During a subcommittee on Monday regarding House File 2553, Democrat State Sen. Claire Celsi said she believes it is “unfair” that nonpublic school students do not have to allow public school students to participate in their programs.
The bill requires public schools to allow students from nonpublic schools who live in the district to participate in programs not offered by the private school that the public school offers.
“I mean, we’re all getting public money, right,” Celsi asked. “Right, Samantha? We’re all getting public money, so we should really share all these programs with everybody.”
Samantha Fett, a lobbyist who spoke in support of the bill, responded that Celsi is correct considering there is $1,200 intended for the education of a student that remains with the public school when a student decides to instead enroll in a private school.
“Oh wow, a whole $1,200 — that’s a lot of money,” Celsi said sarcastically.
It seems Celsi doesn’t believe $1,200 is much money — at all. Considering how many students attend private schools in Iowa and each of them just loses that $1,200 to the public school district they reside in, it adds up to a healthy number.
But if it isn’t a lot of money and not a big deal, perhaps Celsi should support allowing that portion to also follow the student to a private school of their choosing.
Who came up with $1200 staying with the public school? That is nonsensical. What if you remove a child for homeschool? Does it stay the same?
Also, the moment they allowed money to follow the student is the moment democrats started coming up with ideas on how to control private schools. It’s a matter of time. They are relentless. I really hope democrats (or sell out republicans) never become the ruling party in this state, but judging by the gender equality nonsense they’ve already passed and the fact we can’t protect our citizens from eminent domain, we may already be there.