This past Monday the 2013 Legislative Session began. Some extremely important issues have already hit the front pages for debate. Governor Branstad gave his Condition of the State address on Tuesday, and school reform appears to be one of the topics at the top of list. The proposals for school reform are included in HSB 4 which is scheduled to be discussed by the House Education Sub-Committee Tuesday, January 22 at 5:00 p.m. I encourage everyone to go to the Department of Education website and read Building World-Class Schools for Iowa: A Legislative Brief. Here are just a few highlights from his plan:
1. Teacher leadership compensation system and raising beginning teacher pay to $35,000
2. Teach Iowa Initiative to encourage and reimburse students to enter the teaching profession and teach in Iowa
3. Teacher-Administration evaluations, include student outcome measures
4. Expand Iowa Learning on Line
5. Creation of a two-tiered high school diploma system.
One very important issue that needs to be monitored, especially for the small rural Iowa schools is the issue of Allowable Growth. Allowable Growth is the amount by which the state cost per pupil and district cost per pupil will increase from one budget year to the next. Each year the amount is increased by a dollar amount which is the product of the allowable growth rate set by the legislature times the state cost per pupil from the prior budget year. As I write this article we are beginning to prepare for
our 2013-2014 Budget. In the Governor’s address he stated that, “I believe that we should resolve the issue of what we are collectively willing to invest in achievement-driven reform before we spend one minute discussing additional resources to support our existing educational system.” With this statement he plans on delaying any decisions on Allowable Growth until his reform package is resolved. In my interpretation his proposal shows a zero percent Allowable Growth for the next two school years. We understand school reform is a major issue for Iowa, but Allowable Growth is the bread and butter for local districts to utilize local control of where those funds are best utilized in our district. For the IKM-
Manning CSD a 0% Allowable Growth is a decrease of $85,407; a 2% Allowable Growth is a decrease of $40,355; and a 4% Allowable Growth shows an increase of $49,778. The plan for a 0% Allowable Growth would have a negative impact on our school and teachers.
I encourage all to contact our local state government officials and voice your opinion for a positive Allowable Growth and to address this issue before any education reform proposals are addressed.
I would like to encourage all to get out and support our high school basketball teams as they enter the Western Valley Conference Basketball Tournament this week. They both enter with the top seed in the
southern division.
Congratulations to the 12 groups of 67 students that advances on to the state speech contest. Great job!
Yours in education,
Dr. Ward
1. Teacher leadership compensation system and raising beginning teacher pay to $35,000
2. Teach Iowa Initiative to encourage and reimburse students to enter the teaching profession and teach in Iowa
3. Teacher-Administration evaluations, include student outcome measures
4. Expand Iowa Learning on Line
5. Creation of a two-tiered high school diploma system.
One very important issue that needs to be monitored, especially for the small rural Iowa schools is the issue of Allowable Growth. Allowable Growth is the amount by which the state cost per pupil and district cost per pupil will increase from one budget year to the next. Each year the amount is increased by a dollar amount which is the product of the allowable growth rate set by the legislature times the state cost per pupil from the prior budget year. As I write this article we are beginning to prepare for
our 2013-2014 Budget. In the Governor’s address he stated that, “I believe that we should resolve the issue of what we are collectively willing to invest in achievement-driven reform before we spend one minute discussing additional resources to support our existing educational system.” With this statement he plans on delaying any decisions on Allowable Growth until his reform package is resolved. In my interpretation his proposal shows a zero percent Allowable Growth for the next two school years. We understand school reform is a major issue for Iowa, but Allowable Growth is the bread and butter for local districts to utilize local control of where those funds are best utilized in our district. For the IKM-
Manning CSD a 0% Allowable Growth is a decrease of $85,407; a 2% Allowable Growth is a decrease of $40,355; and a 4% Allowable Growth shows an increase of $49,778. The plan for a 0% Allowable Growth would have a negative impact on our school and teachers.
I encourage all to contact our local state government officials and voice your opinion for a positive Allowable Growth and to address this issue before any education reform proposals are addressed.
I would like to encourage all to get out and support our high school basketball teams as they enter the Western Valley Conference Basketball Tournament this week. They both enter with the top seed in the
southern division.
Congratulations to the 12 groups of 67 students that advances on to the state speech contest. Great job!
Yours in education,
Dr. Ward
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