Meeting Public Comments

Tyler Winkey []

Please vote NO on the School Choice bill! The money allocated for students attending public schools needs to stay with public schools! Vouchers do NOT work and have a proven track record of failing in other states such as Wisconsin and Kansas. The only way for failing public schools to get better is to provide adequate funding and resources from the state. The voucher bill Bill destroy those chances for failing schools.

Roger White [N/A]

I wish to oppose the funding level proposed in SSB 1159 and urge that a more realistic level of growth of 4% be substituted instead. Under the proposed formula, 141 Iowa school districts will receive less state funding next year than they did this year. This occurs at the same time that school districts are facing increasing costs due to their struggles to accommodate Covid19 and its effects. Since all schools are now mandated to offer fulltime inperson instruction, the cost of Covid19 procedures will only get greater. In addition, the low growth proposed will lead to higher local property taxes, especially in our rural areas and small towns, as districts must shift expenses to property tax in order to comply with all mandates and necessary protections for students and staff. Last week, the majority voted to take money from our public schools to fund a private school voucher program that will immediately take funds from the Waterloo School District. That action combined with the severely limited growth over the past 4+ years create financial disaster for public schools. Children will suffer as a result. I believe that our youngsters and our community pubic schools need much more help to overcome the learning challenges of the Covid19 pandemic and to prepare students for a better future. I appeal to you either reject SB 1159 or amend it to a more realistic growth rate. Thank you.Roger L. WhiteCedar Falls, Iowa

Virginia Soelberg [Ms.]

No to HSB1159. Public education is the bedrock of our society.Many schools would receive LESS funding when Covid impacts, increasing costs, and the fact that it will impact rural school disproportionally need to be considered. Does this bill suport education for the common good? I believe it falls far short.vs

Linda Plakke []

The SS1159 is an atrocityto Public Education. The cutting of educational funding is inexcusable. Giving vouchers in the name of parental choice is a lie. They have a choice, choosing private education is the choice they made. Many supports and funds are already shared with private schools. Those that can afford their choice should not take from those who need education to improve their lives.

Mark Dodd []

I do not support this bill in it's current form. It would result in 141 Iowa school districts will receive less state funding next year than they did this year. This reduction would will lead to higher local property taxes, especially in our rural areas and small towns.It is imperative we increase funding to our PUBLIC schools not play a shell game that ultimately leads to reduced funding.

Tim Crosby []

While I do note object entirely to the use of vouchers to fund even private schools, I do strongly believe that any school that takes tax money for their operation should not be allowed to teach religion and should be subject to every last one of the laws, rules and regulations in place for our public schools. Seems fair and should put an end to the issue.

Darcy Fair-Johnson []

Hello,Please vote against this bill. Public money should not be given to private schools. Iowans have plenty of alternative education options available to them without monetarily crippling the public schools. Iowa used to have a wonderful reputation for public education and if this bill continues forward, it's just a race to the bottom. Thank you,Darcy FairJohnson

Shirley Riney []

As you take up SSB1159 please do not support because this measure will greatly limit the amount of funding for our public schools here in Iowa, who are already hurting financially from years of inadequate funding. This bill goes against our League of Women policies and myself, a former teacher at Abbie Sawyer Elementary School here in Ames.Please give serious consideration to the consequences of your vote.Sincerely,Shirley Riney

Steven Hill []

Dear committee members,Please consider your constituents who send their children to private school. We send our children to a private Catholic school so they have the freedom to pray and discuss religion in a safe and nonjudgmental school. This is something we believe public schools should provide but sadly, based on my personal experience, they do not. We believe in this freedom of thought so deeply that we make a significant financial sacrifice. Yet our tax dollars do not support our beliefs. Even some balance would ease that financial burden.Now consider your constituents who DESIRE to send their children to private school and are not afforded that opportunity due to funding. The void of public funding for private schools slams the doors on those children. Thank you for your time today and for your service to Iowan families.God bless,Steven A. Hill

Judi Lehman []

Please vote no on this bill. When I moved to Iowa 45 years ago, the public school system was one of the best in the nation! Now, sadly, s public schools have declined because of so much defunding! This bill will take money from public schools, especially rural schools. Vouchers are not the path to equity. Just look to Michigan and other states who went that route. It does not work! Thank you.

