How much additional supplemental state aid to public schools is enough to meet the educational needs of Iowa’s students?
According to nearly 70 percent of the 140 superintendents who responded to a survey in January, a 4 percent increase in basic state aid would suffice. Meanwhile, Gov. Terry Branstad proposed a 2 percent hike while the Iowa Senate approved a 1.11 percent increase Thursday.
Superintendents across the state who responded to the online survey, which was sponsored by the ranking members of the House and Senate education committees, agreed almost universally that the state’s investment in education over the last several years has not kept up with rising costs.
If lawmakers set supplemental state aid for 2017-18 at an increase of two percent or lower, most school districts will have to raise class sizes, lay off teachers and delay purchases of up-to-date textbooks and classroom materials, the survey found.
Newton Community School District Superintendent Bob Callaghan said growing districts receive more supplemental state aid because of the increase in certified enrollment growth. Schools that have no growth or are losing population will be impacted to a greater degree, he said.
“For the Newton Community School District, our student population has been declining over the past decade and over the last several years we have experienced slight student losses or no growth,” Callaghan said.
A 1.11 percent bump in state aid cannot keep up with personnel cost increases, Callaghan said. Newton will try to minimize these effects by reducing costs through attrition and retirements. As a last resort, the district might have to consider reductions in some positions, he said.
The Republican-controlled Senate voted along party lines to approve the 1.11 percent aid increase. The bill now goes to the House, where it will likely be supported by another Republican majority. If it is signed into law, the state would have an additional $73 to spend per student for 2017-2018.
Contact Justin Jagler at 641-792-3121 ext 6532 or jjagler@newtondailynews.com