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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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HOUSE K- 12 EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE COMES TO BRAINERD Committee will share information with public about K – 12 outcomes in 2008 and look ahead to 2009
ST. PAUL, MN – State Representative Mindy Greiling and the House K –12 Education Finance Division have announced a series of public hearings on education funding that will begin this summer and continue throughout the summer and fall. The agenda will include a discussion of the recently concluded 2008 Legislative Session and a preview of education related issues for 2009, including plans for significant education funding reform.
State Representative John Ward (Brainerd) will co-chair the hearing scheduled for Monday, June 16th, in Brainerd.
"I'm very pleased the education committee is traveling to Brainerd," said Ward. "These legislators are working very hard to help our schools, and this meeting will give residents in our district the opportunity to learn firsthand about our recent progress and future plans to reform education funding."
"I'm extremely pleased the Legislature found a way to provide schools with some short-term relief this session, in addition to the funding increases we passed in 2007," said Greiling, chair of the K – 12 Education Finance Division. "We heard from parents, teachers and administrators across the state about the dire financial straights that higher fuel and energy costs, food prices and special education services have created. The fact that we were able to send additional money to classrooms within the context of a budget deficit reflects the high value Minnesotans place on quality schools."
The 2008 Legislature passed a budget balancing bill to close the $935 million state budget deficit that included an increase in K – 12 public school funding of $51 per pupil, or nearly $50 million for 2009.
"We know that even during a budget deficit, children have only one chance to come to school to learn and we can't afford to compromise the quality of those learning opportunities," said Greiling.
The session also included introduction of an innovative plan to reform Minnesota public school funding. The product of months of work by the bi-partisan Education Finance Reform Task Force, co-chaired by Rep. Greiling and Senator Terri Bonoff, the proposal would simplify and increase state public school funding, reduce property taxes and lay a foundation for every student to succeed when they graduate from high school. If passed next year, the scalable plan would begin to boost school funding, while simultaneously reducing property taxes by $600 million. Greiling hopes to share the merits of the plan in communities throughout the state.
"For too long we've asked property tax payers to shoulder the burden of funding school basics that should be the state's job, creating an unacceptable system of winners and losers," said Greiling. "It's our responsibility to ensure that every student, no matter where they live - is prepared to succeed in the 21st century marketplace, and I look forward to sharing a plan for achieving that goal with Minnesotans throughout the state."
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Hearing Schedule
MONDAY, June 16, 2008
7:00 PM
Board Room; Washington Educational Services Building; 804 Oak St; Brainerd, MN 56401
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: K-12 Education Finance update
For audio on this topic, please contact Catherine Thompson - Radio/Television Coordinator at catherine.thompson@house.mn or (651) 296-5499.
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