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State Representative Andrew Falk
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4228
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
EDUCATION REMAINS TOP PRIORITY AS WE ADDRESS BUDGET DEFICIT
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Congratulations! “Yes We Can" has suddenly become “Yes We Did!” I was elated to watch Barack Obama be sworn in as our 44th president of the United States of America. I am truly excited for the new course our country is headed and the reaffirmation of our country as a shining example of nobleness and decency. Like many others, I wish I could have witnessed first-hand the inauguration ceremony.
Undoubtedly, as I have mentioned in my previous columns, the primary focus of the 2009 legislative session will be to address our state’s significant economic challenges. Last Thursday (Jan 22.), we learned our unemployment rate had jumped from 6.4 to 6.9% last month, bringing the total number of unemployed persons in Minnesota to almost 203,000. Add to that the rising number of people who lack health insurance and are losing their homes, and it’s easy to understand why Minnesotans are feeling uneasy. As we address our state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit, we need to keep the needs of Minnesotan families as our top priority.
That means protecting our rural schools. I grew up in the district and I value the education I received. My mom teaches fifth grade at KMS public school; as a result, I know and understand the challenges facing education. Over the past few years, however, funding for our schools has been eroded by cuts, unfunded mandates such as special education and No Child Left Behind, declining enrollment and rising costs. More and more, property owners have been asked to pick up a larger share of school funding, replacing the traditional model of adequate state funding. Even in a time of economic crisis, this is a trend we must reverse. I cannot guarantee that there will not be cuts to education. However, please be assured that I will do everything in my power to fight for our rural schools and a more fair and equitable approach to education funding that fully accounts for the value that our rural schools bring to the entire State of Minnesota.
I believe that actions speak louder than words and to prove my commitment to education funding, I co-authored Rep. Greiling’s New Minnesota Miracle Bill (HF 02) This bill, the second bill introduced this year, represents the first major education funding reform in nearly three decades. The bill is designed to simplify school funding, reduce property taxes by nearly $600 million, and lay a foundation for every student in our state to succeed when they graduate. It also helps move our state into the future by asking districts to use a percentage of their basic revenue for innovative, research-based programs.
Maybe most importantly, this plan brings fairness in funding to every school district in the state. Our current plan, which relies too heavily on property taxes, rewards property rich school districts with better schools, while property poor districts continue to lag behind. Every child in our state deserves a first-rate education, no matter where they live.
Of course, this plan does not come without a price tag. It can be phased in, however, as the budget allows. I remain hopeful that some new money may be appropriated for schools this year, especially if the federal recovery package remains as promising as it seems now, so we can begin to move forward on the New Minnesota Miracle. Many economists – including our own state economist Tom Stinson – say that even in difficult economic times, Minnesota must look to the future and invest in human capital to create a foundation for long-term economic prosperity. Students have only one opportunity to get a good education, and it is up to us to help them achieve that.
Please continue to contact me with your suggestions and feedback. We are all in this together, and I look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me at 651-296-4228 or by email at rep.andrew.falk@house.mn.
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