Gov. Vilsack signs education spending bill

Governor Tom Vilsack signed the 950-million dollar education spending bill into law today. The majority of the bill — 695-million dollars — goes to the state’s three universities. Vilsack signed the bill at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. The presidents of the three state universities say it’s not enough money to cover negotiated salary increases and they’ll have to up tuition. Vilsack says that may not have to be the case. Senator Don Redfern, a republican from Cedar Falls who is chairman of the Senate Education Committee, attended today’s bill signing. Redfern again says legislators will look at increasing teacher pay next year.Redfern says one study over the summer will examine newfangled state incentives to schools which consolidate or reorganize — perhaps enhancing teacher pay in rural areas as a result.