2015 IASB Legislative Priorities

The Legislature closed the 2014 session this week after finishing work on a $6 billion state budget. Due to the legislature's failure to set FY 2016 supplemental state aid in compliance with Iowa law it’s clear our advocacy in the next year will be just as vital, if not more so, than in years past. Now is the time to reflect on IASB's legislative platform resolutions and your distirct's priorities, and begin the next cycle of state public policy making.

From funding decisions to mandated activities, there are a great deal of decisions made in the Legislature that ultimately determines the capacity and resources of school boards to lead for equity and excellence for all Iowa students. 

Please spend time at your May, June, July or early August board meetings discussing and voting on your district's legislative priorities for the 2015 legislative session (due August 15). Each board should:

• • Pick no more than five priorities or approve the priorities from the existing 2014 platform, and/or;

  • Recommend new resolutions and/or suggest amendments to existing resolutions;

  • Identify resolutions that should be removed from the platform if they are no longer relevant or critical.

Dr. Wells has highlighted his top 5 priorities for the school board's consideration.