Konfrst

Over strong opposition from Iowans, the Governor signed a controversial bill this week that puts mental health, special education, reading recovery and other services at risk for our kids.

It was a disappointing end for so many parents, educators and other Iowans who contacted lawmakers countless times and requested they put the Governor’s plan for Area Education Agencies (AEAs) on hold. It was a simple request from Iowans, especially the parents of kids who receive services, that should have been honored. Instead of listening to Iowans, GOP leaders caved to the Governor who was demanding they give her what she wants.

It was all politics and the solution Iowans were asking for was just common sense: gather all the Iowa stakeholders – parents, educators, and providers – to review how our AEA system works and then put together recommendations to make it better.

For so many Iowans who are frustrated more than ever, they know this is just the latest move in a political game the Governor and GOP leaders at the Statehouse have been playing for the last decade to undermine public education.

Last year, it was shifting money from public schools to private schools through vouchers, which has already totaled $300 million in the first two years. Another year GOP lawmakers told Iowans they were providing hundreds of millions in new money to schools only to find out it was actually to replace money schools lost when lawmakers cut taxes for the biggest corporations in Iowa.

The talking points just don’t square with the facts. For more than a decade, the Governor and GOP leaders have consistently underfunded public schools. For 11 of the last 12 years, state funding for public schools has not kept up with rising costs. Iowa is ranked 40th in the nation for the increase in per pupil expenditures from 2014 to 2019 and state funding per student is $1,280 below the national average (US Census Data).

Republican lawmakers are always quick to call foul when these facts are presented to them and then promptly find a new way to undermine public education again, just like they did with AEAs this year.

Of course, Iowans can see right through that nonsense and understand they are on the losing end of the GOP game. Linn-Mar schools are cutting 50 teachers and staff positions next year. An elementary school in Johnson County is closing. Des Moines and Sioux City schools are also making millions in cuts. Over the last decade, 134 public school buildings have closed.

For generations, Iowans have counted on great public schools to educate our kids and serve as the heart of communities large and small. But Iowa has lost ground and public school kids are losing out. Iowans are frustrated. They feel it. They see it. And they’ve told us.

While it was a step backwards this week, I know Iowans aren’t giving up. They are going to keep fighting for strong public schools because our kids deserve it.

That’s people over politics.

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State Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights serves the 32nd District in the Iowa House and is the Iowa House Democratic Leader.