Coalition of education groups delivers thousands of signatures in support of increased education funding

DES MOINES, IA (03/25/2015)(readMedia)-- A coalition of education organizations which includes the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEA), the Urban Education Network of Iowa (UEN), and the Rural Schools Advocates of Iowa, gathered over 6,000 signatures on a petition asking the Iowa Legislature to adequately support supplemental state aid. Copies of the petition were delivered to members of the Conference Committee on Senate File 171 today.

"Clearly there is tremendous support for the needs of our students and schools. Iowans are demanding that legislators take action to fix the problems caused by years of inadequate funding in their neighborhood schools. It is not acceptable to expect students to sit in classes of 30-35 and receive the quality education they deserve, or study from textbooks that are old and worn. Our students are entitled to rigorous course offerings and programs that will help them compete in a 21st century economy," said Tammy Wawro, President of the ISEA.

"Iowa citizens make an investment in public education because as a society we believe that public schools support not only individual success, but shape and create our democracy and communities. Providing these centers of learning comes at a cost and it deserves our support," said Lisa Bartusek, Iowa Association of School Boards executive director

"Iowa schools have been underfunded for the last four years. A minimum of 4 percent supplemental state aid is now needed to avoid large disruptions to local district programming," emphasized Dan Smith, School Administrators of Iowa executive director.

Dr. Paul Gausman, speaking on behalf of the Urban Education Network of Iowa said, "The Sioux City Schools will reduce between $2 million and $2.3 million in personnel and programming, for anything less than 4 percent SSA, and 4 percent would even stress our budget (we have spending authority limitations rolling forward). If 6 percent SSA had become reality, we would not have to make that level of reductions. The personnel portion of these reductions include 20 Instructional Assistant positions (about $570,000), and three teaching positions (all of the personnel reductions are being accomplished through attrition).

The Our Children, Our Future coalition began gathering signatures in response to Governor Terry Branstad and House Republican's inadequate supplemental state aid proposal and subsequent inaction on passage of any aid before the budget deadline.

The Our Children, Our Future coalition is working together in support of adequate funding for Iowa's schools.

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