Senate passes school funding bill

A bill that would extend 39 million more dollars in state aid to Iowa schools for the 2004/2005 school year cleared the Iowa Senate last night, and may pass the House today. Nancy Boettger, a Republican from Harlan, is chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee. Boettger says there are many people who’d like to see state aid set at a higher amount to help schools that’re facing all sorts of challenges. But she says others would like to see it at a lower amount because of the difficulties the state is facing in balancing its budget. Senator Mike Connolly, a democrat from Dubuque, voted for the 39 million, but wanted more. Connolly says no legislator should think they’ve done enough for schools. He described the spending level as “woefully inadequate.”