A Democratic state lawmaker says Iowa schools could face difficult decisions after lawmakers approved a two-percent increase in state funding for the next school year. Jennifer Konfrst, who represents House District 32 in the Windsor Heights and Clive area, told RadioOnTheGo News in a recent interview that the increase approved by the legislature falls short of what many educators across Iowa say is needed.
“I think one of the biggest problems with this increase is that it doesn’t keep up with inflation. You can talk a lot about the programs in schools and how you can save money, but you can’t control the light bill. You can’t control the heat bill. And you know, the things that schools can’t control have gone up. Meanwhile, we’ve asked more and more of our schools while providing them with less and less. It’s been about 15 years of chronic underfunding. So yes, it is an increase, but we don’t think it’s enough. I think we’re hearing from superintendents in rural, urban, and suburban districts who tell us it’s not enough to get things going. And so they’re going to have to be cuts.”
Konfrst says Democratic lawmakers had proposed a five-percent increase in supplemental state aid, arguing that would better help schools address rising costs and retain teachers. She says administrators across Iowa warn that lower increases could lead to cuts, with extracurricular and enrichment programs often among the first reduced.
“…programs like debate, band, choir, foreign languages, extracurriculars, and those are things that really help students feel valued and really find their place in a school. And so it’s heartbreaking and devastating to imagine the kids won’t have those outlets, especially when we talk about children’s mental health and the challenges that kids are facing. Having places and things like that for kids to do is critically important for kids’ mental health as well.”
Other legislative issues during the interview with Mitch Williams were discussed as part of the Newsmaker podcast including debates over eminent domain and property rights, as well as concerns about housing affordability, health care access and mental health services across Iowa.
Konfrst, who previously served as Iowa House Minority Leader, has also announced she will not seek re-election this year after eight years in the legislature.
Full interview here:
