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State Representative Mike Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4378
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
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REP. BENSON: GOAL OF EDUCATION BILL IS TO PRIORITIZE KIDS
ST. PAUL – State Representative Mike Benson (R-Rochester) said he’s begun hearing some questions regarding his support of the House K-12 omnibus finance proposal, which funds Minnesota’s classroom needs for the next two years.
Benson said the goal of the proposal is to improve and strengthen the learning experience for our children.
“The job climate is changing, technology is changing, and the way we live is changing,” Benson said. “Our teachers are doing a great job with our children, and it’s important that we continue giving them the resources they need to succeed.”
“But by the same token, it’s equally important that we make reforms to our education system to recognize these global changes and ensure that today’s students will be able to meet the challenges of the future.”
Benson said the proposal has been met with some resistance from teachers, who are understandably on edge due to the collective bargaining debate currently taking place in Wisconsin.
For instance, some have said that a bill provision requiring arbitration if teacher contract negotiations had not concluded by the end of summer is an attempt to eliminate collective bargaining. Benson disagreed, saying the move would allow teaching professionals to focus on education, and not negotiation, while school is in session.
“An arbitration process that puts both sides at the same level would prevent a work stoppage, and keep the educational focus where it belongs, on the kids,” Benson said.
Benson also added that the bill would eliminate the traditional “last hired, last fired” system, and institute a more effective program where teachers would be removed based on their classroom performance. In addition, the K-12 proposal would create an A through F grading system, making it easier to evaluate and compare schools with reward for schools that score the highest.
Benson said that schools in Minneapolis are seeing graduation rates of 44 percent, proving the status quo is not working and that some changes need to be made in order to help all of our students succeed.
“It’s clear that doing the same things we’ve always done is not going to lead to better results in the classroom,” Benson said. “Our children deserve the best possible educational experience, and our schools need the necessary funding in order to make this happen.”
Benson noted that even though Minnesota faces a $5.1 billion deficit, funding will increase by at least $126 per pupil in this latest budget bill.
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