Accessibility menu
State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
REP. NORTON RECOGNIZED AS “FRIEND OF PUBLIC EDUCATION”
ST. PAUL, MN - As a former school board member, State Representative Kim Norton (DFL - Rochester) understands the challenges facing local school districts. Norton has put that experience to work at the State Capitol over the last several years, standing out as a champion for common sense education reforms that give local school districts more flexibility. For her efforts on behalf of local school districts during the 2009 Legislative Session, Rep. Norton was presented today with the Friend of Public Education Award by the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD).
“Enacting common sense legislation to improve our schools and give Minnesota students the quality education they deserve is my highest priority in the legislature," said Rep. Norton. “It is an honor to partner with our school districts to pass sensible policy reforms to ensure our students reach their highest aspirations.”
Last session Rep. Norton put that theory into practice, chief-authoring legislation allowing districts to decide on their own school calendar according to unique local challenges and opportunities. She also sponsored an effort to give school districts more control over their own health care costs - costs that have skyrocketed in recent years, putting additional strain on already cash-strapped school budgets.
“School districts need to have some latitude in order to make smart, strategic decisions with limited resources - but some state mandates don’t always allow that flexibility,” Norton said. “The state has an important role to play in setting education policy, but in many areas our students are best served when local elected school boards are able to craft local solutions that meet the unique challenges facing their students and their budgets.”
According to Norton, the state has one responsibility in particular it is not living up to - providing adequate, equitable school funding for every school district in the state. For that reason, Rep. Norton co-authored the New Minnesota Miracle, a bill that would have dramatically reformed the school funding formula to ensure every Minnesota student has equal access to a world-class education, no matter where he or she lives.
“The current formula just isn’t cutting it,” said Rep. Norton. “It is set up for a school system that doesn’t exist anymore. Over the last 20 years the state’s demographics have changed, and so have the demands on our schools. We need to adopt responsible, common sense reforms to assure every student gets the best education possible. As long as I have the privilege to serve Rochester in the legislature, I’ll keep working to make that happen.”
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.