Central Iowa school districts react to education spending plan passed by Iowa House

[GarryO37]

Iowa ranks 29th in school spending per student in 2024, Down from 28th in 2023. You OK where Iowa sits in regard to investing in education?

To be fair, Iowa still ranks as one of the better states (11th in 2024) in the country as far as education goes according to USNews. Our children are receiving a good education and we are getting good bang for our buck.

With that said, this shouldn’t be a GOP versus Dem battle. As an Iowan, we should not skimp on our children’s education. I will typically side with Democrats on education spending in Iowa. I don’t think they were asking too much with a 5% increase.

 

[Scott559]

In recent years, it hasn't been unusual to see annual double digit increases in health care premiums. Meanwhile annual pay raises have not kept up. Many have had to endure this? Why should teachers be the exception?

Has your take home pay dropped?

 

[IACub]

It's a cold, hard reality for some.

I don't know of anyone who hasn't seen their health insurance premiums increase dramatically. To expect the taxpayer to not only bear the brunt of their own increase but to also bear the brunt of school staff's increase is beyond absurd.

In recent years, it hasn't been unusual to see annual double digit increases in health care premiums. Meanwhile annual pay raises have not kept up. Many have had to endure this? Why should teachers be the exception?

So you don't know of anyone who has seen their health insurance premiums increase dramatically, but many have had to endure double digit increases in premiums that pay raises didn't keep up with.

Neat.

 

[Chillyhoff]

It's been nearly 20 years since Vilsack was governor, and almost 15 years since Culver left office.

He did state “forever”. I voted for Tom.

 

[Chillyhoff]

In MAGA land the statute of limitations hasn’t expired in the blame game.

Last major party candidate I voted for was Clinton. Where is this MAGAland. I live in Des Moines.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Iowa ranks 29th in school spending per student in 2024, Down from 28th in 2023. You OK where Iowa sits in regard to investing in education?

How does iowas cost of living rank?
Just askin.

 

[B1GDeal]

This is the type of dramatic, strawman argument, you libs are great at.

I'll rephrase it for you and then I'll answer the rephrased question.

Do you believe if the school budget doesn't receive higher than a 2.5% increase it will have negative effects on our education system to the point children won't be educated and our society will eventually be unsuccessful?

And my answer is no.

In fact, I believe if we didn't increase the budget by 2.5%, and instead, decreased it by 2.5% over the next 4 years for a net (10% reduction), I think the quality of education children receive would be almost the same as it is now.

This idea that quality of education and success in our society is tied to how much we spend on education is ridiculous. Obviously, money needs to be spent here, but please spare me the whole argument that if we don't continue to increase by XX% our society won't be successful.

You actually have data on this topic. Just look at Iowas rank in education as it has slipped over the past 30 years. Look at the level of funding during the same time period. As funds decrease the scores do as well. Don’t want to invest in education then don’t bitch about dumb kids in Iowa.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

So you don't know of anyone who has seen their health insurance premiums increase dramatically, but many have had to endure double digit increases in premiums that pay raises didn't keep up with.

Neat.

I think you're confused. I know of many.

 

[RileyHawk]

In recent years, it hasn't been unusual to see annual double digit increases in health care premiums. Meanwhile annual pay raises have not kept up. Many have had to endure this? Why should teachers be the exception?

What makes them an exception?

I ask knowing full well what a coward you are. Not holding my breath.

 

[RileyHawk]

Has your take home pay dropped?

I doubt you will get an answer. Nor will we hear from him how increases in healthcare insurance has bypassed teachers.

 

[stanzithemanzi12]

You actually have data on this topic. Just look at Iowas rank in education as it has slipped over the past 30 years. Look at the level of funding during the same time period. As funds decrease the scores do as well. Don’t want to invest in education then don’t bitch about dumb kids in Iowa.

We're #8 for higher ed and 14th for K-12. Not exactly, "dumb".

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

 

[RileyHawk]

We're #8 for higher ed and 14th for K-12. Not exactly, "dumb".

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

Why the drop over the years?

 

[IACub]

I think you're confused. I know of many.

I think you're right. I misread that first post I quoted.

I still think you're wrong over all, but my apologies on that.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

I doubt you will get an answer. Nor will we hear from him how increases in healthcare insurance has bypassed teachers.

I didn't say it bypassed teachers.

 

[uihawk82]

Rs have been in full control of Iowa forever. Are you really this dumb?

Correct, Vilsack and Culver took a short stint piloting the state. They did ok. Gov Dimmy only wants to build a big surplus when state responsibilities go wanting and she wants to use school vouchers like many other mostly red states to force segragation by race and income on their populations.

 

[NorthEndzoneCrew]

How many paras do private schools have/need?

Not very many because the private schools just tell the problem kids to get lost.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Correct, Vilsack and Culver took a short stint piloting the state. They did ok. Gov Dimmy only wants to build a big surplus when state responsibilities go wanting and she wants to use school vouchers like many other mostly red states to force segragation by race and income on their populations.

Culver was a train wreck and a primary reason i moved.

 

[B1GDeal]

We're #8 for higher ed and 14th for K-12. Not exactly, "dumb".

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education

Not exactly #1 or #2 like the state used to be ranked. Sliding down the rankings. I guess be cool with it if you like. I think it’s sad.

 

[stanzithemanzi12]

Why the drop over the years?

Rise in meat packing plants and Chicago exports?

 

[littlez]

Iowa ranks 29th in school spending per student in 2024, Down from 28th in 2023. You OK where Iowa sits in regard to investing in education?

