Letter to the Editor: Taking money away from our public schools

To the Editor:

Iowa’s governor and most of the state legislators whose political party controls all three branches of Iowa’s government are advocating to take tax dollars from public schools and give them to private schools, including for-profit schools (Senate Study Bill 3080).  They cloak this legislation as school choice, vouchers and scholarships.

Don’t be fooled. Iowa already has school choice through open enrollment. This is about giving a blank check to private schools without requiring any oversight, accountability or financial disclosure. Taking money away from public schools is wrong, bad for our children, bad for public education, and bad for our communities.

Cuts to funding weaken public schools, particularly rural schools which have already faced a decade of inadequate funding. If this bill (SSB 3080) passes, our children will get cheated out of opportunities because programs, courses and activities will have to be cut. Property owners could easily bear the brunt with higher property taxes to make up for the loss of funds.

Public schools are the lifeblood of our small rural towns. What happens to our communities when school districts have to consolidate because of inadequate funding? When we lose schools, we lose jobs, workers seek opportunities elsewhere and their families leave with them. Small businesses are negatively impacted.

Iowans have a shared history of valuing children’s public education. Every child, whatever their race, ethnicity, background or zip code, has a right to public education. Do right by our children by strengthening our public schools.

Contact your State Senator and State Representative and tell them public money is for public schools and should not be taken away.

Karen Pratte
Waterville