Pre-Labor Day school start out again

published 4/17/2009

The omnibus K-12 education finance bill was approved by the House Finance Division without one controversial provision.

Successfully amended out of the bill by Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker) was a provision that would allow school districts to start before Labor Day for the next two years. (Watch the meeting.)

Sponsored by Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville), HF2 would keep education funding stable through fiscal year 2011; eliminate some mandates, but create no new ones; promote school districts sharing services to save costs; and reform charter schools and some areas of student assessment, teacher licensure and special education.

It uses $275.6 million in federal stabilization to offset some cuts, but not to add new programs or spending, and contains larger accounting shifts in order to meet House DFL budget target of $11.6 billion. Without shifts the cost would be $13.66 billion.

The bill was scheduled to be heard later Friday by the House Taxes Committee.

- Mike Cook