Mary Ellen Devereux Taylor [Parent/Taxpayer]

There is no need, nor excuse, for Iowans taxes to be going to private schools or homeschools. It is a choice to send students to schools other than public. Please care enough for public schools as you seem to be caring for private schools. It is the taxpayers money.

Marilyn Smith []

This govt is totally unbelievable that they want to defund our great schools. Have any of you visited any public schools. No kim Reynolds wants to be another Betsy's. Will she lost her job and so will you. Our public schools are on honor rolls. I do not want my taxes for charters schools.

Sandra NORFOLK []

I was a teacher librarian in Iowa schools for 19 years. Every year, the state legislature decreased funding to schools while raising expectations on teachers to teach new curriculum and on students to reach certain levels on test scores. Instead of trying to help schools by giving them more and better resources, the state legislature punished schools that didn't meet their expectations, which, many times were based on business models or input from outside sources (ALEC) that had little or no knowledge about Iowa, Iowa residents, or Iowa students.Now, the state legislature wants to take money away from public schools to provide vouchers to students so they can attend private schools. Did you know that only 10,000 students in Iowa would actually qualify for school vouchers at a cost of $54 million dollars in state funding per year? Meanwhile the other 420,000 students in Iowa only see, on average, an increase of 21 million dollars a year in state funding. If only 10,000 kids qualify then how would that have any significant effect on student achievement? Other items to consider if you think your student COULD BE one of the 10,000:Private and parochial schools can still increase tuition rates at any time which means either the state increases voucher funding or parents pay the rest. (Think of the ever increasing cost of college each year)They have no required oversight to hire highly qualified teachers. (Lets not forget that we already have INSANE teacher shortage in this state)They still do not qualify for federal funding and most grant funding so they cannot provide the programs public schools offer like specific Career and Technical Education programs, arts programs, etc. They have no required oversight to provide rich inclusive curriculum. They can deny vouchers from students who are disabled, ELL, LGBTQ and for a variety of other reasons. They do not have ELL or SPED service requirements like public schools. Many private schools SPED/ELL students go to their neighborhood public schools for these services now to supplement what is lacking at their private school. They do not have to provide free lunch, transportation, supplies or any other services to low income voucher students. Many public schools offer ACT testing, AP testing, drivers Ed, etc at no cost to low income students.They are not required to share statewide testing data to prove whether or not their students are outperforming public school students. So voucher students could be moving to a worse school than their neighborhood school.Iowas public education students are already out performing all other states that have similar voucher programs. Rural schools are already running on bare bones staffing and trying to keep their enrollment numbers up to avoid consolidation. Imagine if even FIVE students leave, thats $7000 per student that goes with them. Without transportation requirements these families would also have to move OUT of their small towns to be closer to private school options. Removing diversity plans from districts like DMPS, Iowa City, Waterloo, Postville, etc. WILL cause massive white flight to the suburbs, increasing THEIR class sizes and putting a strain on budgets. It WILL only increase our already segregated schools in this state (if you didnt know that fact, pay attention) Iowa already has a TON of open enrollment opportunities throughout the state. The voucher for those 10,000 students can also be used for COLLEGE TUITION. So those students who qualify get help for tuition expenses, but the other 420,000 public school students are on their own? How does that make any sense? Also, Anyone remember the DMPS Charter School Experiment? Those of us that do already know that this bill is solely a measure to promote white flight in urban public schools and pump tax dollars into parochial schools and DeVos style charter schools. It is NOT to increase achievement rates of students in Iowa. If it were, then more than 10K kids would qualify. Imagine what that extra 54 million dollars in state funding could do for ALL of Iowas students. Please reconsider this misguided bill.Thank you for your attention.Sandra Norfolk

