ST. PAUL, Minn. – This week, Gov. Mark Dayton announced plans for $137.9 million in one-time Emergency School Aid for school districts across Minnesota. Currently, more than 26 school districts in the metro area and 33 school districts in Greater Minnesota are facing immediate budget deficits that could result in hundreds of teachers and support staff being laid off, along with significant programming cuts. The proposal would increase school funding by two percent in the coming year, amounting to an additional $126 for every student in Minnesota.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District is projected to have a budget shortfall in 2018-2019 of $12,045,953 million. The new funding proposed by Governor Dayton would amount to an additional $4,133,199 million.
Representative Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) released the following statement:
“While Governor Dayton has made historic investments in education, the simple truth is that Minnesota schools are still trying to regain financial footing after years of former Governor Tim Pawlenty’s cuts to education. Now our schools need emergency funding, and it is the Minnesota Legislature’s duty to fully fund our schools so they don’t face budget shortfalls and cuts. I grew up in Apple Valley and I attended the public schools in our community. I know our teachers because they were my teachers. We know they work tirelessly so every student has an opportunity to earn an education that allows them to thrive in a competitive world. That is what Minnesotans expect and, as policymakers, we need to give our teachers and students the support they need.”
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