FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May, 11 2009

Iowa  State Education Association
Contact:   Jean Hessburg, 515-471-8025

Iowa  Association of School Boards
Contact:   Mary Gannon, 515-288-1991 or President Jack Hill, 563-285-4180

School Administrators of Iowa
Contact:   Brad Buck, 515-987-5161

Urban Education Network
Contact:   Lane Plugge, 319-688-1000

Area Education Agencies
Contact:   Brent Siegrist, 402-250-5566

Teachers, Administrators, School Boards, Urban Leaders, Join Together to
Oppose Phase 1 Teacher Salary Cuts

(Des Moines, IA  )  In extraordinary agreement, five education groups joined forces in opposition to the Legislature’s unanticipated, last-minute budget cuts to a long-standing education program.

The Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), the Urban Education Network (UEN), and the Area Education Agencies (AEA) are calling on Governor Culver to exercise what authority he has to oppose the Legislature’s Phase I budget cut and provide the proper resources to districts to ensure quality teachers exist in all classrooms. Teachers, administrators, school board members, and others are all significantly impacted by the $13.3 million in cuts made during the waning hours of the last night of the legislative session. Since this was a surprise action by the Legislature after the school budget certification date, school leaders are left with few or no options to keep their promises to pay teachers adequately.

Educational Excellence legislation was enacted in 1987 creating three pools of money to help pay teachers.   Phase I was given to districts to raise the minimum starting salary to $18,000: and in 1998, it was raised again to a minimum of $23,000.  Phase II was established for experienced teachers; and Phase III was created for staff development and alternative pay systems.  Phase III ended in 2002, but the other programs had continued for over 20 years. 

“Phase I salary minimums were established to help level the playing field among school districts across Iowa  .  There are very few states where a rural school district can be right next door to an urban area and so teachers’ salaries can vary significantly from district to district within a 20-mile radius.  Phase I changed that, and allowed rural areas to compete and attract the best and the brightest education professionals to their areas, too.  The Legislature made a commitment then, and they had continued to commit that all of Iowa ’s schoolchildren deserve the same quality education.  Currently, with the Phase I cuts, it would be hard to attract young professionals or keep veteran teachers in an area if a school district can’t compete and pay what they could make 15 miles away,” said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA.

“The timing of this was just terrible.   This came in the middle of our negotiation process and has completely disrupted negotiations,” said Mike Sexton, Rockwell City-Lytton school board president.  “For a little school district like ours, it’s $90,000 and that has a huge impact.   Do teachers deserve the money?  Absolutely.”

“School board members are counting on the Governor to find a way to get us through this year harmoniously and quickly so we can get back to our mission of educating kids.   Because of the timing, it is impossible to manage for 2010.  We need a fix now.  We need the Governor’s leadership and action, and need to work with the Legislature on a permanent solution,” said Jack Hill, president of IASB and a North Scott school board member.

“Iowa  school districts have a history of providing quality education regardless of district size or location.  Phase I is an equity measure which assists districts in providing teacher salaries to make it possible for all Iowa schoolchildren to have the best teachers possible regardless of where your parents reside,” said Lane Plugge, president of UEN and superintendent of the Iowa City School District.

“Phase I is an important and long-standing funding source for Iowa  schools.  The last-minute cutting of Phase I will fall most heavily on Iowa ’s smallest schools.  We need the Governor to intervene and save this resource for Iowa ’s students,” said Brad Buck, president of SAI and assistant superintendent of the Waukee community schools.

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The ISEA is a professional association made up of nearly 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa  students.  Great Education.  It’s an Iowa Basic!

IASB is a private, nonprofit organization representing Iowa’s 362 school districts, 10 area education agencies and 15 community colleges.

UEN is a consortium of Iowa’s eight largest school districts.  Combined, these eight districts enroll nearly 25 percent of Iowa  ’s public school enrollment.

SAI is a private, nonprofit association representing over 2,000 Iowa school administrators, including superintendents and principals.

AEAs work as education partners with public and accredited, private schools to provide special education support services, media and technology services, a variety of instructional services, professional development, and leadership to help improve student achievement.