House Journal: Page 201: Thursday, January 28, 1999

best efforts and of our dreams.  In a sense it marks both an ending and at the same 

time a new beginning.
As I present my budget to you for the first time, I urge you to join me in a pursuit of 
a prairie full of firsts.  What must we do together to ensure that Iowa will be first in 
education for our children; first in environmental quality; first in health care for our 
citizens; first in the fight against methamphetamine; first in workforce development 
and economic development, and first in the future?
The answer, it seems to me, is to begin by taking bold first steps into the future.  
We have a strong and proud educational heritage in Iowa, and we have identified 
ourselves, rightfully so,  as the Education State.  So I ask you, members of the General 
Assembly, isn't it time that we again assume our rightful position in this nation as first 
in education?
We are blessed with a core of committed educators, some of who are with us today.  
Let me introduce you to four of them. On sabbatical from her position as a teacher of 
Theatre at East High School, currently performing in the Des Moines Playhouse 
production of Having Our Say, we welcome and salute the 1998 Iowa Teacher of the 
Year, Ruth Ann Gaines. We are also proud to have the dedicated Moulton School 
mentor of inner city students who was chosen to represent our state at the 1997 
President's Summit for America's Future, Aaron Smith. We welcome today to the 
Capitol the southern Iowa native who refused to allow his cerebral palsy to prevent 
him from doing hundreds of classroom presentations as the Energy Wizard, winning 
the Governor's Very Special Arts Service Award and the Iowa Energy Educator of the 
Year Award, Erik Anderson.  And finally, we introduce the classroom teacher of 
Alexandra Swanson and her classmates from the Beaver Creek Elementary School, Ms. 
Shannon Smith.  Join me in greeting these four uniquely excellent Iowa educators and 
in welcoming Alexandra and her classmates.
In the first years of life the responsibility for teaching properly belongs to the 
parents of each child.  All parents must be their child's first and best teacher.  But few 
of us know where to begin or how to start.  We can help.  By doubling our investment in 
newly-created empowerment communities, we can give these parents looking for help 
the information, the tools, and the assistance they need to prepare their children for 
school. By taking this first step today we will make sure that when our children take 
their first steps to school, they will be ready to learn. 
When they start their first years in school, they must learn the basics well. That's 
why, ladies and gentlemen of the General Assembly...  That's why teachers must be 
better prepared.  Schools must monitor student achievement and be held accountable 
for results.  So let us begin today by committing 10 million dollars in the first year and 
increasing that amount by 10 million dollars for each year in the next four years, so we 
can provide our schools with the resources necessary to reduce class sizes, to improve 
teacher skills, and to hold schools accountable. Our goal is simply stated - we must 
guarantee that every child in this state is reading well by the time he or she enters 
fourth grade.
But if we are to do our first job well... more is needed.  For the first time, we should 
commit state aid to make sure our schools are safe and free from fire and safety 
hazards and to provide more classroom space. Over the next five years we propose 
building a fund of 50 million dollars to help local school districts meet their building 
needs, while at the same time providing relief for property taxpayers.  Our goal, again 
simply stated... is adequate class space for each child and each educator in this state.

© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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