Legislators and Governor agree on education plan

Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack and Republican legislators have agreed to a plan which will give Iowa schools more money to hire and train teachers for early elementary grades. The plan stretches over four years and will send over 140-million dollars to Iowa’s public schools. Vilsack says it’s an important investment in kids in kindergarten, first, second and third grade.Senate Democrat Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says the move will make a real difference. House Speaker Ron Corbett, a Republican from CedarRapids, says the deal struck yesterday on education now allows legislators and the Governor to start negotiating on other topics, like tax cuts. Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson and other republicans had been reluctant to commit to spending so much money in future years. Iverson says Governor Vilsack has agreed to find 10-million dollars worth of budget cuts in OTHERareas of the state budget in each of the next four years. The bill will be drafted and reviewed by the House Education Committee on Monday.