Alison Cocks []

I would encourage you to rethink SSB 1159. It poorly funds public schools. If we want to return to the excellent public school system Iowa was known for and Iowans were proud of, we need investment in public schools. We do not have failing schools we have underfunded schools, particularly in rural counties and districts with 100% free and reduced lunches. This will only raise property taxes. Please consider the dedication, creativity and hard work of public school staff and reward school,distructs with the monies they need provide quality education. Thank you.

Sarah Iversen []

Public money is for public schools. Iowa used to be a leader in education. We are not any more. Our public schools need their funding so they can attract quality teachers. Thank you

Erin Brown []

As a public school teacher, I find this bill both offensive and terrifying. There is n data to support this recommendation, but there are many vulnerable students whose wont be accepted by private schools and/or whose families wont pursue the option, and they will be most hurt by the diversion of funds from public schools. Public schools arent like businesses; we cant market to a particular clientele (and we shouldnt!) so competition is not the way to improve outcomes. Excellent education should be available to every Iowan, and every tax dollar spent on education should go to an institution held accountable in a way that private schools are not. Private schools are the backbone of democracy and must be supported.

Mitch Lingo []

Against the legislation for the following issues:Issue 1 Its been tried, and the effect is mostly neutral on academic outcomes More than anything else, academically, charter schools and private voucher plans have a null effect (as in no effect) on academics. For every study that can be found showing how great they are, an analysis can be found to exhibit both systems as detrimental. And for every study, positive or negative, a study can be found to show that the students outcomes are no different from one another. So why go through the effort and spend the money on them?Issue 2Loss of economic efficiencyHave you ever stopped to wonder why elementary schools seem to be the size of the middle school you grew up going to or the middle school seeming like the high school? These changes occurred because of the economies of scale to deal with fixed coststhe more students in one building, the less duplicative fixed costs involved. As state aid awarded continues not to meet the Consumer Price Index, districts have become more efficient through increasing building size. This is where the charter school private voucher plan creates a problem. If a public elementary school finds itself next to a public charter elementary school, they draw from the same pool. Put a private school in the mix, and fixed costs become even more significant. Instead of paying one building administrator, the revenue is being distributed between three building administrators. Instead of one school nurse, you have three. Potentially, you have no nurse in all three buildings because the money shifts to a more critical fixed cost. If the public school cannot keep up its economies of scale, buildings consolidate and lose your neighborhood school.Issue 3 Scholarships for uppermiddleclass and affluent childrenAn Iowa vouchers worth is $5,200. When we consider the costs of attending a private school in the state of Iowa, the voucher is not enough to meet the needs of being able to enroll (see my posts from February 2nd). If I were to start my child at Iowa City Regina in Kindergarten, I would have to pay $9,630. I am on the hook for $4,430. How many families of four on $ 34,846 (the threshold for Free Lunch) can afford to send their child here? Let alone the ability to pay the $100 upfront in application fees? Because it is not targeted to any income threshold, vouchers will primarily benefit affluent people. Which brings me toIssue 4 Racial/Ethnic, Socioeconomic, and Academic SegregationThe literature has and continues to show that voucher and school choice systems increase racial/ethnic and socioeconomic segregation. Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (a metric that often includes wealth, education level, and occupational prestige on the part of the parents), and test scores continue to be intertwined. I will save the history lesson for another day, but we end up with de facto (by default) discrimination with these factors being so intertwined. Discrimination of BIPoC and children from lowsocioeconomic status becomes legitimized because of a standardized test score. For example, a BlueRibbon private school will not let in any student that is not at a competitive academic level. Since socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity are tied to test scores, certain students will be more likely to get in than others. For those stellar academics from lower socioeconomic status, I am sure these private schools may find scholarships for them IF they have the right test scores and can show the correct character and grit. Ultimately, this is how you end up with more significantly segregated schools. Those that can afford a little more can use the voucher and pay a