Greetings,
Last fall, the Mounds View School Board proposed a $165 million capital bond referendum to residents in our community. It was approved by the community with 73% of constituents voting in favor.
The referendum was in response to growing enrollment which is at a 16 year high and is expected to increase another 1,600 students in the next 7 years. The funds will be invested in adding classrooms at all six elementary schools as well as in various infrastructure projects at the other schools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of each facility.
Last month I met with superintendent, Chris Lennox and school board chair, Jonathan Weinhagen. One of the subjects we reviewed was that the excellent financial rating for the school district resulted in an issuance sale of $154 million for the bonds as opposed to the voter approved $165 million. This is good news for property owners in our community! We can applaud the school board for their fiscal restraint on behalf of our citizens.
Here, I am pictured with Superintendent Lennox and school board members, Amy Jones and Diane Glasheen.
I was happy to see that this year’s super bowl went off without a hitch. What a great opportunity it was for the Twin Cities to showcase to the rest of the world the world-class city we are. Despite the cold temps, I hope you were able to attend one of the many events that took place all over the city.
In addition to the entertainment events that took place, there were a number of charitable events that took place across the city. One particular act of charity took place at Anwatin Middle School in Minneapolis. This school is a special place for me as my daughter Elise works at the school through the Americorps program.
More specifically, the NFL donated $220,000 to the school towards a new athletic field. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other local luminaries were at the event and helped celebrate the groundbreaking.
Finally, the 2018 legislative session begins this coming Tuesday which means that starting next Friday I will be sending out weekly legislative updates sharing what is happening here in St. Paul. Some issues that I expect to be addressed this session include, federal tax conformity, a bonding bill, a fix to the MNLARS debacle, additional healthcare and insurance reforms, legislation to address elder abuse in our nursing homes, and steps to fix the opioid crisis.
Stay tuned for more information about these topics and more as the session progresses.
For any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-0141 or rep.randy.jessup@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Randy