DES MOINES, Iowa — Thirty days after Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered her annual Condition of the State Address, Iowa lawmakers have not yet announced how much they plan to increase public school funding for the next academic year, as is mandated in Iowa Code.
Meanwhile, nine school districts across the state, including Urbandale, are asking legislators to go higher than the funding proposals currently under consideration.
During a January meeting, Urbandale School Board member Josh Van Ryswyk reacted to next year’s budget forecast with a brief acknowledgment: “Unfortunately, yes.” That same night, the board voted to join a coalition of districts urging lawmakers to approve a 5% increase in per-pupil funding for the 2026-27 school year…