ST. PAUL – By a vote of 94 to 29, the Minnesota House has approved a comprehensive education funding proposal that prioritizes student safety. State Representative Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) supported the plan.
“All along we’ve said that school safety is the issue here – not gun control – and this plan gives school districts the freedom to determine how to best use this new revenue to protect our kids,” Rarick said.
Rarick said the education plan gives school districts the funding and flexibility they need to make safety and security upgrades that best meet the unique needs of their students and schools. This could include school resources officers, building security upgrades, and addressing mental health programming.
“A one-size fits all approach towards school safety isn’t going to work, as the needs of a Minneapolis school will likely differ greatly than a school in Mora or Hinckley,” Rarick said. “We’re giving local schools control here, as they know the safety needs for their facilities better than anyone else.”
Rarick said the education proposal now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further debate.