A bill recently passed through both the Iowa house and senate that would increase state aid per pupil to Iowa school districts by 2.4 percent. State Senator Amy Sinclair is the chair of the Senate Education Committee, and tells KNIA/KRLS News that the two chambers came to a compromise on the increase, which amounts to around $180. This change would take effect next school year. She says there are still additional provisions to be worked out related to the impact COVID-19 has had.

“There are some additional provisions that we’re still negotiating outside of the bill that we passed that funds transportation and the per pupil cost. We’re also looking at additional spending that’s related to the impacts of what this crazy year has been. We haven’t decided on those details, but there will be additional dollars coming out to deal with decreased enrollment, particularly in the pre-school area, as well as those additional costs that may not have been covered by the federal government related to the pandemic. There were additional expenses with social distancing, personal protective equipment, and those kinds of things. We do have additional dollars we’re still negotiating, we just haven’t sorted out the details.”

The passed bill moves to Governor Reynolds’ desk to be signed or vetoed in the coming weeks. Sinclair represents State Senate District 14, encompassing much of Marion County. Hear about the latest in the Iowa Legislature with Sinclair on Monday’s edition of Let’s Talk Knoxville.