To the editor of the Sun Current:
Governor Mark Dayton and legislative leaders recently announced that Minnesota schools were repaid an additional $636 million at the end of the 2013 fiscal year.
Under the leadership of Governor Dayton and our state legislature, Minnesota has now repaid nearly $2.6 billion of the $2.8 billion that was previously borrowed from public schools, known as the “school shift.”
This is great news for Minnesota’s students. More financial stability for our public schools will help every child receive a great education and reach their full potential.
The new state budget signed into law this spring by Governor Dayton is projected to begin the next biennium with a surplus. The budget also invested over $600 million in Minnesota’s students – reversing a decade of disinvestment in education. This new funding is directed toward strategies proven to close the achievement gap, raise graduation rates, and improve career and college readiness.
One of my top priorities as an elected official has always been to ensure fair, sustainable funding for our schools. That’s why in addition to paying back the school shift, I voted for a new state budget that makes smart investments in our children’s futures. For example, Bloomington Public Schools are receiving over $1.7 million ($173 per student) in new funding this year and over $5.2 million ($535 per student) next year. And Richfield Public Schools are receiving over $1.2 million ($273 per student) this year, with over $3.1 million ($694 per student) on the way next year.
The recent update on the school shift repayment comes after the latest jobs report showing that Minnesota added 12,200 jobs in August, pushing total jobs in the state over the pre-recession peak that was reached in February 2008. Minnesota was also recently ranked eighth in the “Forbes 2013 List of the Best States for Business” rankings.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or other feedback. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-7158, by email at rep.linda.slocum@house.mn, or by postal mail at 415 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Linda Slocum
State Representative, District 50A (Richfield and Bloomington)