DES MOINES --- Iowa Senate Democrats would put on hold a decision by the Board of Regents to close Malcolm Price Lab School in Cedar Falls.

The Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday approved $3 million to keep the research and development school at the University of Northern Iowa open for one year.

In approving the one-year extension of funding, Chairman Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, said the committee is trying to give the Legislature more time to “get more information and figure out what actually is the best thing to do.”

The funding is not certain, “but there should be further discussion” before the school is closed, said Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo. He expects there may be resistance from the Republican-controlled House despite the efforts of Cedar Falls area lawmakers to keep the school open.

He is right. Rep. Nick Wagner, R-Marion, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was surprised by the earmark in HF 2462, the so-called “standings” bill that funds a wide variety of state spending. Wagner doesn’t think the House will second-guess the decision to close the school.

“The regents empowered (UNI President) Ben Allen and they have supported his decision,” Wagner said. “We need to trust what they are doing.”