There’s a legislative storm coming

Storm clouds thicken as flashes brighten a distant sky. It’s coming. The snare drum cadence of thunder morphs into booming bass drums accompanied by a slashing light show. The wind howls. You check the batteries in the flashlights. You close the windows and secure the garbage cans.

It’s time to gather family and head for lower ground.

There are different kinds of storms. On Jan. 13, a legislative storm will begin brewing in Des Moines. It’s time to gather the education family to prepare.

As Mark Twain said, “ History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” He recognized no two events are identical, but if something similar occurs once, it’s likely to happen again.

Public education has been under attack since 2017 when majority legislators gutted public sector bargaining within two weeks of convening. Like that attack, similar attacks will come early in this session, and most will happen quickly.

This storm isn’t a prediction. It’s a promise

Part of preparing is participating in legislative forums with questions, so the forum isn’t just “happy talk.” Protecting public schools should be a community project and bipartisan.

If legislators from either party refuse to attend, I’d contact the nearest media to let them know which legislators are doing their jobs and which are not. They were elected to represent even those who voted against them. Ask the hard questions, and don’t let them dance.

1. Are you in favor of reducing property taxes? If so, how will you ensure public school revenue will be replaced by a predictable and reliable funding source? Please be specific. If property taxes are cut without providing an alternative funding source for public schools, would you still vote for the cut?

2. During the last 14 years, the average inflation rate has been 3.51%. Supplemental State Aid for schools has been an average of 2.60%. There has been a consistent gap between school funding and inflation. What steps will you take to correct underfunding?

3. Schools are just beginning to feel the impact of changes in the AEA structure. Will you listen to school administrators, teachers, board members, and parents regarding problems with this change and adjust the law?

4. The Legislature raised the minimum salary for teachers. Are you willing to do a similar bill raising support staff salaries?

5. The Iowa Public Employee Retirement System, (IPERS) is important for retaining veteran educators. Will you protect the current defined benefit plan for new and veteran public educators?

6. Insurance coverage currently is not a mandatory topic of bargaining. Would you be in favor of making insurance benefits a mandatory topic, so educators have a voice about coverage?

7. Iowa has a $1.8 billion budget surplus. Would you vote to use a portion of that money to fund free breakfast and lunch for all students in public schools?

8. A few states are forcing public schools to incorporate the Bible into the curriculum. Do you support this idea? If you support this, how will you guarantee all students, no matter if they have a religion or it’s different from Christianity, will feel comfortable and welcome?

9. The Governor indicated she wants a cell phone ban in schools. Would you commit to listening to local parents, and educators before you vote on any law?

10. Would you commit to spending a day in a public school shadowing an educator?

Iowa can’t afford to let public schools be blown away by a legislative storm. This is a community effort much like when we assist a family in crisis. Public schools are a community treasure. Let’s protect them.

Bruce Lear taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association Regional Director for 27 years until he retired He lives in Sioux City. BruceLear2419@gmail.com