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Bettendorf Schools ‘Grandfathered In’ to State Funding Formula

Iowa state lawmakers are explaining why school districts like Bettendorf receive more money from the state than districts like Davenport. State House Rep. Cindy...

Iowa state lawmakers are explaining why school districts like Bettendorf receive more money from the state than districts like Davenport.

State House Rep. Cindy Winckler told News 8 on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, that when lawmakers set up the formula back in the 1970's, school districts with higher property tax rates were grandfathered in, so they could keep their funding rates the same and collect more money from their residents. Bettendorf Community Schools was one of those school districts.

"[Lawmakers] had been funding their education system at a higher rate, and we were trying to equalize the funding," Winckler said Tuesday. "But those districts that were collecting more in property tax per pupil were able to continue that practice."

Bettendorf Superintendent Theron Schutte says he'd rather see the funding amounts raised for districts like Davenport, instead of having his district's funding amount dropped.

Davenport Community Schools plans on breaking the state law, to spend some of its reserve money. That plan is expected to save teacher jobs. Superintendent Art Tate says Davenport receives $175 less per student than other districts like Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley.

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