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Meeting Public Comments

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SSB 1041
A bill for an act relating to a temporary exception to a limitation on compensation for a member of a board of directors of a school corporation, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 130.)
Agenda
Subcommittee members: Cournoyer-CH, Giddens, Goodwin
Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: 217 Conference Room
Comments Submitted:
The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

01-20-2021
Margaret Buckton [Rural School Advocates of Iowa and Urban Education Network]
This bill makes sense this year with shortages in all areas of staff, but mostly substitutes, bus drivers and food service workers. RSAI registered in support and UEN is registered as undecided. We surveyed school districts most rural districts need from 25 additional substitutes to cover classroom instructional shortages now, so even one school board member willing to step in is helpful. For urban districts, survey responses showed a need for between 2050 additional substitutes, with fill rates running 6070% rather than the typical 8590%. This will be a small help, so appreciated, but more flexibility in who can be substitutes and sufficient funding are better solutions in urban districts.
01-20-2021
Melissa Peterson [Iowa State Education Association ]
The ISEA is registered in Favor of this temporary exception. Our public schools are experiencing increased staff shortages due the pandemic. We believe that this legislation will help assist in ensuring that when staff shortages are experienced, qualified, appropriately vetted staff will be available to step in as necessary by removing the limitation.