Area legislators visit Jefferson to discuss budget, hear concerns from students

CEDAR RAPIDS — Last month, about 50 students from Cedar Rapids high schools traveled to Des Moines to lobby for funding increases for schools above the ones supported by Gov. Terry Branstad and the Republican-controlled House.

In response to their efforts, four Democratic representatives from Cedar Rapids — Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Liz Bennett, Todd Taylor and Art Staed — visited Jefferson High School on Monday to hear firsthand the views on state funding.

'The reason that we are here is that we really value Iowa education. We are going to do everything we can to make sure we get adequate funding for our schools,' Staed told a world humanities class. 'What is happening is, there is a crunch of funds — which leads to fewer teachers, larger class sizes, less books and materials. There has been a crunch over the last five years. That's why we are here, so you can get the best education possible.'

The representatives were introduced to numerous classes and listened to students and staff about how additional funding is needed to prevent teacher layoffs, which, school representatives said, could harm students' academic achievement.

In January, the Iowa House voted to boost K-12 funding 2 percent in supplemental state aid for the 2017 fiscal year, which is less than the 2.45 percent Branstad proposed and the 4 percent backed by Statehouse Democrats.

Jefferson Principal Charles McDonnell said the school projects it will have to cut 15 teachers if lawmakers approve a 2.45 percent funding increase.

'We are on pins and needles that we at least get 2.45 percent, so we wouldn't have to do more cuts than we already plan to do,' he told the lawmakers.

Cedar Rapids Superintendent Brad Buck said last month that anything less of a 3.72 percent increase will require the district to cut $2 million to $2.7 million from its staffing and student programing budget.

The Democratic lawmakers on Monday also met with teachers who said they were concerned about heavier workloads, more students, less preparation time and less time to work with students.

'We visited a math room that was very crowded,' Running-Marquardt said. 'We know from scientific data that larger class sizes do not equal student achievement.'

After the tour, the four House members traveled back to Des Moines.

'Right now, we are in a critical budgeting time, where people are in negotiations between adequately funding our schools or for more corporate tax cuts,' Running-Marquardt said. 'After hearing from teachers, students and businesses, it is critical we adequately fund our public schools.'

Another group of district students is set to travel to Des Moines this week to again lobby for increased school spending.

'It is really hard for us to get our voices across as students,' Censere Lemon, a Jefferson sophomore, said. 'With all of these conditions and cuts, we don't get a say in anything about it. We just have to go through it. With (the representatives) being here, it helps us get our voice out.'