Not only am I writing as the educational leader of Central, I am writing as a parent of a public education preschool student, middle school student, and high school student.
As a republican, how can you support "big" government control? Our kids in northeast Iowa work at our community pools and local businesses, not the State Fair and Okoboji. Where do you stand on the school start date and how did you vote? The House "compromise" bill is anything but a compromise. Will you support the Senate bill that allows for local school board control?
I am also working with other northeast Iowa school districts that you were elected to represent. We are putting together data that shows the negative affect to our schools the 1.25% increase you voted in favor of will have. Our data will show a loss of jobs for working adults in our communities and a loss of programs for our kids. It will also show an increase in taxes to our property owners.
The few times we have met face-to-face you have cited a private business model. You stated and I quote, "how great would it be if we got this type of performance and Iowa was ranked 50th in funding?" I challenge you to name a private business that has been successful without reinvesting funds and resources back into their business? I would also challenge you to name big government regulations (ie. mandatory school start date) that enhance private business. We all know regulations run private business into the ground and limit innovation.
Northeast Iowa voters support their public schools. So far your voting record has not echoed the people you represent.
I'm in a meeting today and our education lobbyist are saying parents are calling politicians about the calendar start date, but not the 1.25% funding?? 1.25% funding means loss of programs for our kids, is that less important than a couple weeks at the end or beginning of a calendar? Please tell our politicians we need nothing less than 4%. They are listening to parents.
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