CENTERVILLE —
Ways to fund and improve public education in Iowa continues to present challenges to both state politicians and educators.
In Appanoose County, the Centerville Community School District has decided to close the Cincinnati and Mystic Elementary school buildings and cut back on personnel in order to cover funding deficits.
State politicians representing Appanoose County, Rep. Kurt Swaim and Sen. Mark Chelgren, were in Centerville Saturday, March 17 to attend the second Legislative Coffee at Chariton Valley Planning & Development Council of Governments where they discussed public education. Ironically, students outnumber adults 15-8 for the hour-long meeting.
Rob Busch, Centerville Community School District business administrator, said the district is closing two school buildings and cutting staff members. He said the district needs to see more support for allowable growth and transportation from the state.
Not only is the Centerville Community School District the third lowest in per pupil valuation per student, Busch said, the district is also below the state average per student in PPEL amount.
"And PPEL usually supports your programs, your infrastructure and your technology programs," Busch said. "I think we need to do as much as possible for education."
Busch said he recommend the Centerville Community School District Board raise property taxes.
"So I'm obviously going to see a lot more people complaining now that I have recommend that," he said.
Rep. Swaim said education needs to be personalized to each student and parents need to get more involved in their child's education. Iowa's public education system needs to get students on a career path as soon as possible so they can develop a "skill set," Swaim said.
Last week the Iowa House of Representatives passed an education reform bill 53-46. The House bill provides for competency based education that provides more personalized instruction, expands preschool from 10-15 hours per week, restores teacher development, puts students on a path to college or skill-specific trades and gets parents involved.
The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate. Swaim said he sees some common agreement between the two chambers on education reform.
Chelgren said money is one issue with education, but so are political promises not delivered and actions.
"A few years ago, we gave you a four percent allowable growth, but we didn't fund it," Chelgren said. "On top of it we had a fifteen percent across the board cut. Those are the types of things that actually cause more damage then they solve."
Chelgren said the Senate is working on a fully-funded 2 percent allowable growth in education and give school districts confidence that they can make long-range plans because they know the money is there.
Swaim said the time to reform education is now and politicians "need to put our money where our mouths are."
The third and final Legislative Coffee is Saturday, April 21 at 10 a.m. at Chariton Valley Planning & Development Council of Governments in Centerville at 308 N. 12th St.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Students outnumbered adults 15-10 Saturday during Chariton Valley Planning & Development Council of Government's second Legislative Coffee with Iowa's Rep. Kurt Swaim, second and Sen. Mark Chelgren, third from left. Photo by Michael Schaffer/Daily Iowegian
Share your thoughts!
The Daily Iowegian welcomes your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
March 20, 2012
Public education facing challenges in Appanoose County and state of Iowa
- Local News
-
- 4 Counties For Kids meeting agenda for May 28 4 Counties For Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board The 4 Counties For Kids (A.D.L.M.) Early Childhood Iowa Area BOard will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the Monroe County Extension Office in Albia. Items on the agenda include call for public inp
- School board approves resignation The Centerville Community School District Board of Education Monday, May 13 approved Rob Busch's resignation as curriculum director, athletic director and business manager effective June 30. The board was also notified by Dr. Hindley through written
- Public input meetings for Historic Hills Scenic Byway plan Pathfinders RC&D is seeking public input to the Historic Hills Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan at meetings on Tuesday, June 11. The meetings will be held at 9 a.m. at the Farmington EMS Building, 2 p.m. at the Savannah Church in the Historical
- Jury returns guilty verdict against Udell man An Appanoose County jury on Monday, May 20 found Cliff Allen Lowe, 40, of Udell guilty of two counts of conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine, class B felonies. Lowe was found not guilty of the charge of possession of a fi
-
B.V. Sodbusters meeting minutes and activities
The B.V. Sodbusters 4-H club met on April 21 at the Extension Office with 17 members and 13 visitors present. The club had a fundraiser and sold Finley Grace wickless candles and cookie dough. Money was given to the top seller of the candles, which w
-
'Tireless' 93-year-old volunteer honored
The fourth annual Cline Medal, presented March 28 at the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation banquet, honored Virginia Padovan. The Cline Medal recognizes a citizen who has invested a great deal in the betterment of Appanoose County, which can
- Show me the money Beginning next fiscal year Centerville will have approximately $115,000 in returned Appanoose County Railroad Local Option Sales and Service Tax funds to use. The Centerville City Council Monday night wasted no time and voted to award $20,000 of thos
-
Pursuit that began in Marion County ends in Wayne County
CORYDON — A pursuit that began in Marion County Tuesday evening ended in Wayne County Tuesday night. The two-hour, high speed chase that went through several counties, with an alleged short stint in Missouri as well, involved several agencies with a
-
Mayor swears in new officers
Centerville Mayor Jim Senior swears in Angela Widmer and Bryan Baum as the newest addition to the Centerville Police Department. Widmer has been a reserve officer with the department since 2011 and Baum has been a Wapello County Sheriff's reserve sin
- BOB fundraiser BOB fundraiser The Betterment or Bust group raised $1,700 Saturday soliciting at the intersection of Highway 2 and 5. The donations will be used for improvements to the VFW Hall, also known as the CB&Q Railroad Depot, on the Levee in Centerville. Thi
-
UPDATE, 10:43 a.m.: Pursuit that began in Marion county ends in Wayne county
A pursuit that began in Marion county Tuesday evening ended in Wayne county Tuesday night.
- Free concert Thursday Free concert Thursday On Thursday, May 23 Howar Junior High and Lakeview will be giving a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on the Centerville Square. IHCC compete at BPA National OTTUMWA -- Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business P
- Memorial Day services The Memorial Day service in Numa will be held at 11a.m. Sunday, May 26 at the Numa Cemetery. A musical prelude will be performed. Taps will be played and the Gettysburg address will be recited. Pastor Kay Singley will be the main speaker. After the s
- Indian Hills students compete at BPA National OTTUMWA – Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business Professionals of America National Contest in Orlando, Fla. Jeremy Carlsten, of Exline, was a top 10 finisher in Fundamentals of Web Design, Java Programming and Visual Basic
- Disaster assistance available to repair damaged farmland ALBIA -- Monroe-Appanoose County FSA was approved to implement the Emergency Conservation Program. The deadline for accepting applications is July 15. "Area farmers who experience extreme damage to their land from severe weather events should report
- More Local News Headlines
