Lawmakers combine education, tax bills

But a proposed $1 million for teachers seeking American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence was the hang-up in the House GOP caucus. Some felt the program was not as rigorous as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process and didn't want to put $1 million into it.

The UEA wonders if the whole $25 million could be better spent otherwise.

School districts have many disparate needs — be it a bus driver shortage, a need for tutors to improve test scores, or basic science lab equipment, the education groups noted.

"Are we grateful the Legislature is focused on teachers? Of course," said Susan Kuziak, UEA executive director. "But if it's one-time money, let districts decide."

House Majority Assistant Whip Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, said he has pounded his head against a wall for the past two weeks trying to get more money to schools.

"I'm dealing with reality in the last days of the Legislature, what we can sell to both bodies in the Legislature and the governor. The governor's already told us what he'd like to do ... and we've reached consensus," Dee said.

"If I had my druthers, would I change that program? Yeah, probably," he said. "But right now, can we get that? No. But can we get $25 million to education? Yes. That's more important to me now."

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