little more. Those that cannot spend a little more are left with their public school or trying for a lottery to get into a charter school.Issue 5DiscriminationUnder the current bill, the state included text stating that the public charter schools cannot discriminate on intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or status as a person with a disability, and race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability. The same ANTIDISCRIMINATION CLAUSES DO NOT EXIST for PRIVATE SCHOOLS. When Democrats motioned to have similar language be adopted for private schools, this was voted down by the GOP. Now, why would a GOP created Bill apply this standard to charter schools but not public schools? The bill offers no protection to you or your friends children if they are/have gender fluid, African American/Black, Latino/a/x, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, facing an intellectual/cognitive disability, LGBTQ, physical disability, or any religion outside of Christianity (using this as a reference since only a couple private schools in the state are not affiliated with a Christian denomination). To me, this is both despicable and malicious. If you can look at a cousin with Down Syndrome and say they do not belong in the same school building as you, I do not have time for you. Additionally, discrimination does not always need to adhere to gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Both private and public charter schools can discriminate against students based on their parent/guardian involvement. These expectations exist to either (a) have parents/guardians selfselect out of applying or (b) use it as leverage to push students out after enrollment. Children cannot help who their parents are and how involved the parents chose to be in their education. Issue 6The Uneven Playing FieldIf school choice will be a competition for the revenue of vouchers, the playing field needs to be fair. The way the bill is written is similar to a firstdown being 5yards for private schools, 7yards for public vouchers, and 10yards for public schools. If private and public charter schools will compete with public schools, they must follow the same rules. Issue 7 No public auditing of private schoolsState Auditor Rob Sand made a statement this week stating that there is no way his office can audit the tax dollars that go to private schools under this law. Why can the state not see what is being done with their tax dollars?Issue 8 Its only beginningThe program is targeting 34 schools needing comprehensive improvement. Yes, that is a seemingly small number now, but this is typical of how states slowly switch to a voucher model of education. All it takes is one legislative session for this law to be changed to include the 307 other Iowa schools that require targeted improvement to specific student groups. You can call this a slippery slope argument, but this is how these systems make inroads into a state.Issue 9Church and stateGenerally, I take a Jeffersonian approach to how I view religion and the state in that I consider money being given from the state to religious entities to be a violation of the establishment clause. Its not that I dislike private schools, the people who go to them, or the people who put their children in them. That is their business. If religious entities want public dollars, they should be held to the same scrutiny as any public institution, which they are not.

Julie Kuhlman []

Im hoping you receive this to know my feelings on the upcoming proposal to decrease funding for public schools. Please dont! Our public schools are already struggling and with the pandemic its been even worse. They are teaching in person, virtual and hybrid. Now is not the time to pull funding for these heros! I live in a school district that is already 5 towns consolidated into a district. Are we trying to run these rural schools out and go to 1 district per county?? Please do not reduce funding. Its our schools lifeline to providing education to hundreds of future leaders of our state!

Michelle Moore []

Do you have any clue what teachers and staff do to help the kids of this state? Defunding the public school system has got to be one of the most tone deaf ideas Ive ever heard. You are doing the kids and families of this state. You need to think long and hard at this issue. I hope your conscience guides you to look at the people and not the money. Public schools are a treasure and by defunding or transferring funds to private schools, charter schools etc you are not helping you are hurting the future generations of Iowa

John Anderson []

I am opposed to vouchers being used for private education. Public money should be for public schools only.I support PUBLIC education and do not want my tax dollars supporting forprofit or religious schools.

Ethan Evans []

I attended college in Iowa, and stayed in Waterloo to serve as an AmeriCorps member, working in environmental education. I'm submitting this comment to register my indignation at SSB 1159. After all that Iowa's public schools have been through, a proposal that cuts their budget further imperils both the education of its most vulnerable students and the health and safety of its teachers and staff.

