Statement by Tammy Wawro, President of the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA)

DES MOINES, IA (04/17/2013)(readMedia)-- The ISEA is greatly disappointed in the Governor's response today to real discussion and action on education funding. Releasing a music video on YouTube making light of an important issue when educators, this week, are receiving Pink Slips due to lack of funding, is unacceptable. The ISEA, representing over 34,000 professional educators, has long supported increasing Allowable Growth in our schools to acceptable levels in order to keep class sizes small, course offerings robust, and give our schools up-to-date textbooks and technology. The offer from House Republicans is a wolf in sheep's clothing and will not sustain school budgets.

Make no mistake, in order to take the House deal, schools would have to forfeit $30 million in Early Literacy Block Grant money, underfund the multiple career pathways, and lose on the Allowable Growth multiplier in the second year. There's nothing remotely funny about this issue and it has no place in a YouTube jingle.

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The ISEA is a professional association made up of nearly 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!