A proposal to use state money to help students in certain schools enroll elsewhere, including into private schools, was the subject of debate between area lawmakers Friday.

State Sens. Jesse Green, R-Harcourt, and Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, said they support what Green called ”a very exciting bill.”

State Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, said she would probably not support the plan unless some requirements are placed on the private schools that could be receiving the money.

”This money goes to the students and the parents,” Kraayenbrink said. ”It does not go directly to a private school.”

All three lawmakers said placing proposed state constitutional amendments regarding abortion and gun rights before the voters is the right thing to do.

”It doesn’t get any more democratic than letting the people have their say,” Green said.

The three lawmakers participated in the first Eggs and Issues forum of the 2021 legislative session on Friday. It was a forum that was very different from its predecessors.

For decades, Eggs and Issues was held on Saturday mornings at Iowa Central Community College. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has made large gatherings impossible, the forum took place Friday afternoon in an online format. Moderator Jim Kersten asked questions that were submitted in advance. The forum was shown on the YouTube channel of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

Eggs and Issues is sponsored by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and Iowa Central Community College.

School funding

Green said the proposal is intended to help students in schools that are judged to be failing who do not have any open enrollment options.

According to the senator, to be considered failing a school would have to rank in the bottom 5% of a federal index score. He added that a school would have to be in that category for multiple years in order for its students to be eligible for the plan.

Kraayenbrink said no area schools fall into that category.

”It does not affect our districts,” he said.

He said there are 34 schools that would qualify for the program, 15 of which are in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

Green said the plan would give families with students in qualifying schools $5,200 to help them pay for enrolling in a different school.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has included $3 million in her proposed 2021-2022 budget for the program.

Meyer said that private schools aren’t subject to all of the same requirements as public schools. For instance, she said that private schools are not required to accept every student, something public schools are required to do.

”I want to make sure that if we’re giving these dollars to private schools, that some requirements and restrictions are put in place,” she said.

”Unless we have some requirements and restrictions in place, i probably won’t be supporting this,” she added.

Constitutional amendments

The process of amending Iowa’s Constitution is a long one that requires approval of both the Legislature and the voters.

In 2023, voters will be considering an amendment that would apply the legal principle of strict scrutiny to the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms in a move intended to make it much more difficult to pass restrictive gun control laws.

And the lLegislature has just advanced a proposed amendment which states that the Iowa Constitution does not provide the right to an abortion.

”it makes the constitution neutral on the issue of abortion,” Meyer said. ”it doesn’t outlaw abortion.”

Kraayenbrink added ”This has nothing to do with abortion. What we’re saying is the right to abortion is not in the Iowa Constitution.”

Green said the amendments are necessary because ”there’s a big fear in our society of judges legislating from the bench.”

”We’re finding judges that go in and pick one thing and twist it,” Kraayenbrink said.