Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I would like to thank everyone who came to Coffee with Kelly last Saturday. We had a wonderful turnout, and I really appreciated hearing from you. Thank you for attending!
I will keep you updated about when and where the next meeting will take place.
Survey
My 2015 Legislative Survey is now available to take online, giving me another opportunity to receive feedback from constituents about important issues being debated at the State Capitol.
Please take a moment to take my short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Fenton2015
Also don't forget to share it with your friends and family in District 53B. Your input is valuable!
House File 2 Passes
On Thursday, the House passed an education reform bill that will improve student learning and empower school districts and teachers. As a parent and former teacher, I know how important it is to keep effective teachers in the classroom, helping to ensure that every student receives a world class education.
House File 2 makes a number of meaningful reforms to Minnesota's education system including:
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Reforming the seniority-only policy currently in state law, requiring locally negotiated plans for potential teacher layoffs to incorporate merit and teacher evaluations; seniority will still factor into retention decisions, but will no longer be the only factor
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Prohibiting placement of students in consecutive years with ineffective teachers
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Increasing access to quality teachers through out-of-state teacher license recognition and by encouraging regional reciprocity agreements with neighboring states
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Streamlining alternative pathways to teaching in Minnesota
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Empowering school districts to tap community experts for vocational, technical and career education programs
House File 2 is a student-focused bill that works to keep the best educators in the classroom, offers school districts more flexibility, and incorporates research-based reforms, with the goal of offering every child a quality, well-rounded education.
Regents
On Wednesday, the House and Senate held a joint session to elect five new regents to the Board of Regents, which oversees and governs the University of Minnesota. The newly chosen regents are Darrin Rosha, Dr. Patricia Simmons, Richard Beeson, Thomas Anderson and Michael Hsu.
The University of Minnesota is such an important institution in this state, and I am hopeful during their tenure, these regents will make affordability for college students a top priority.
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As always, I am grateful and humbled to be your state representative, and will be fighting hard for the people and priorities of Woodbury this session. If I can be of any assistance to you or your family on a matter of state government, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am here to serve you!
Sincerely,
Kelly
Don’t forget to “like” me on Facebook to learn more about what’s happening at the Capitol.