The Central Community School
District needs the help and voice of all our supporters. This past week Governor Branstad gave his
Condition of the State Address and released his budget recommendations. Estimates suggest
the governor recommends an increase to public school funding of only 1.25%.
Iowa law currently requires the legislature to set per pupil funding 30 days from the release of the budget. This law was enacted to ensure education
funding remains the top priority of the state.
Old News:
During the 2014 Legislative Session, the Senate, multiple times, affirmed a 6%
increase in the cost per pupil, but no action was taken in the House. Iowa Code 257.8 requires action within 30
days of the release of the Governor’s budget.
The legislature is out of compliance with Iowa law, and thus is not prioritizing
the education of Iowa’s children.
TALKING POINTS:
This Legislature must set the 2015-16 cost per pupil at 6%.
· In the history of the 44-year formula, in only two
instances has the per pupil increase been lower than this year’s 1.25% proposed in the governor’s budget. World-class schools take something more than
third-class funding.
· Iowa ranks 35th in the nation in per pupil
funding, $1,612 below the national average per student in expenditures. Yet, Iowa ranks 9th in the nation
in reserve funds on hand, has the 12th highest growth rate in gross
domestic product, and ranks 9th in growth of per capita personal
income nationwide. Our schools have not
recovered from the economic downturn and record low funding rates of the last
several years. For rural schools in
particular this has meant staff layoffs and program reductions.
· A 1.25% cost per student increase would mean -$72,222
for the Central Community school district.
The Governor’s 1.25% increase is also misleading to the public. In that increase he includes Teacher
Leadership funds, which every school district does not receive, including
Central. When
Teacher Leadership funds are removed from the 1.25%, Central’s actually
increase is .8%. Iowa has a long history
of being equitable to its citizens, yet our governor is proposing a plan that
is not equitable for all Iowa students. For
example, of the 8 urban education centers making up the Urban Education Network
of Iowa, all 8 received TLC funding.
Meanwhile many rural schools did not receive TLC funding. Rural schools deserve equal treatment and
equal funding.
· Annually school operational expenditures typically
rise 3.5%. Operational expenses include keeping
on the lights, meeting academic expectations, paying staff, covering the
increased costs of insurance, transportation cost,
retirement benefit costs, books and programs.
Facing in excess of $70,000 in
negative new money means Central and other Iowa school districts will have to cut vital
programs serving our students.
ACTION: All
Central stakeholders and supporters have a voice. Please help us by contacting your
legislatures and the Governor and ask them to follow the law and to prioritize funding, at a minimum rate of 6%, for the education of Iowa’s children.
Office if the Governor:
1007 East Grand Ave., Des Moines, Iowa
50319
Phone: 515.281.5211 Fax: 515.725.3527
Phone: 515.281.5211 Fax: 515.725.3527
Email and call your legislatures:
Please contact me if you would like
more information. Together we can make a
difference!
Sincerely,
Mr. Nick Trenkamp
Superintendent/Elementary Principal
Central Community School District
More information regarding this topic: http://www.sai-iowa.org/news.cfm/Article/News/Iowas-Per-Pupil-Funding-is-Plummeting
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