School districts or other local government entities could join forces to save money by sharing administrative or program services.
Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) sponsors HF895, which would appropriate up to three competitive grants of $100,000 each for school districts, in groups of three or more, to plan and implement the formation of “commonwealth districts” as a measure to encourage sharing resources among cash-strapped districts. They might share a superintendent, financial management, transportation, food, technology, purchasing and instructional services. The funds would be available for planning in fiscal year 2010 and implementation in fiscal year 2011.
The House K-12 Education Finance Division laid the bill over March 25 for possible omnibus bill inclusion. Its companion, SF440, sponsored by Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL-Hewitt), awaits action by the Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division.
Menahga Public Schools Superintendent J.R. Nesland said the grants would provide “seed money,” which would become an incentive for school boards to analyze, perhaps with the help of a third party, various scenarios for how a commonwealth arrangement could work.
“If I’m going to sit down with five superintendents,” Nesland said, “which four of us are going to walk away and say, ‘You be the one that stays.’ We almost need some incentive sometimes to get us thinking.”
Sam Walseth, director of legislative action for the Minnesota Rural Education Association, called it a “softer, gentler approach” to help districts share than imposing mandates.
Reps. Jerry Newton (DFL-Coon Rapids) and John Ward (DFL-Brainerd) suggested local government units could be included in such an agreement.
Rep. Connie Doepke (R-Orono) suggested an amendment to require that a commonwealth district demonstrate it would save more than the $100,000 it would receive in a grant. Eken said he would be willing to work with her to incorporate such an amendment so that if it is included in the omnibus bill it would reflect his intent to save schools money.
The year without a K-12 law
School funding is flat, no reforms enacted
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Published 6/1/2010
House K-12 omnibus bill fast-tracked
Senate slow to respond with companion legislation
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Published 5/13/2010
K-12 education omnibus bill stalls
Teacher licensure proposals in contention
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Published 5/6/2010
K-12 education bill moves forward
Measures would activate reforms, stabilize school funding
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Published 4/29/2010
Resuscitating Race to the Top bid
New bid could hinge on proposals to boost teacher effectiveness
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Published 4/22/2010
Raiders of the lost fund
Slew of reforms could boost Permanent School Fund income
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Published 3/25/2010
Schools shore up state’s checkbook
Obscure law forces drawdown of school reserves before state can borrow
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Published 2/25/2010
At Issue: No shifts, no cuts
Education funding in a holding pattern
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Published 5/29/2009
At Issue: E-12 education bill that might have been
Funding held steady with no shifts proposed, but no Minnesota Miracle
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Published 5/15/2009
At Issue: Investing in quality care for kids
Lawmakers hope for long-term benefits of early investment
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Published 4/24/2009
At Issue: Building a better formula
Omnibus K-12 education finance bill floor debate highlights obstacles
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Published 4/24/2009
At Issue: Whose values are they anyway?
Lawmaker carries on family legacy with sex education bill
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Published 4/17/2009
First Reading: One school doesn’t fit all
Efforts put forward to tailor charter school law
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Published 4/10/2009
At Issue: Hopeful education goals in a dismal year
Omnibus bill addresses changing needs and future demands
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Published 4/3/2009
At Issue: Getting kids to move
Bill aims to ensure ‘No child left on their behind’
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Published 2/20/2009
First Reading: Accountability funding for all
A ‘New Minnesota Miracle’ requires a leap of faith
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Published 2/13/2009
At Issue: Q Comp found wanting
Performance measure has perks, but is it affordable?
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Published 2/6/2009
At Issue: Reforming education, saving money
Bipartisan support shown for mandate reduction and shared services
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Published 1/23/2009
Feature: Passing the torch of democracy
Youth immerse themselves in lingo and actions of lawmaking
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Published 1/16/2009