Virginia Miehe []

No taxpayer money should go to private schools. Not only is that against separation of church and state, it supports private schools which have agendas, do not accept students with learning disabilities or language challenges, and are not accountable to the taxpayers.Support public schools which teach ALL students.

Patricia A Hopes []

If you are concerned about poor functioning schools in Iowa, do something about that rather than start charter schools or fund private or religious schools with taxpayer dollars. That will not help the majority of Iowan students who attend public schools. This is a ridiculous idea. Do something to fix our schools reduce classsize, increase salaries to bring higher candidates to the teaching field, add support systems for bullying and discrimination.You need to rerepresent all ions. Not the elite.

Lowell Dauenbaugh []

I am very strongly opposed to this bill. I do not have children in school, but continue to support public schools. They are required for a democracy. I oppose my taxes being used to be used in private schools. Where is my choice. Does this mean if I do not use libraries or parks, then I should be able to have my taxes used elsewhere. Vote no on this attack on freedom of religion and public schools.

Craig Canavan []

Stop your disgusting efforts to defund public schools. You are disgusting money grubbing humans.

Mary Ervanian [- Select -]

I do not support public money for private schools. As we know from the experiences in other states, diverting public dollars to private schools for private education drains funds from public schools. We also know that the students who are supposed to benefit from these policies largely do not. Private schools can and do pick and choose who they admit. They also can and do remove students who have challenging behaviors or needs they cannot or choose not to meet. I have seen this happen in my community multiple times. Public schools struggle sometimes to meet all students' needs because public schools serve ALL students regardless of ability, disability, mental health status, income level, etc. They are required by law to serve all students in the least restrictive environment (students with disabilities and who have IEPs). Private schools mostly do not serve those students because it is expensive and they do not have to. As students leave public schools for private, the concentration of students with needs in public schools increases and the funding to serve them decreases. If you want to help public schools and students who struggle, give them the funds to do so. The schools that struggle are not coincidentally schools that serve disproportionately poor families. Do something to meet their needs. Help those schools. Provide more funding for specialized teachers in reading and math. Provide more funding for smaller class sizes. Provide funding for more mental health care in schools. Rural schools too will suffer. Rural schools in Iowa already are faced with declining enrollment and are often forced to offer fewer course options for their students, and/or consolidate with another district. It is important for rural communities to have strong, vibrant public schools in their communities. Schools in a community help keep that community alive by keeping families there and bringing families in. It is important for rural students to have the same or at least similar choices of courses to study as students in larger urban areas have. That means high level science and math, technology, industrial arts, and AP courses.Charters: Nonprofit Charter schools that operate with and under the local public schools are fine. They are transparent and answer to the families in the community, and are committed to providing a good education. They also hire staff that meet the same standards of local public schools. Forprofit Charters that do not work under/with the local schools are not motivated to provide an excellent education. Their ultimate goal is to turn a profit. They also can use any standard they please for hiring staff. Again, we can see from other states (Michigan, Indiana, Florida, California..) that the educational outcomes from these schools is poor and lags behind public schools. In Michigan, private forprofit charters have hired unqualified staff, been poorly run, misspent funds, and even closed mid year, leaving students in the lurch. Again, diverting money this way will hurt rural and urban public schools in Iowa. No to public money for private schools.

Tanya Bodenstedt []

I have two children in the public school system and am asking that you step back and instead go down a path that allows for improvement of public education, which benefits society at large, rather that this shortsighted push for private education. Public dollars need to go to public education. Public schools are required to admit and serve all students. This legislation would divert public funds to nonpublic schools, who are not required to adhere to this principle of equity. Public funds should require accountability and transparency. Nonpublic schools are not held to the same standard as public schools. The absence of public accountability for public funds could contribute to waste and fraud of taxpayer dollars.

