpayers money?? Add the Athletic Director salary, asst’s, and UNI, Drake…. That would free up millions….
@MaryBeth-as far as I know there are no nuns and no priest teaching at Newman. And, you are right about it not being the same. they operate on a budget and don’t spend more than they take in. The $200,000 you talk about in God’s Portion won’t even pay Anita’s salary. There is no excuse for them getting a better education at Newman than at Mason City High except for the administration and teachers unions that demand more and more every year while producing less and less.
Cont.-As far as less students, that does not hold water at all. There are less than half the students there used to be and I can think of at least five schools that are gone but yet we now have three times as many administrators and millions of dollars more spent. It is time for a house cleaning and throwing more money at it is NOT the answer.