(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education discussed at length last evening the issue involving supplemental school aid funding. The state House of Representatives have already passed a bill that would add an additional $50 million dollars, or a 1.25 percent increase over last year’s school funding. However, school board officials say the amount is not enough in order to continue with many of the programs and keep a full staff. School superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt informed the school board members that he is using the 1.25 percent figure for the school’s budget. School board president Scott Kommes informed the board members the issue is getting media attention, but he doubts if legislators are listening.
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Superintendent Wendt recently attended an Area Education Agency meeting held in Des Moines where education officials met with state legislators for a breakfast meeting. He says the advice offered to local school officials at the meeting is to get parents involved with the issue.
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Longtime school board member Dr. Mark Stelzer says the state legislature has been underfunding schools for several years.
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School board president Kommes equated the issue with personal income, saying anything below a three percent growth means a loss of money, when you factor in the cost of inflation.
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Dr. Stelzer advocated the legislature fails to use percent change for their calculations, and just talk general dollars, which he says doesn’t meet the schools’ needs.
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Dr. Stelzer questions whether education is a priority issue with the state lawmakers.
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School board member Fred Zenk suggested the school administration and school board invite parents, teachers, and people from the greater community to attend the upcoming legislative forum, scheduled for February 28th, to show area legislators that several people are concerned about the funding level for education. Zenk added, “this place (Education Center meeting room) should be full”.
