The Iowa Senate has approved a three-percent increase in general state school aid – adding about $106 million in funding.
The approval came on Thursday afternoon, with 34 Republicans in favor of the hike – including local State Senators Dan Zumbach of Ryan and Carrie Koelker of Dyersville.
The bill also includes 900-thousand more dollars in state support for geographically large school districts that spend far more on bus routes.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says the House will approve that level of spending early next week — giving school boards eight weeks to finalize budget plans for the next academic year.
Democrats say school districts need more to offer competitive teacher salaries and cover rising costs of fuel to heat buildings and run buses. Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames says the state would have more to spend if Republicans hadn’t approved state-funded savings accounts for private school parents.
partial story contribution courtesy of Radio Iowa
