The school funding dilemma

The Gazette Editorial Board

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To combat a major decline in the state's share of funding support, Iowa's public schools increasingly are turning to private donors for help funding technology, equipment, materials, - even staff.

And while we're glad to see communities and donors stepping up to support our schools, the trend raises some serious concerns about the potential for growing inequities among programs, schools or school districts.

Certainly, it's not right or even desirable to tell individuals and private groups they can't financially support public schools, especially those in which they have a natural interest.

Nor is it fair to make students attending schools with fewer resources do without critical tools for learning.

Property tax and budget restrictions imposed by state formulas on local districts are part of this difficult puzzle.

So it's largely up to legislators to ensure there's enough money to go around to fund the basics in every Iowa school district.

A solution has so far eluded them, but is necessary if the state hopes to ensure every Iowa child has access to a quality educational experience.

According to a recent Gazette investigation, fundraising for Iowa's K-12 public schools has increased dramatically in recent years as state support has plummeted - down from nearly 60 percent of general-fund expenses in 1997-98 to 47.4 percent this year, according to The Gazette's analysis.

Those districts that can have turned to private funding to help pick up the slack. More than 40 percent of Iowa's 351 school districts have foundations registered with the National School Foundation Association, according to the report.

Districts are using those private dollars to fund everything from facilities and field trips to educational materials and equipment to supplementing teacher salaries.

“The harsh reality - and we shouldn't sugar coat it - is that this may be the new reality for our schools going forward,” State Department of Education Director Jason Glass told The Gazette.

But it's problematic to rely heavily on private donations.

Some schools have a much easier time raising private money than in other districts that don't have as strong a base for property taxes, which pay a portion of school costs, and have more residents in lower income brackets. Corporate or individual private donations often don't go to districts where it's needed most because donors understandably want some say in where their money goes.

Giving up on funding the essentials belies Iowa's traditional philosophy: Students academics shouldn't suffer just because they attend less affluent schools.

We can't let our schools' educational direction be determined only by where the money is.

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