Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday signed Senate File 2164, a bill intended to equalize what school districts pay for transportation.
“This bill achieves the goal of no school district paying more that the statewide average for transportation and it continues to narrow the per pupil spending gap” between urban and rural districts, Reynolds said at a bill signing in her office. Standing behind her were supporters of the bill, including Rep. Cecil Dolecheck of Mount Ayr and Sen. Amy Sinclair of Allerton, the Republican chairs of the respective education committees.
The legislation provides $7.2 million in new funding for the 204 school districts spending more than the average on transportation. The per-pupil statewide average transportation bill is $347.65.
The bill also includes payments to help level out spending per pupil. That assistance will cost the state $5.9 million. The Legislature has yet to act on the balance of Reynolds’ education budget, which called for a combined $103 million in new spending.
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