Opinion: Strong public schools

By Jennifer Konfrst

Iowa House Democratic Leader

Iowans love our public schools and we all see them as the heart of our communities. We take pride in the teachers, school staff, and administrators for the tireless effort they put in to prepare our kids for the future.

Every morning when I dropped my two kids off at school, I was proud to know that I was sending them to learn from some of the best educators in the nation. Iowa’s educators and our public schools have changed so many lives, and our state is a better place for it.

But things are changing. After a decade of low state funding, our public schools have been asked to do more with less for so many years that we’ve lost ground. Our kids are missing opportunities, too many educators are leaving the classroom, and a growing number of young leaders won’t even consider becoming educators.

It’s starting to catch up with us. Instead of leading the nation in public education like we did for generations, Iowa is now in the middle of the pack.

Frankly, the Governor and Republican lawmakers have been ignoring the requests of our educators for far too long and have spent too much time bringing the culture wars into the classroom. Our children deserve better.

Students who need additional assistance with reading, as well as kids with mental health challenges or different learning styles, will find it harder to get services this school year because Reynolds insisted on severe cuts to beloved Area Education Agencies (AEAs). We’ve heard reports that some rural school districts are already out of special education dollars for this school year. Kids are also missing out on the chance to read classics from their school libraries after Republicans passed a new book ban.

School vouchers are now shifting hundreds of millions from public schools to private schools. According to data released by the Iowa Dept. of Education, 36 new private schools are now taking vouchers since the bill was passed by Republican lawmakers just two years ago. Of those 36 private schools, just four are in rural areas and 13 are in the Des Moines metro area.

At a cost of more than $360 million so far, vouchers are the fastest-growing part of the state budget. Next school year, the nonpartisan fiscal estimates show another huge increase in state dollars going to vouchers as they become available to everyone who already attends private schools, regardless of income. Don’t forget private schools can pick and choose the students they want and are not required to be transparent with their budget.

I’ve heard from so many folks - across the political spectrum - over the last few years who are just fed up with what’s happening at the State Capitol. They feel like the majority of the legislature isn’t hearing them. I don’t blame them - a huge majority of Iowans opposed vouchers, AEA cuts, and book bans, but Republicans passed them anyway.

It’s a phrase we’ve repeated this fall: Governor Reynolds and GOP lawmakers have just gone too far. There’s a reason GOP lawmakers aren’t talking about vouchers on the campaign trail this fall - vouchers were a huge mistake.

When it comes to public schools, Iowans have high expectations. It’s time to drop all the politics and renew our commitment to strong public schools. Here are some ideas to get it done:

* Fully fund public schools to keep up with rising costs and guarantee every kid in every zip code gets a great education

* Raise pay for all educators, including associates and paraprofessionals

* Keep public money in public schools

* Reverse the Governor’s plan to gut AEAs and improve local delivery of special education services to Iowa kids

I know we’re all fed up with politics today. I’m equally frustrated that our public schools have become the target of the special interests at the State Capitol and educators who have been tossed in the middle of the culture wars.

We can do better. It’s time to bring some balance back to the State Capitol and put people over politics.

Our kids deserve it.