Private schools should be funded with private funds

By Georgie Klevar, Decorah

Saturday, January 30, 2021 2:29 pm

Dear Editor,
Here we go again. Once again, our governor and some Republican legislators want to take public tax monies from public schools so that parents can use the money to select a private school or even home schooling. This type of bill – often called education savings accounts – has not made it in past legislative sessions and I hope it doesn’t get passed this session.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not anti-private schools. I attended Catholic schools and our daughters received a quality education at St Benedict School. But private schools should be funded with private funds. In the past year dedicated school board members, superintendents, and teachers heroically have made decisions about how best to provide public education to the students in their districts. Our governor thanks them by saying that education savings accounts are needed to save children “trapped in a failing public school.” We need to ask our legislators to increase school aid and not take funds from public schools. We all know that public schools are an essential part of our democracy.
Further, the governor wants legislation stating that schools must offer 100% in person education. What happened to the ability of local school boards to decide what is best for their districts? It seems that she is concerned about students who are failing with home instruction. But how is it that she has supported laws related to home schooling?
Please contact our legislators and ask them to oppose these initiatives.
mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov 
michael.bergan@legis.iowa.gov

Georgie Klevar
Decorah

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