Michael Dale []

I find it disappointing that the state legislature in this bill finds it their business to punish school districts from a financial standpoint for making local decisions that they felt were in the best interest of their students. While I applaud the one time supplemental funding proposed that will hopefully offset some of the lost funding due to drop in enrollment due to the pandemic, with the state's self reported rainy day fund I would imagine the state could afford more than the proposed 2.2% annual growth.While a public spat between the governor and DMPS was well documented in the media it is an embarrassment for the legislature to punish the students further with this bill. Be excluding the students of the district from the additional supplemental aid you are punishing the students unjustly. The district will now be punished twice, the students will ultimately pay the price and it's employees who had no say in the decisions made by the superintendent and the school board will be the ones that will be negatively impacted. The district already will incur the cost of having the make up the hours that were not counted from the time they were in noncompliance, they've lost students already, and you have school choice bills that I do not support, that will negatively impact the district. Why continue to pile on? I would imagine that action against the district would be better served against the superintendent and the BOEE for not following the law rather than punishing students and staff members with this bill. Shame on you.

Linda Kruse []

Schools need a para in every elementary classroom to help students who are not catching up from almost 3 months lost in Spring 2020. If you feel students need to flee underperforming schools, fix the public school so it will meet standards.

Karen stein [parent, voter]

By passing this bill, you would reduce funding so severely that schools could possibly stop functioning as they are now. As of now, we are barely making ends meet programmatically due to lack of funding with necessary materials. In case that you are not aware, when students go to private schools, quite a number of these private schools end up sending their own students to the closest public schools due to special education or programmatic limitations! That means that all schools have the potential of suffering and the drastic limitation of educating or children's academic needs. At one point, Iowa was the academic beacon. Today, Iowa is quite further behind and most likely falling more behind with bills that limit and take away funding. This will limit the manner in which educators teach and children's academic achievements. Another reason so many families leave Iowa. Please do not consider passing this bill. It will hurt our education and our children's academic future.Thank you.

Jennifer Nessa Kucuk []

I would like to express my grave concerns with SSB 1159. A 2.2% SSA increase is certainly not sufficient, but even more alarming is the portion of this bill that singles out children that attend Des Moines Public Schools. It punishes them for decisions made by the DMPS leadership and board, by withholding a onetime supplemental payment of $65/student. This is simply not ethical. As adults, we can disagree about how best to keep our communities safe and educate our children, but to hold back financial resources to Des Moines students, that will be made available to every other student in the state, will hurt the over 31,000 students going to school in Des Moines. And this includes my child. My family has been very happy with the education provided this year and so have my neighbors and friends, whether virtual or hybrid. I certainly understand some families in DMPS have wanted to be fulltime and that the district was not fully compliant at the beginning of the school year, but this bill does not resolve that issue. It is apparent in the writing of this bill and in earlier Senate debates that there are many Senators who believe DMPS was wrong in the decisions it made this school year as the world was coping with the pandemic. We teach our children that two wrongs dont make a right; I expect better from those in our legislature!

Amy Thiessen []

Good Afternoon,I would like to go on record against this bill. As a lifetime Iowan and Mother of schoolage children, this not bill will negatively impact families, children, teachers, and staff throughout the state. The system most affected will be our public school which are already severely underfunded, and have reached a breaking point prior to the added financial burden of this bill. This bill is NOT for the benefit of Iowans and thereforeI am completely against it. Thank you.

