THE IOWA SENATE HAS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL TO A BILL THAT MAKES CHANGES IN IOWA’S AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES, RAISES TEACHER PAY AND INCREASES GENERAL STATE EDUCATION SPENDING.
GOVERNOR REYNOLDS SAYS SHE’LL SIGN THE PACKAGE INTO LAW.
THE STARTING SALARY FOR TEACHERS WILL RISE TO 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS WITHIN TWO YEARS, AND THERE ARE RAISES FOR PARA-EDUCATORS.
THERE’S ALSO A TWO-AND-A-HALF PERCENT INCREASE IN THE STATE’S PER PUPIL SPENDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE THOUSANDS OF PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO’LL GET STATE-FUNDED EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS THIS FALL.
SENATOR LYNN EVANS, A RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT FROM AURELIA, ADDED UP ALL ADDITIONAL SPENDING IN THE BILL.
AEABILL1 OC…….IS A COMMITMENT.” ;09
THE LEGISLATURE’S PLAN DOES NOT GO AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR’S JANUARY PROPOSAL, BUT DOES SHIFT A-E-A OVERSIGHT TO THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SCHOOLS EVENTUALLY WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, TEACHER PREP AND OTHER A-E-A SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE A-E-A SYSTEM.
SENATOR CHERIELYNN WESTRICH FROM OTTUMWA, SAYS THE BILL PROVIDES NEEDED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE A-E-AS.
AEABILL2 OC……OUT TO DO.” :12
A DOZEN REPUBLICANS JOINED DEMOCRATS IN THE IOWA HOUSE AND SENATE TO VOTE AGAINST THE PACKAGE BECAUSE OF THE A-E-A CHANGES.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR CHARLIE MCCLINTOCH OF ALBURNETTE SAYS HE’D BEEN HOLDING OUT HOPE THERE MIGHT BE ENOUGH VOTES TO BLOCK IT.
AEABILL3 OC……..:WHOLE ‘NOTHER LEVEL.”
SENATOR MOLLY DONAHUE, A DEMOCRAT FROM CEDAR RAPIDS, IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WHO SAYS ONCE LARGE SCHOOLS OPT OUT OF USING A-E-A SERVICES, THERE WILL BE FAR FEWER A-E-A STAFF LEFT TO SERVE STUDENTS IN SMALL DISTRICTS.
AEABILL4 OC……OUR RURAL DISTRICTS.” :07
UNDER THE BILL, 43 PERCENT OF IOWA SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL GET LESS STATE SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR BECAUSE THEIR ENROLLMENT IS SHRINKING.
RADIO IOWA
