FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2026
CONTACT: Sheena Dooley, sheena@iowacci.org, 515.380.4634
Mid-Prairie becomes 19th district to sign onto Public School Strong resolution demanding full funding for Iowa’s public schools
Des Moines, IA—Mid-Praire School Board today adopted a resolution calling for at least a 5% increase in state aid for starving public schools and an end to the private school voucher program that has cost Iowa taxpayers more than $1 billion in the past four years.
The measure is part of a larger statewide push from grassroots group Public School Strong–a project led by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. To date, 19 school districts across Iowa have adopted Public School Strong resolutions.
“I’m very grateful to the board for passing the Public School Strong resolution,” said Luke Hertzler, a Mid-Prairie resident who helped spearhead the effort in his community. “It shows their commitment to the students, educators and families in this community. They listened to our concerns about inadequate public school funding and showed their support for the next generation of community leaders by standing up for what our students deserve—a robust education that prepares them for the future."
Thousands of Iowans statewide have signed petitions after holding multiple public meetings as their public schools have been severely underfunded the past decade, receiving paltry 2% increases in state funding that failed to keep pace with inflation.
More cash-strapped districts are signing onto the resolution as they face closing schools, reducing staff and cutting programs to offset gaping budget deficits caused by declining enrollment and inadequate state funding. Enrollment declines have accelerated as the state’s new private school voucher program has taken effect in 2023.
Mid-Prairie joined Johnston, West Fork, Clinton, Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock, Mount Vernon, Davis County, Calamus-Wheatland, Washington, Cedar Falls, South Tama, Urbandale, Cedar Rapids, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Keokuk, Decorah, Albia, Belmond-Klemme and Bennett school boards in adopting Public School Strong resolutions.
###
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a statewide, grassroots people’s action group that uses community organizing to win public policy that puts communities before corporations and people before profits, politics and polluters. CCI has been fighting to put people first for 50 years.