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Davenport School Board lays out plan to use reserves to boost budget

As the discussion on the budget for the Davenport School District continues, so does their push to see every student in Iowa funded equally.

As the discussion on the budget for the Davenport School District continues, so does their push to see every student in Iowa funded equally.

"It's morally wrong to say this kid on this side of the street, we'll only spend this amount of money, and this kid we'll spend up to $175 more. That's what's happened," Davenport Board of Education President Ralph Johanson said.

Superintendent Dr. Art Tate showed board members a drafted letter addressed to the head of the Iowa Department of Education, reinforcing their plan to take $2.7 million out of the cash reserves to fund each student by an additional $175. Johanson says that signing this letter could set them up for a big legal fight with the State.

"I just want to make sure that the board realizes completely what it's taking on here. So, we would likely have additional discussions about what the likely consequences be," Johanson said.

Without hesitation, each board member voiced their support for sending the letter, saying that they need to be the ones standing up against funding inequality. They also feel that other districts across the state are in the same boat, but that Davenport is in a unique position of power.

"I don't know if I would call it a responsibility exactly, but I think it's an opportunity for our district, for our superintendent and for our board to take this action that other superintendents have told me they couldn't possibly take," Johanson said.

The consequences for Dr. Tate and board members could be stiff, but they say that their oath is to stand up for the students, and signing the letter is doing just that.

The letter will be up for official discussion at their next board meeting on February 8th, 2016, where they'll decide on whether to sign it and send it in.

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