Recommendations on hold

Gov. Tim Pawlenty recommends cutting the appropriation to the Department of Education by 4 percent, just as he is recommending for other government agencies.

The House K-12 Finance Division March 12 held over HF3951, a bill on the governor’s recommendations to the Department of Education.

Sponsored by Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville), the bill would establish a new review process for teachers; establish a virtual education program; and establish an alternative to post-secondary licensure. The bill would also direct the commissioner of education to establish a reciprocity agreement with adjoining states.

Mark Klein, a member of the board of directors for the Minnesota High-Tech Association and former Microsoft employee, said careers, today, rarely progress in a linear way with wage-earners, on average, doing 14 different jobs by the time they are middle-aged. He said the virtual education program would provide an alternate way into the teaching profession, especially for people from technology-based industries.

Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) criticized ties to corporations in these programs. “The priorities are misguided here and I hope we give this all some very serious thought, this is sending us in the wrong direction.”

Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington), a network engineer, said the shortage of engineers is stifling the economy. Private sector companies would pay to put their equipment in schools and give people high-paying jobs out of high school.

The companion bill, SF3631, sponsored by Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Plummer), awaits action by the Senate Education Committee.