Ashley Cooprider-Brown []

Good morning,I am writing as a concerned parent, educator, and tax paying citizen to encourage you to vote NO on SF 159. Or, better yet, let's not even move this Bill to the House for debate. First, plain and simple, public funds should stay in public schools. While I am first to admit public education isn't perfect (nothing is perfect), however, that does not mean we should take away funding for public education! Now more than ever, public schools need to be properly funded. Especially considering we are now required to teach in person and online (at least I am, personally), we shouldn't be giving schools less money and resources to work with. The opposite is true we need MORE funding, not less. Second, I find it offensive to hear the word "failing school" when mentioning this bill. These 34 schools are not failing, rather, they serve a more challenging group of students and families. Poverty is the number one factor...if we want to improve schools, let's get rid of poverty! I realize that solving poverty is a challenging issue...until we figure out how to do that, let's keep our public schools properly funded. Let's not fail to realize that many (if not most) of the students and families who are living in poverty are also Black, Latino, immigrants, etc. Allowing vouchers or "ESAs" will further segregate our schools, and that is NOT what Iowa should stand for in the 21st century we should be working harder to bring people together and make education a priority for ALL, not just the small portion of students who will benefit from these vouchers. Oh, and there is no proof that sending students to private schools even improves the quality of their education...some studies suggest the opposite (but that's another matter entirely).Years ago, I taught in a more urban school environment which was labeled a "school in need of improvement" during the NCLB era. However, as educators we were working very hard and serving these families the best that we could! School is much more than a place to educate students...in many of these urban, lower socioeconomic schools, schools are a "safe place" for students and families. We should continue to properly fund (maybe even more funding!) so these students can have the resources and high quality teachers they deserve.Finally, I am concerned that private schools do not have to serve ALL students the way public schools do. We (public schools) are not allowed to turn away students based on their religion, race, sexuality, or ability. We take all students as they are. While I am not suggesting a private school would turn anyone away based on what I mentioned, I know for a fact that they can and do turn away students with IEPs and who require special education services. While it is their right to do so as a private entity, this should NOT be allowed when receiving public taxpayer funds.Thank you so much for your time please vote NO on SF 159, and remember public taxpayer dollars should go to public schools.Best,Ashley (Cooprider) BrownVocal/Elementary Music TeacherParent and AdvocateGilbert, IA

Barbara Holt []

When I attended Iowa schools in the 50s60s, we were known to be at the top of the nation's schools...the best of the best! Although we have fallen a bit in some of the rankings, we are still providing a sound education to our children and must maintain that high level! Our children are our future leaders, scientists, doctors and teachers! They are our future essential workers! They will be sitting in the same chairs that our state and federal representatives now occupy. Our public school teachers are expected to be highly educated and yet receive salaries often unequal to their credentials, but because of their love of teaching and commitment to their students, they continue as educators. Our state funding most certainly belongs to our public schools which are in desperate need of yet more funding in order to continue to provide the sound education that our young people deserve. To have the choice of attending a private school is certainly acceptable. To provide state funds for private schools is not! Please vote against SSB 1159!

Vanessa Phelan []

In kindergarten, my daughter's class had 27 students. Our school has had to do more with less for too many years. The levels of proposed funding would raise our property taxes to an unsustainable degree, yet there is $300 million sitting in a surplus fund. Please stop shortchanging our kids! We moved to Iowa in part because we were told that the public schools are wonderful. We love our school, teachers, and staff, but they shouldn't have to do more with less because legislators won't even keep pace with inflation. The cuts our district would have to undergo would be devastating.We are DMPS parents, so it is of particular concern that every district but ours would get a one time fee. DMPS students should not be held responsible for decisions that the school board and administration made. Especially because the board and administration were trying to keep their community safe. This vindictive proposal would do nothing except punish the thousands of kids in our district, which is the largest and most diverse in the state. Please fund schools adequately! The budget should not be "balanced" at the expense of our children.

Kay Mackey []

Public money is for public schools. Public schools have been under funded for 10 years. Private schools pick & choose which students they want to have attend.Public schools educate all children. They can say no to no one.Stop trying to find private schools with my tax dollars!

