Local Legislators Condemn Regents Vote to Close Price Lab

Five local lawmakers have issued a joint statement condemning the Board of Regents vote to close effective June. 30.

Rep. Bob Kressig (D-Cedar Falls), Rep. Deborah Berry (D-Waterloo), Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic (D-Waterloo), Sen. Jeff Danielson (D-Cedar Falls), and Sen. Bill Dotzler (D-Waterloo) have issued the statement in opposition to president Ben Allen's recommendation to close the school.

“We’re deeply disappointed in the Board of Regents’ decision today to close the Price Lab School.  Their decision was made without any input from parents, students, teachers, or others in our community.  This lack of transparency in an era of open government is alarming," the statement reads.

In Sunday, Danielson, Kressig and Rep. Walt Rogers (R-Cedar Falls), said they support Price Lab but weren't sure what role the Legislature could or would play in keeping the school open.

In today's statement, the legislators said they will pursue every legislative option to keep the school open.

Here is the statement in full:

Joint Statement on Regents Vote to Close Price Lab

From Black Hawk County Legislators Rep. Bob Kressig, Rep. Deborah Berry, Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic, Sen. Jeff Danielson, and Sen. Bill Dotzler:

“We’re deeply disappointed in the Board of Regents’ decision today to close the Price Lab School.  Their decision was made without any input from parents, students, teachers, or others in our community.  This lack of transparency in an era of open government is alarming.

There’s no plan in place to help the students and families currently enrolled at Price Lab or provide the quality training for students at UNI who are training to be teachers.

With so many unanswered questions, there was no reason to rush this decision and close Price Lab.  We’ve heard from hundreds of Iowans about the closing and they deserved to be heard before this decision was made.

We’re going to review every legislative option we have and work to keep the school open.”