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State Representative Jeanne Poppe
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4193
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
Let's do what we can to strengthen public education
Much of the talk at the Capitol in the past week has been about education. First, there was a rally of hundreds of parents, children and concerned citizens for Voices of Children Advocacy Day. They were here to raise awareness among legislators of the importance of early childhood care and education.
Last Monday there was another large education rally at the Capitol, this time to focus attention on the major funding problems school districts across the state are facing. Clearly, many believe our fundamental value of providing a high quality education for all of our children is at risk and deserves our attention.
Education funding was slashed by $185 million over the past two years, the first time in state history. Minnesota is now below the national average. The result has been teacher layoffs, more crowded classrooms, fewer electives, longer bus rides and continued consolidation of rural school districts.
The Grand Meadows School District is a good example of how schools in our district are struggling. In anticipation of receiving no state aid, they implemented a large number of cuts two years ago. Currently, some elementary classrooms have as many as 33 children. Fixed expenses such as textbooks, school supplies, technology and fuel used for heating and transportation continue to increase and will potentially wipe out the small funding increase the governor is proposing.
The Austin School District has been able to maintain only because they recently passed an operating referendum. However, if the governor's proposal is passed, they could face significant cuts and lay-offs in the near future.
Other schools in our area have also made painful cuts and are struggling to maintain at their current level. Without significant state investment in this next budget, their downward spiral will continue.
The Governor's education proposal does not allow schools to keep up with the rate of inflation. Not only does this increase fail to meet the current needs, it also does not fill the holes created by the cuts of the last biennium. The proposed budget also does nothing to address the cuts to early childhood or after school enrichment programs, programs that help our children come to school ready to learn and give them tools to succeed. The pledge of no new taxes has manifested itself in the form of skyrocketing property taxes, with more increases on the way unless other funding is dedicated.
It is time for us to examine our priorities. There are many things we can spend our money on, many voices asking for funding in this year’s budget. But is there anything more important than the education of our children? Let’s re-dedicate our efforts and resources to funding our public school system adequately. There are many hands reaching into the state pot for money; let's make sure our children's hands don't come up empty.
Strengthening our constitution
Last Monday I joined a group of fellow first term legislators in introducing an amendment to our state constitution that will strengthen the language regarding education. Previous language said the state shall provide for a general education, we believe it should say high quality.
In another sentence, the current language reads "the legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise…" The proposed change would insert the words "the legislature shall make such provisions to provide equitable and adequate funding…"
We believe that this change, while not attached to any funding, will strengthen our commitment to provide every child in our state the high quality public education we have come to value in Minnesota.
Please feel free to call or write if you have ideas or concerns you want to share about state or local issues. I can be reached by phone at 1-888-682-3180 or 1-651-296-4193, by mail at 231 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn.
News Items
- POPPE SELECTED AS AGRICULTURE POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Rep. Jeanne Poppe Encourages High School Juniors to Apply for Minnesota House of Representatives Page Program - Application Deadline is November 19th - (Posted: 2012-11-12 00:00:00)
- HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION SIGNED INTO LAW - 2012 legislative session adjourns sine die - (Posted: 2012-05-11 00:00:00)
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