Sioux City School District officials have offered a lesser amount of teacher salary increases for next year than those sought by teachers through their employee union.
In late February, the Sioux City Education Association asked for raises of $1,260, or 3.25 percent, to the base salary in the 2025-26 year ahead. In their opening proposal unveiled in a Monday meeting, district officials countered with a 2.5 percent overall package increase.
That district proposal would vary in how much more individual teachers would receive next year. Under that plan, about $2 million in increased district money would be going to all teachers, but how much individual teachers could receive would vary, depending on teacher tenure.
The district’s financial summary said their proposal would increase total teacher compensation by 2.5 percent, while asserting that the teacher union initial request would cost 6.2 percent more than the current year.
Last month, the teachers’ union asked for an increase in longevity pay, plus also more longevity pay for other workers in the Sioux City Education Support Personnel Association group.
That SCESPA group includes paraeducators, administrative assistants, library and other workers, who asked for raises of $2.15 per hour.
Before any extra state money is factored in to raise teacher salaries, the current Sioux City District base teacher base salary is $38,756.
Now that the opening proposals have been unveiled, Iowa law permits the subsequent negotiations to be carried out privately. The Sioux City Education Association represents 1,100 teachers, and 400 workers are represented by the Sioux City Education Support Personnel Association group.
*In South Dakota, a bill aiming to regulate who can use which bathrooms in schools, courthouses, and libraries is advancing in the Legislature.
While some contend it’s a measure for safety, others say the bill unfairly targets the transgender community.
HB 1259 was amended on the floor and ultimately passed on a 27 to 6 vote. Assuming House lawmakers agree on these amendments, it then heads to desk of Gov. Larry Rhoden.
The bill requires individuals to use public restrooms or changing rooms that match their biological sex.
Democratic Senator Liz Larson said the bill represents a waste of taxpayer time and money, since there exist “laws on the books that will have swift justice for anybody who does any of the example crimes that were already described - in a bathroom or anywhere else.”
Even if it gets to Rhoden’s desk, there is a precedent for not to be enacted. In 2016, a very similar bill passed the state legislature, but was killed by then-Governor Dennis Daugaard.
Daugaard made that decision after sitting down and talking with a group of gender non-conforming students prior to signing the bill.
*Also in South Dakota, a resolution asking voters to change the threshold that a constitutional amendment must receive in order to pass in a general election, from 50 percent to 60 percent, has been approved by the Legislature.
Proponents criticize the current model, saying it’s too easy to change the state’s foundational document, especially considering the low voter turnout in some South Dakota elections.
Opponents say a supermajority would make it nearly impossible for both lawmakers and their constituents to pass any amendments.
The resolution passed on the South Dakota Senate floor 29-4 on Monday. The measure now heads to the voters at the next general election.
*Additionally, Nebraskans would be able to place sports bets online under a bill heard by a legislative committee Monday.
Currently, people in Nebraska who want to bet on sports have to go to a casino, to another state, or to an illegal betting site.
Under a proposal by state Senator Eliot Bostar, people would be able to bet online from anywhere in the state. Bostar said a study by the internet security company Geocomply during last year’s football season showed Nebraskans’ demand for online sports betting.
Among those supporting the proposal was Lance Morgan, CEO of Warhorse Gaming, which runs casinos in Omaha and Lincoln.
Nate Grasz of the Nebraska Family Alliance opposes the bill, and said by making gambling more accessible, it would hurt families.
*Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cancelled contracts worth more than $11 million that are meant to help Iowa food banks, schools and child care centers purchase local food over the next three years.
More than 300 farmers in Iowa have planned for this funding.
The Iowa Food System Coalition says the USDA has not explained why it cancelled the three-year contracts.
Chris Schwartz, the coalition’s executive director, says it could not come at a worse time. Farmers already have seedlings sprouting in greenhouses. They’ve booked processing times at meat lockers and planned out the year based on this funding.
