School boards could see some mandate relief and also could have some fund transfers approved by the education commissioner rather than the Legislature.
Giving school boards more flexibility to transfer approximately $2 billion in available funds “could provide some relief for our school boards as they deal with these tough economic times,” said Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton), who sponsors
HF381/
SF56*with Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville). The House passed the bill 69-60 April 11, and the amended version now returns to the Senate for concurrence. The original was passed 36-29 by the Senate Feb. 10.
The bill would lift a Jan. 15 contract deadline and the $25 per pupil penalty imposed on districts where a contract isn’t signed; and a requirement that the school board identify vendors of 403 (b) retirement savings plan in which its employees would invest; a maintenance of effort requirement and set-aside of the Safe Schools Levy; a requirement that school boards of districts with a population less than 10,000 hire a licensed community education director; and for 2012 and 2013 only, the requirement that 2 percent of a district’s general revenue be used for staff development.
Other provisions would allow school boards to hold meetings via interactive technology with audio and visual links; require the education commissioner to receive legislative authority before making substantive special education rule changes and before adopting social studies standards revisions planned. The revisions would also be delayed a year until 2014-15, instead of 2013-14 as scheduled now.
DFL members objected to the provisions, including the repeal of the maintenance of effort in the safe schools level and the Jan. 15 deadline, plus the delay in implementing social studies standards.
Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) said the deadline and penalty have “been very effective in eliminating, almost down to zero, strikes in our state.”
Waiting for the governor’s final grade
Omnibus education bill nears finish line
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Published 4/27/2012
Last in, first out … out or in?
Conference committee weighs benefits of changing teacher layoff practices
(view full story)
Published 3/30/2012
Education advocate is moving on
Rep. Mindy Greiling announces she won’t seek re-election
(view full story)
Published 2/3/2012
Withholding state funds from schools
Education finance law keeps $780 million for other General Fund spending
(view full story)
Published 8/11/2011
First try at K-12 finance bill fails
Dayton says special education cuts ‘would create significant funding gaps’
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Published 7/15/2011
‘Bold and beautiful’ or full of inequities?
Confusion exists whether K-12 bill increases or cuts funding
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Published 5/20/2011
Minnesota Index: Teaching and learning
Facts and statistics about education in Minnesota
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Published 5/20/2011
Lands set apart
Permanent School Fund management, income potential explored
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Published 5/13/2011
‘Social promotion’ to promote literacy
Third-graders could repeat if they can’t read
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Published 4/29/2011
Historic St. Paul walkout
Illegal action changed teacher bargaining; a new debate rises over right to strike
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Published 4/15/2011
Changes in education
House approves omnibus education finance bill
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Published 4/1/2011
Education finance bill offers bold reforms
Quantity not as key as quality, says DFL
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Published 3/25/2011
A voucher by any other name
Bill would create limited scholarships for low-income students
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Published 3/18/2011
Fewer days, longer hours
Some districts find four-day school week works as a budget fix
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Published 2/18/2011
First Reading: ‘Pitting the good against the good’
Proposed lift of safe schools mandate is a tough call
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Published 2/4/2011
The goal: 25,000 new teachers
Bush Foundation commits big bucks to revamp teacher training
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Published 1/28/2011
First Reading: Alternative teacher mindset
Tackling the achievement gap one classroom at a time
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Published 1/21/2011