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By Jon Tatting
jon.tatting@ecm-inc.com
In a month of making their rounds before local government, Rep. Rob Eastlund and Sen. Rick Olseen turned to education and the funding challenges that continue to burden school districts and local taxpayers.
The Cambridge-Isanti School Board on Oct. 22 received some pretty bleak news from the DFL senator and Republican representative on the projected $4-$7 billion budget deficit, K-12 shifts and the inequities that appear to be widening the funding gap between metro districts with higher property wealth and those in the Greater region.
Olseen noted Minnesota school districts are not happy despite nearly opposite circumstances. While North Branch is struggling without an excess levy, he said, larger districts such as Eden Prairie are not pleased though they have well over $1,000 in excess levy funds per student.
“We may need to place limits or caps on levies out of fairness to all districts state-wide,” he suggested.
In speculation of the 2010 Legislative Session, Olseen noted the state is looking at a $4 to $7 billion budget shortfall for the next biennium. It’s a capital bonding session, yet focus must remain on budgeting, he said.
“I don’t really have any good news for you folks,” said Olseen, before the board, adding the Minnesota Miracle sequel will eventually come into place pending available funds.
Rep. Eastlund, who previously served 12 years on the Dist. 911 School Board, hesitated in providing a forecast on the upcoming session—until allotment impacts can be reviewed, he said.
Education and Local Government Aid (LGA) are big pieces of the pie when we look at the entire budget, he said. “For the first time in my career, the state of Minnesota will spend less money in the next biennium than in past years,” he stressed.
In light of the projected budget shortfall, Board Member Dan Fosse asked if it’s realistic for the district to see a portion of the K-12 budget shift.
“The $4-$7 billion is clearly a shot in the dark,” Eastlund responded. He added the entire shift must help restore unallotments and can only be paid back over time. “Historically, no shift has been paid back in a year’s time. We’d have $1.5 billion added to the deficit if we paid it back now.”
Olseen voiced “worry” that the K-12 budget shift won’t be paid back. “I will work hard to get that paid back,” he said, noting failure to do so would “devastate our state.”
Regarding operating levy proposals, Olseen agreed with Eastlund: “There’s no stomach in the public for tax increases.”
The inequity debate
Eastlund believes the funding inequity issue needs to be addressed.
“How is the current (state aid) money distributed? More money is going to people who are already getting more money,” he said of the school funding disparity between metro and Greater Minnesota school districts.
“I quite frankly cannot see how one district can get twice as much. It’s politically charged. We (Cambridge-Isanti) are at the bottom. With performance, we are not at the bottom,” he added.
In fact, Cambridge-Isanti Schools are ranked 318th out of 339 Minnesota districts for per-student revenue.
Rather, Eastlund supports a system where districts are financially rewarded based on “some measurement of performance.”
Board Member Gary Hawkins asked Eastlund if he could “channel” his frustrations positively among colleagues at the state Capitol. “Rob, I see you’re angry. How do you pull other people in? Why is there not a larger group with you?”
Responded Eastlund, “I will fight for equity of funds for school districts in the Legislature.”
Later, he admitted, “What’s extremely frustrating is when we do come to an agreement and put money on the table, we cannot make it happen due to disagreements.
“We’re not getting our fair share among bigger districts. It’s an extremely frustrating issue for me. It’s something politics shouldn’t play with,” he added.
Said Olseen, “Governments are in tough spots now. It’s not fair to you, but there’s not much we (the Legislature) can do. What does government mean in Minnesota? How do we balance money with needed programs? It will take a lot of cooperation in the Legislature.”
Summarized Fosse, “With no help from the state, our charge is to deal with the circumstances and educate our kids as best we can.”
Suggested Carlson to the legislators: “Don’t have any fear. Use your power for good with the positions you have in St. Paul.”
Concluded Eastlund, “This is by far the most difficult experience I’ve had so far. This is a difficult time to be an elected official. We do what’s right, even if it’s hard. We need to respect each other and stop the political game. I commend you and wish you well.”
Restore general education levy
The board on a 5-1 vote supported a legislative resolution, informing the state Legislature to consider re-establishing a general education levy to be applied at an equal rate across all school districts in Minnesota.
The resolution effort, according to Board Member Clark Johnson who submitted it to the board, attempts to generate floor discussion on policies toward remedying school funding inadequacies, unfairness before the state Legislature.
“Property wealth is the reason why a gap in funding per student exists,” said Johnson, noting Cambridge-Isanti ranks unusually low in funding per student, state-wide, when compared to school districts such as Eden Prairie. “We’re looking to even the playing field.”
Acting on the proposed resolution, Board Member Gary Hawkins made the motion, seconded by Jeanette Polzin. Dan Fosse solely voted against.
In other action, the board...
• tabled revision to the Minnesota Center/School for all Seasons calendar until the next board meeting to remedy scheduling conflicts. The year-round program previously requested changing Spring Break to allow more school time in preparing students for testing; the students would then get out of school earlier in June.
• renewed board membership, involving a $10,212 cost, in Resource Training and Solutions for the 2009-10 school year. The rationale: to better access information and programs in making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
• approved an updated two-year plan, almost mirroring last year’s plan, for schools to make AYP.
• approved the proposed district budget calendar in preparation of planning a sound 2010-11 budget as well as a five-year projection.
• set 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 for required reorganization of the school board, which determines new committee-type roles for 2010.
• agreed on a student expulsion from Sept. 22 through Nov. 6, 2009. No further information was available due to privacy laws.
• set 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 to canvass the votes from the special levy referendum election, which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
• learned, from Fosse in his union negotiations report, that the district met with teachers for another negotiations meeting Oct. 19. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11. Meanwhile, Fosse added, initial meetings with other union groups may occur the week of Nov. 9 or 16.
• learned, from Superintendent Bruce Novak’s report, that the “Yes-Yes” Committee continues to work hard on the anticipated levy referendum. Informative brochures and flyers have been sent home with elementary students for parents and families to review, he said.
• approved the CIHS Symphonic Band trip to Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., from March 25-29, 2009. The action hinges on the district receiving a certificate of insurance from the bus company. It was also noted that the arts are not in the same category as competitive sports, in light of state rules on student trips and destination distances.
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