Dear Neighbor,
A lot has been going on at the Capitol since the last update. We returned from our Easter and Passover Holiday break last week and now we’ve entered the last half of session. Here are some community and legislative issues I’d like to update you on:
College Acceptance and Affordability
District 833’s Community Education program will be hosting a seminar for parents on how to get into college and how to pay for college without unmanageable debt. Guidance counselor and Coach Alan Weinblatt will lead the discussion. The event will be held on Tuesday, April 21st at East Ridge High School from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The registration fee is $20 per person or $25 per family. You can find more information here: Community Education.
Standing Strong Against Bullies 5K
The 3rd annual Standing Strong 5K Run/Walk will be held at Hamlet Park on Saturday May 16th at 9:00 am. The event. Sponsored by the Cottage Grove Lions Club, will raise money for anti-bullying programs at the Cottage Grove and Oltman middle schools.
This year there will be a party in Hamlet Park after the race with food, music, free family games and a silent auction. An advanced registration fee of $25 will go toward this good cause. To learn more or register, please visit the Standing Strong Website.
Camp Invention at Armstrong Elementary
The summer camp program Camp Invention, which focuses on creativity, problem solving and STEM education will be conducting a week long summer camp at Armstrong Elementary in June. The event is for students entering grades 1-6 and will be from Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26th. For more information, visit Camp Invention. There are other Camp Invention camps across the metro area, which you can find more information about at www.campinvention.org.
Governor Dayton’s State of the State Address
Governor Dayton delivered his State of the State address last Thursday evening.
The Governor talked about the progress that Minnesota has made in recent years, and thanked all Minnesotans for their hard work to keep Minnesota moving forward. With a $2 billion surplus, he challenged legislators to move forward with an agenda that looks to the future and sets Minnesota up for success in the long-term.
In particular, the Governor made a strong case for investing in education. Although we made considerable progress over the past two years, including all-day kindergarten and a tuition freeze for our college students, there are many kids – especially our youngest learners – who lack access to a quality education.
You can watch a replay of Governor Dayton’s speech here.
As we finish the last five weeks of the legislative session, please let me know what issues you’d like me to focus on. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-4342 or at rep.dan.schoen@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Dan Schoen