From Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City –
GIVING SCHOOLS FLEXIBILITY TO ENSURE EFFICIENT USE OF FUNDING
The Legislature is working on two bills to provide flexibility in how schools use their money.
When new programs are created, schools often must follow certain guidelines in spending the allotted money. This is called categorical funding. To help schools use their limited funding effectively, HF 564 adds allowable expenses.
For example, preschool funds currently can be used for professional development of preschool teachers, instructional equipment and transporting preschool kids. Under this bill, any funding not used at the end of the year may go toward translation services, playground equipment, repair costs, enhancing programs by contracting with community providers and more.
While HF 564 addresses allocation and flexibility in using funds, another bill (HF 565) creates a special flexibility account.
In 2015, school districts statewide had $146 million in unused funds. Under HF 565, some of that money could go into a “Flexibility Account” to be used in a broader fashion to achieve the goals of the original funding. This would allow schools to provide more high-quality programming and a stronger educational environment overall. Use of the funds would require a public hearing and school board approval.
These two bills won’t overcome the struggles our schools face after years of inadequate state funding, but they may make school budgets a little easier to manage in tough times.
How about getting off your dead azz and start creating some real job growth in Iowa to pay for all this private sector debt – don’t give us the Farm economy bs either – were already supporting that group of subsidized millionaires. Stop drinking the kool aid supplied by your voting base. All you do is talk more money for public servants – How about the working class poor private sector that has to pay for all this public service – and the public sector is getting fat off us. BS to you.
This old pig is going go bye-bye next year, she is done. Everybody we talk to, their sick of her and her high tax ways, we are to. Ragan, she never would of got back in last time but for that Deets, no way that geek could win. Ragan has been in long enough, just like her good friend Jay Urdahl. You seen what we done to him right Amanda. Straight back to UPS. Their is you’re future honey. Only way you might could win in “18” is if they put Hovland up.
Gat-s-ta keep these teachers happy – my largest voting group in America. Lower property taxes? From Russia with love.