After he announced his plan to defy state law to avoid staff cuts, Davenport Schools Superintendent Dr. Art Tate faced some fallout from the decision.
Tate faced a possible misdemeanor charge, and the possibility of losing his job, after he told board meeting attendees he would dip into the district’s $29-million reserve fund to avoid increasing class sizes and cutting personnel. Tate blamed the current state funding formula for his district’s shortfall, and he said Davenport is allowed to spend $175 less per student than some other local Iowa-side districts because of that formula.
The board has previously asked legislators to help them get the funding formula changed. Meanwhile, Tate faces possible consequences if he takes action that defies the law.
Tate said the school board was the only body with the power to fire him. School board members said they would not take that action, even if he does follow through with his spending plan. The state department of education did not agree.
“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 district’s decision to violate the law. If there is follow-through, there will be consequences,” said a March 10 statement from Iowa Department of Education Communications Director Staci Hupp Ballard.
WQAD News 8 Facebook fans were also divided on the issue, with some saying Tate’s defiance sets a bad example for students and others applauding his “civil disobedience.”
“Why is it a law that you can only spend so much on education for the children? Yeah I guess he going to break a law, but he has proven that it’s unfair practices on how much districts get per student. These children are the future of our country and they deserve to be properly educated,” said Mario Lebron. “He will either be a force for change or an excellent example of what happens to people who do not listen to their boss? lol,” said William Tyson.
“Anyone else intentionally violating the law would be prosecuted. If we think about violating a bad law, we are told to get the law changed. If we want to revolt against bad government, lets do it right. Allowing people to pick and choose which laws they want to follow without punishment… VERY slippery slope,” said Dave Webb. “In his role lawbreaking is unacceptable, therefore he must be fired AND charged if he violates the law we are discussing. Otherwise we teach the children that laws can be ignored when inconvenient. I recognize that we have the money in the bank but that is not an excuse. We have these things called LAWS, if they can be ignored at will then why should anyone else be expected to follow them when they don’t want to?” said Elliott Whitlow.
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