Of course he is. He’s a dunce.

 

[littlez]

Young people see the working conditions and are aware of the diminishing pay for teachers. Not exactly to attract our best young people to become educators. When I began 25 years ago in a small district, I was making about $20K and the veterans who had put in 20+ years were making $40-50K in that small school district. Adjusted for inflation, salaries should have doubled plus a little more since then, and that definitely has not happened.

We need more teachers, more nurses, more doctors, more LEOs, etc. The GOP loves capitalism and markets until it comes to attracting good people to fill these professions. Rather than attracting better and more qualified people by increasing compensation, they want to lower the bar by making a crash program to become a teacher or shorten the medical school by a year. Then they will be mystified as to why the quality of outcomes declines in proportion to the lack of investment.

This 1000%. I swear the Republicans here never sent their kids to school. All 3 of my kids had so many good public school teachers that helped mold them throughout the growing up process. Now it’s all just get off my lawn by you morons.

 

[grayhair81]

I will freely admit as a teacher that Discovery learning, standards based grading, and a move from traditional math/reading phonics have hurt education.
But don't think for a second that private schools don't follow those same trends. We'll never really know how well private schools educate because somehow someway we have to give them tax payer money but they don't have to test or prove anything. WHY is that?
Poor students are often a reflection of their parents. I love the push for a parents bill of rights. How's about a parents bill of responsibilities. The fact that little johnny can't pay attention for 5 seconds is a direct reflection on your parenting. If your child can't do math, maybe you should have spent more time with them at home. There is a book out there on teaching your kid to read in 100 simple steps (that I wish I had when my kids were 3-4 y/o, i would have started them then); put that in the bill of parental responsibilities......

It is refreshing to see an educator give a balanced critique of this issue. I started teaching full time in 2003-shortly after NCLB became a thing. My district went on a constant grail quest for the next initiative that was going to either produce the mandated proficiency levels or at least show the people in the community what bold steps they were taking. I am sure you can tell your own stories of your experience with that.
SBG and SBI was the death knell for me. I got out in 2016. Schools DO need to be funded adequately. All the money the Fed can print won't put schools back in the right track. Nothing will improve until the students are held accountable again.

 

[grayhair81]

Rs have been in full control of Iowa forever. Are you really this dumb?

Yes. But the federal government has a hugely disproportionate influence on what schools have to do considering the negligible amount of funding they provide.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

It is refreshing to see an educator give a balanced critique of this issue. I started teaching full time in 2003-shortly after NCLB became a thing. My district went on a constant grail quest for the next initiative that was going to either produce the mandated proficiency levels or at least show the people in the community what bold steps they were taking. I am sure you can tell your own stories of your experience with that.
SBG and SBI was the death knell for me. I got out in 2016. Schools DO need to be funded adequately. All the money the Fed can print won't put schools back in the right track. Nothing will improve until the students are held accountable again.

Which means “parents that are not worthless”. Which is the biggest problem.

 

[RileyHawk]

I didn't say it bypassed teachers.

You said this which implies that teachers have been excluded from paying more for health insurance.

In recent years, it hasn't been unusual to see annual double digit increases in health care premiums. Meanwhile annual pay raises have not kept up. Many have had to endure this? Why should teachers be the exception?

You're so bad at this.

 

[RileyHawk]

Rise in meat packing plants and Chicago exports?

So, brown people. Got it. Not surprised you think this way.

 

[grayhair81]

Which means “parents that are not worthless”. Which is the biggest problem.

No argument on the parents. There have always been worthless parents. The districts used to stand up to them. Now they cave without a fight.

 

[lucas80]

Nonsense. We all have budgetary constraints. Schools are no exception.

Aren't you the same rube who has repeatedly boasted about Iowa's incredible fiscal strength and deep financial reserves?

 

[lucas80]

Just wait until Trump slashes federal funding to education.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Not exactly #1 or #2 like the state used to be ranked. Sliding down the rankings. I guess be cool with it if you like. I think it’s sad.

Thank the teacher unions.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

You said this which implies that teachers have been excluded from paying more for health insurance.



You're so bad at this.

Wrong again. Read the article next time.

 

[lucas80]

Thank the teacher unions.

Do other states have teachers unions? Are there other states with unions who are not sliding?

 

[lucas80]

Culver was a train wreck and a primary reason i moved.

LOL, snowflake. You packed up and moved after living for decades in Iowa because of Gov. Big Lug? That's top 5 dumbest thing I've seen here over the years.

 

[DogBoyRy]

LOL, snowflake. You packed up and moved after living for decades in Iowa because of Gov. Big Lug? That's top 5 dumbest thing I've seen here over the years.

You’re right. He was great and his numerous elections prove it.

 

[RileyHawk]

Wrong again. Read the article next time.

Lol - so that quote is incorrect? And which article is referenced?

It's amazing the number of floggings you take on here.

 

[RileyHawk]

You’re right. He was great and his numerous elections prove it.

You argue like a middle school girl.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

The last time education spending was cut in Iowa, it came at the hands of a Democrat governor.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

Riley,

The superintendant is complaining about only a 2.25% increase in spending while having an 11.3% in health care premiums.

Welcome to life. We're all living it.

 

[RileyHawk]

Riley,

The superintendant is complaining about only a 2.25% increase in spending while having an 11.3% in health care premiums.

Welcome to life. We're all living it.

Northern - you implied that teachers have not had to endure health insurance cost increases.

Welcome to the realization that you are a dumbass. We're all living it.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

Northern - you implied that teachers have not had to endure health insurance cost increases.

Incorrect.