Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Ann Fields

To the Editor:

Last week the Senate Republicans passed the education bill out of committee, now going to the House for debate. In it, there is a 1.75% increase for public education. Inflation is 2.7%. Now the bill has to go to the House.

What does this mean?  This means that for another year, schools are going to have to do with less. If a school district gives raises just equal to inflation, there will be less for every other expense. Since other expenses (utilities, technology, paper, etc) have also risen 2.7%, something will have to be cut.

Starting teacher pay in Iowa for 2023-2024, was almost at the bottom (46th out of 51). Then the state mandated that over two years starting pay should increase to $50,000 but the state did not increase the per student allotment. Thus, even though pay for first-time teachers has increased, other expenses must be drastically cut, or class size has to be increased.

School districts have cut band, vocal music, art, theatre, field trips, and the list goes on and on. Class sizes have increased, para-educators have been cut, and counselors have been reduced.

Stop this nonsense. Call or text your Iowa House representative (Jason Gearhart, 515-281-3221 or Jason.gearhart@legis.iowa.gov) and tell him to adequately fund (minimum of 5%) public education.

Ann Fields
Lansing