The Lewis Central Community School District Board of Directors voted Aug. 4 to submit four legislative priorities to the Iowa Association of School Boards: mental health; early literacy; teacher recruitment and licensure; and supplemental state aid (school funding).
Board members discussed whether to include preschool among the four priorities. During discussion some members argued preschool funding is close to state-level movement, while others said mental health and school safety concerns warranted a higher-priority spot. After discussion the board moved preschool out of the four and added mental health.
A motion to submit the district’s legislative priorities to IASB — mental health, early literacy, teacher recruitment and licensure, and supplemental state aid — was made and seconded; the board voted unanimously to approve the list. The roll call during the vote recorded yes votes from Missus Sheffel, Mister Sorensen, Mister Sturm, Miss Atkins, Missus McDaniel, Missus Peterson and Mister Wright.
During discussion the superintendent and board members noted teacher recruitment and licensure remains a persistent problem, citing declining teacher candidate pools and the cost of teacher preparation; early literacy had received recent state funding but officials urged continued support; and supplemental state aid remains a perennial funding concern for local districts.
The approved priorities will be sent to IASB as the district’s requested legislative platform items.