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Board President says they fully support Davenport Superintendent’s intent to violate state law

Davenport School Board President, Ralph Johanson, said the Board fully supports the Superintendent’s decision to violate the law by spending more money in...

Davenport School Board President, Ralph Johanson, said the Board fully supports the Superintendent's decision to violate the law by spending more money in the 2016-2017 fiscal school year than the state authorizes him to.

"The board the board could certainly fire him, but from everything I've seen, [the Board] is 100 percent supportive," said Johanson.

Dr. Art Tate made the announcement at the school board meeting on March 9, 2015.

"With my plan that begins next school year, I put into play operations which will bring us into spending more than authorized by the state during school year 2016-2017, and that violates State Code 257.7. I am taking this action after careful consideration and understanding the possible personal consequence. I take full and sole responsibility for the violation of state law. With this action I am following the example of our state legislature, which has ignored the law this year by not providing districts with the state supplemental aid amount by February 12, 2015. Let me emphasize that we have reserve cash to fund this effort; what we lack is state authorization," said Dr. Tate.

The issue the state has is with the State Funding Formula, which is set up in such a way that Dr. Tate says Davenport receives $175 less per student than other districts like Pleasant Valley and Bettendorf.

By spending more money than authorized by the state, the Superintendent will make up for the $3.5 million in cuts the district needed to make for the 2015-2016 fiscal school year by the dipping into the $29 million the District has in reserve funds.

Get more coverage of the budget shortfall Davenport Schools face -- click here.

"My understanding is there will be no cuts in personnel, there will be no increase in class size, and that right now, people don't have to be worrying about whether they have a job next year," said Johanson. "I think it sets a very bold, courageous, and hopefully inspirational precedents because without this kind of leadership, and without taking a bold move like this, our district would continue to cut and cut and cut."

However, the Iowa Department of Education said they will not support Dr. Tate in his decision.

"We can respect that there are many points of view on the issue of funding for Iowa's schools, but we can't support or condone a school districts decision to violate the law. If there is a follow-through, there will be consequences," said Staci Hupp Ballard, Communications Director for the Iowa Department of Education.

Dr. Tate said he knows what the consequences could be but is going to go through with his decision anyway.

"I understand what's happening, I understand the risk I'm taking, but I am going to spend the amount of money to make sure that my students have the support they deserve," said Dr. Tate.  "I've got the power in my hands to violate state law if I choose to do that."

The Iowa Department of Education told News 8 on Tuesday they had not yet spoken to Dr. Tate about his intent to violate state law but do plan on doing so in the near future.

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