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Board urged to press lawmakers for higher school funding; members briefed on early education and curriculum bills
Summary
Directors preparing for Day on the Hill were urged to advocate for at least a 3% SSA; board members and staff summarized several active bills affecting curriculum, student health and extracurricular participation that could affect district operations.
Directors Voss and Thomas updated the board Jan. 20 on pending state legislative items and the district’s upcoming advocacy at the Day on the Hill in Des Moines.
Director Thomas reviewed the local legislators who represent parts of the Linn‑Mar district and said the governor’s budget proposal included a 2% State Supplemental Assistance (SSA) figure; the legislature’s deadline to finalize SSA was noted as Feb. 13. Director Voss said district advocates will ask legislators for a 3% SSA or higher, arguing a 2% increase would make it difficult to sustain current staffing and programming.
Attendees were briefed on several early bills and study bills reported as moving through subcommittees or under discussion. Items noted included proposals related to high‑school graduation requirements (House Study Bill 30 — naturalization test requirement for graduation), human growth and development standards (Senate Study Bill 1028), student health policy and nutrition (House File 34 on immunization‑exemption information; House Study Bill 10 to allow athletic trainers to provide health services in lieu of a school nurse; House Study Bill 5 proposing restrictions on foods served during school meals), and extracurricular participation (Senate Study Bill 1023 and House File 1 concerning access for students enrolled in online or nonpublic schools to participate in public school extracurriculars).
Board members asked clarifying questions about curriculum standard changes and potential impacts; staff said they have not seen official filings on some items and will continue to track bills and notify the board. Directors encouraged district attendees at the legislative visit to press for higher SSA funding and to provide a list of local legislators who are sponsoring or moving education bills.
No formal board action was taken; the report was informational and staff committed to monitoring bills that could affect district programs and policy.
