–The Algona School Board is being asked to support the Iowa Public School Strong Initiative, an effort aimed at increasing state support of public schools. Mark Davis presented information to the board during their meeting on Monday, saying the Iowa Public School Strong movement was started by the Citizens for Community Improvement, a group with over 3,000 dues paying members in Iowa. Specifically, the group is calling for a minimum 5% increase in state supplemental aid beginning next year, as the average SSA increase has been 2% over the last 15 years.
Iowa Public School Strong also raises concerns about some of the developments in the state since legislators approved Education Savings Accounts (ESA) in 2023.
Davis says they hope the board will consider supporting the effort.
So far, 18 school districts have approved resolutions supporting the Iowa Public School Strong initiative, with Belmond-Klemme and Clarion-Goldfield/Dows among them.
