Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it,
I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.
-Abraham Lincoln
This is from the Iowa State Education Association - A voice for students.
Allowable Growth = Cost of Living Adjustment
The Governor and House Republicans have proposed 0 percent Allowable Growth for Iowa’s public schools. In practical terms this means public schools will not see any cost of living adjustments to their budgets for the first time in 30 years. While schools will receive money for the current per-pupil spending, the money will not be adjusted for 2011 inflationary increases. Every Legislature for 30 years has recognized the folly of this type of budgeting. Everyone knows you can’t purchase a gallon of milk with the same dollar you used to purchase it with last year, so why would our Governor and Republican legislators expect schools to meet their rising fuel, utility, textbook, computer, and other costs with non-inflationary adjusted budgets? It doesn’t make sense.
Making matters worse, the House Republicans are proposing to cut corporate property taxes throughout the state in the amount of almost $48 million. This is the equivalent of a 1.5 percent Allowable Growth rate. This literally means the state is giving corporations money which should be given to our students and public schools. Our schools will be expected to be world class and do the same amount with less money. It doesn’t make sense.
Contact the Governor and your Legislator on the House Education Committee and ask them:
1) 0 percent Allowable Growth means that only our kids suffer. It means fewer course offerings, larger class sizes, fewer supplies, less Support Services, and our best and brightest teachers will simply move to another profession.
2) Why would you put corporations ahead of our kids?
3 comments:
I am so glad I am out of the Iowa public school system. I loved my school, which was fairly well off, but the way the state is treating schools is abominable.
The folks who voted for Mr. Branstad should have known exactly what they were getting. Unfortunately, many of them have short memories--or don't give a hoot about our schools. There's even a sizable minority who believe we "waste" too much money on our schools, and especially on teachers' salaries.
The GOP puts their kids in private schools, don't they?
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