Eastern Iowa School Districts Challenge Governor’s Education Funding Proposal

Several school districts across Eastern Iowa are mobilizing to press state lawmakers for increased education funding, arguing that Governor Kim Reynolds’ proposed 2% boost in funding falls significantly short of what public schools need to maintain quality education.

Dr. Brad Buck, superintendent at Waukee Community School District and former head of Iowa’s Department of Education under Governor Terry Branstad, has emerged as a leading voice in this funding debate. Before his current role at Waukee, Dr. Buck served as superintendent for Cedar Rapids schools, giving him extensive experience in Iowa’s education landscape.

Buck’s analysis of the Governor’s proposal has drawn attention from local media, as he demonstrates that the apparent 2% increase actually translates to less than half a percent in real terms. His calculations expose a critical gap between the headline figure and the practical impact on school budgets.

“Anymore, it doesn’t matter if it’s a good time or a lean time. The legislature has been giving generally speaking less than inflation,” Dr. Buck explained, highlighting a concerning trend in state education funding.

At the heart of the issue is State Supplemental Aid (SSA), the primary mechanism for state funding to public schools, which is allocated on a per-pupil basis. This funding structure reveals the challenge facing public education in Iowa: enrollment in public schools declined by approximately 7,300 students this year, while private and charter schools saw increasing enrollment numbers.

With the current funding rate of $7,988 per student, this enrollment shift represents more than $58 million less for the public school system. Consequently, last year’s seemingly substantial 2% increase in SSA effectively amounted to just a 0.4% increase in overall funding when accounting for the reduced student population.

The declining enrollment trend is expected to continue steadily over the next several years, adding urgency to the districts’ funding requests. Dr. Buck argues that given Iowa’s current financial position, the state has capacity to provide more robust support to public education.

“It’s the lifeblood of school districts. And so, any increases in SSA go a long way towards maintaining high-quality staff, maintaining programs in schools,” Dr. Buck emphasized, underscoring the fundamental importance of adequate funding.

Buck is advocating for a 4% increase in State Supplemental Aid, while Cedar Rapids, Decorah, South Tama and several other public school districts have united behind a petition calling for an even more substantial 5% increase.

The funding debate comes at a critical juncture for Iowa’s education system. As public schools face the dual challenges of declining enrollment and limited funding increases, many districts report difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and maintaining educational programs, especially in specialized areas and extracurricular activities.

Education experts note that Iowa, once nationally recognized for its excellent public education system, has seen its ranking slip in recent years. The Iowa State Education Association has pointed to inadequate funding as a key factor in this decline.

The legislature’s decision on education funding will have lasting implications for Iowa’s approximately 485,000 public school students. Districts warn that continued underfunding may force difficult decisions about program cuts, increased class sizes, or deferred maintenance and technology investments.

Governor Reynolds’ office maintains that Iowa continues to prioritize education funding, pointing to various education initiatives beyond basic per-pupil funding. However, school administrators counter that these targeted programs don’t address the fundamental operational needs that SSA is designed to cover.

The funding proposal is expected to be a central topic as the Iowa Legislature continues its 2024 session.