DAVENPORT TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT SUPPORTS SUPERINTENDENT

DES MOINES, IA (06/27/2018) (readMedia)-- Davenport- The president of the Davenport Education Association (DEA) which represents teachers and nurses employed by the Davenport Community School District (DCSD), is supporting Dr. Art Tate, Superintendent of the DCSD, as he faces ethics charges by the Iowa Board of Education.

"Dr. Tate has taken a courageous stand in support of his students and against an outdated law which underfunds the Davenport schools by $175 per student per year for over 40 years, "said Carissa Johnson, a social studies teacher at Davenport Central High School and President of the Davenport Education Association (DEA). "The finding of the Iowa Board of Education that Dr. Tate violated state law by superseding the state's limitations on the Davenport district's spending authority may be technically correct but it is morally wrong," said Johnson. "Dr. Tate believes, like I do, that our kids are not 'worth-less' than other children in our state when it comes to funding our schools."

The DCSD has cut millions of dollars from its operating budget over the last decade due to the declining enrollment and declining state aid to Iowa's public schools. Yet the DCSD has sufficient reserve funds in its accounts to make up for these funding shortfalls. However, the State of Iowa has imposed spending limits on the DCSD and other school districts to the point where school districts can save but not spend this funding for the education of its children. Dr. Tate authorized the spending of up to $175 per student per year above and beyond the spending limit to balance the DCSD budget. Such "overspending" by the DCSD has brought the current ethics charge against Dr. Tate.

"A child only has one shot at getting a good education and Dr. Tate, a dedicated educator for 58 years, decided to stand by the students and put his career on the line in exceeding unjust spending limits," said Johnson. "On behalf of all Davenport teachers, I applaud Dr. Tate for trying to help the students of the DCSD," said Johnson.

--00--

The Davenport Education Association (DEA) represents teachers and nurses in the Davenport Community School District (DCSD) and is affiliated with the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) and the National Education Association (NEA).