Mary Maher []

Dear I am writing to ask you to oppose legislation to defund public schools. The bill would siphon away taxpayer money meant to improve education for Iowas 500,000 children and would only benefit a small fraction who could take advantage of the limited scholarships to attend private or charter schools and with little public oversight. This proposal was drafted without input from public school districts and would change athletic eligibility standards and lift open enrollment caps for five districts under antidiscriminatory diversity requirements. I feel it is the wrong public policy for Iowa and an inappropriate use of public tax dollars. I had the privilege and I feel I was privileged to have gone to both private and public schools. My parents sacrificed to send me there. But I was unable to send my children to private schools because I did not have the money to do so because I was a single Mother. If we fully fund certain parents being able to send their children to private and charter schools, we will not be able to satisfactorily fund private school for all students. Iowa already has in place a mechanism with tuition assistance for parents to send their children to private schools if they so desire. Iowa should instead more appropriately fund our public schools to make sure every student has the chance to receive a good education. As argued by the Governor a child should not suffer from being denied being able to transfer to a better school because of their zip code. Rather the argument should be if a child wants to transfer out of that school because it is not meeting his or her needs, then that school should be funded better to meet all of the needs of the students in that school. Shame on you legislators for not adequately funding ours schools by only passing a 2.3% when a 3% increase was recommended. If you are not funding our public schools to keep up with inflation then this is essentially a budget cut. Our Governor has bragged about our budget surplus amidst a global pandemic. So rather than using some of that surplus for increasing state funding to improve the education of 94% of Iowa children, she proposes to pull money from those students to pay others to opt out of the system. Also not passing this budget on time put the schools in a time crunch to come up with their budgets. Please put Iowans first and dont aim to have a surplus. Our taxpayer money is to be spent on We the People. Respectfully, Mary M. Maher Irishmaher4gmail.com

Jenny price []

Failure to back our public schools is a failure to our children.

Kay Pence [QC ARA & IA ARA]

At the same time there is legislation to divert public funds for private education it is disappointing to see such a pitiful proposal to fund public education. When I could have moved with my job, I stayed in IA in part because of our excellent schools. My kids came first. Now I'm retired and my children are making the same decision regarding my grandkids education. Don't destroy quality public education!

Elizabeth Gookin []

I am absolutely against any reduction in funding to public schools. We need it now more than ever to support our staff, teachers, students and programming. No money should be redirected from public schools for vouchers or any other reasons. If a few kids leave for a private school there are still costs for teachers and programs, supplies and support. Whether there are 30 kids in a class or 25, the teacher and program costs are still needed. You must look for a solution that wont take crucial funding from the public schools.Additionally, it would also be unconscionable to distribute funds to all schools except Des Moines Public. So many children have special learning and social needs and that requires the best teachers and leaders. Many of the children are in poverty or learning English while they are leaning all their school subjects. Resources and funding are crucial for success. Do not set our schools up for failure. Our community is only as strong as our weakest neighbors. We must lift them up and we can do that by supporting the children and their schools.

KAREN OLOUGHLIN []

As a public school educator for 30 years in Iowa now is not the time to underfund public education. Schools have incurred additional costs this year due to Covid and the enrollment numbers have been affected also by Covid. Inadequate funding, as we have seen in the last few years, results in an inability for schools to function at their best but especially after this year would be devastating and disheartening. We have larger class sizes, less preparation time, and spend more out of pocket money while meeting the needs of all of our learners. Districts are finding it harder to provide a competitive salary which results in the inability to find staffing, especially in high need or highly technical disciplines. The districts hit hardest by this are the smaller rural districts. Their budgets are spread so thin right now and they have already had to make cuts due to past underfunding that inadequate funding at this time may very well cripple them. It will result in the need for higher taxes in those local districts where communities are already stretched thin. Please, we need your support to be able to do our jobs and more importantly, the school children of Iowa need your support. They are ultimately the ones that will suffer.Karen O'Loughlin

Sally Strang []

What has happened to the treasured concept of church and state? If you want a religious education, pay for it or teach your kids at home or share your values through family conversations. I do not want my taxpayer dollars going to any private organization that does not have the same requirements as the public schools.