A Mason City state legislator is criticizing Decorah legislator Darrell Branhagen

State Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City

The Assistant Minority Leader in the Iowa House of Representatives has written a Letter to the Editor criticizing Decorah State Representative Darrell Branhagen by name.

State Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City, a retired educator, says "I have been disappointed to see funding in the past five years steadily decline for public education."

Steckman's letter says, "Representative Daryl Branhagen and his leadership have created a school funding crisis that has led to hundreds of teacher pink slips statewide, including in Decorah. The superintendent in Decorah said that means class sizes will likely increase, specifically in kindergarten, fifth and six grades."

"Instead of working together to find compromise and end the school funding crisis, Branhagen has offered nothing but excuses and has refused to compromise at every turn."

Steckman says Iowa can afford to provide at least a 2.625 percent increase in basic funding for schools to prevent layoffs and larger class sizes while keeping the state budget balanced.  That's the proposal being put forward by Democratic legislators.

Concludes Steckman's letter, "Without even touching our state's reserves and surplus funds of over $700 million, there are enough dollars to properly fund our schools and give our kids the quality education they need to compete in the global economy.  It's time for Rep. Branhagen to start listening to the people in his district and resolve the school funding crisis."