Iowa school districts are pushing back against a proposal to allow school vouchers. So much so it prompted a question to our I9 tipline inquiring if that was legal.

A self described father who home schools spoke out at a Cedar Rapids School board meeting questioning a letter sent to parents from Superintendent Brad Buck.

"I was dismayed to see that the superintendent recently sent out an email," said the parent.

In it, the superintendent makes a call to action against a proposed school voucher funding system that would let parents who chose to enroll their kids in a private school or home school to take their state funding with them. In the letter, Buck warns that would hurt the district’s finances.

“Now is the time to contact your legislators and Governor Reynolds and ask them to VOTE NO on bills like SF 2091…” Buck writes. “This a moment to take important action in the spirit of the Power of We.”

"I support the public school system through my taxes and those resources are being used to a oppose a legislative measure that I support," said the parent."

I9 checked with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to see if that parent's claim is a violation. In short…. it is not. Iowa law only bans school districts from using public funds towards campaigning to sway an election. That is not what the letter does. Instead, Buck is only urging parents to advocate on legislation, not an election.

Even Iowa House Republican Walt Rogers, who is in favor of school voucher legislation, agrees school district leaders have a right to advocate against bills they don’t like.

"I don’t think they’re violating any law. I think they’re again just trying to protect what they think is right from their position and I don't begrudge that," said Rogers.

But when it comes to the school voucher bill this is one area he believes those against it have it wrong.

"The reason I like this is its promoting choice for parents, its giving more opportunities for kids," said Rogers.

Democratic Respective Art Staed remains unconvinced.

"This doesn’t give any additional choice to students in rural schools because they don’t have private schools around that they can go to," said Staed.

Senate File 2091, referenced by Buck in his letter, did not make it through this year’s legislative funnel but a similar bill is still up for consideration.