~Sue Richardson of Jefferson, retired school teacher
There were several statements made at the town hall gathering with legislators in Jefferson on Saturday, Feb. 14, that needed more context to give an accurate account of the bills currently being proposed.
When talking about school funding, it was stated that the Democrats decreased funding when they controlled the legislature and the office of governor, and the Republicans had increased it ever since they’ve had control. I fact-checked that statement. It is true that during the “Great Recession” across the nation (2009), the entire state budget was cut to balance the budget during a severe economic downturn. Following the return of full Republican control of state government in 2011, funding increases slowed with 9 out of 10 years showing an annual increase of less than 3 percent.
A statement was made that the larger school districts in Iowa will be able to handle the drop in enrollment, but the rural schools will struggle. The fact is that both are greatly affected. Iowa public schools are facing significant budget deficits and potential closures due to declining enrollment, the expansion of state-funded private school vouchers, and a decade of underfunding. Over 200 districts saw enrollment declines in the past year, forcing districts to cut staff and close facilities. Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines face these budget challenges along with smaller districts.
Republicans repeatedly complain that too much money is spent on education. Then, how can they support Iowa increasing dollars for charter schools through a new $7 million grant program established by Senate File 2368 in 2024? Iowa has seen growth in authorized charter schools, rising from two in 2021 to 19 as of early 2026. Over 80 percent of the private schools that are eligible for ESA’s have religious affiliations. What has happened to separation of church and state?
Lastly, several bills initiated by the Republican legislature focus on limiting access to information. The bills focus on issues like what can be taught in history class, limiting access to reading material in schools and libraries, and defunding education. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “One of the best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education. The second way of enslaving a people is to suppress the sources of information, not only by burning books, but by controlling all the other ways in which ideas are transmitted.” (11 May, 1943)
