To the editor of the Grand Rapids Herald-Review:
As a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, one of my top priorities has always been to do everything in my power to provide our students with the best education possible.
Over the past decade, lawmakers at our state capitol slashed funding for this vital priority, resulting in overcrowded classrooms and overburdened teachers. Fortunately, DFLers in the House of Representatives are poised to end the status quo and move Minnesota forward in a new direction.
This past week, our K-12 committee unveiled a comprehensive budget that will make a big difference in the lives of students in all of our schools.
The House DFL plan sets ambitious goals such as a 100 percent high school graduation rate and 100 percent literacy rate for our kids by third grade. It also prioritizes college and career readiness. We’re optimistic that we can meet those goals by funding all-day, every day kindergarten, investing in early learning childhood resources, and increasing the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by over $315 million.
I’m pleased to report that under our proposal, funding for the Grand Rapids Public School District increases by $461 per pupil in FY2014 and $763 in FY2015. In the Greenway Public School District, funding per pupil increases by $371 in FY2014 and $697 in FY2015. In my opinion, that kind of investment in our kids is one that’s well worth making—and one that will give Minnesota’s economy a competitive edge for decades to come.
The House DFL education budget is truly a winner for students in northeastern Minnesota. It’s an investment in our future designed to build the world’s best workforce and give our learners a brighter future.
I am working hard to secure the votes of my colleagues so that our proposal becomes law.
If you have any questions about the House DFL education budget, you can contact me by phone at (651) 296-4936, by email at rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn, or by postal mail at 517 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Tom Anzelc
State Representative, District 5B