Senator Gronstal fails Iowa K-12 students

To the editor:

Education funding dominated the discussion at the first two Council Bluffs Legislative Coffees held this year. At the Feb. 14 Legislative Coffee, I asked the assembled legislators if most of the allowable growth funding would go to student education programs or teacher salary increases. Democrat State Senator Mike Gronstal was quick to answer that Iowa was ranked 42nd nationally in teacher pay, and by paying teachers more money, we were actually investing in student achievement programs.

As a follow up question I then asked, 'How does paying the same teachers more money improve student education?” Gronstal proceeded to 'school” me on the concept of competition, and how Iowa must pay new college graduates more money if they are to remain in Iowa and pursue a teaching career. Gronstal reminded me, 'You get what you pay for. I'd think you would understand that.”

It's obvious Gronstal does not have a workable solution for Iowa's K-12 educational shortfalls. If he did, he would be discussing charter schools, virtual schools, school voucher programs, and increased home school funding.

For Gronstal, it's not about schools competing for students or improving Iowa K-12 education, it's about obstructing K-12 education reform to satisfy the IAEA Union bosses. What Gronstal doesn't understand is that competition in education is a two-way street. What works to improve teacher pay would also work to improve Iowa student achievement rankings. In the words of Gronstal, 'I'd think you would understand that.”

Jeff Jorgensen, Chairman

Pottawattamie County GOP

Council Bluffs