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If the schools did not have to pay interest payments on the borrowed money think how many more job opportunities would be available to the un-employed? Shifting 27% of payments from our schools this year to next year is un-acceptable. I want to make education of our students a top priority starting with Early Education. Many studies have proven that early ed. is the cornerstone in the foundation for education. Working with the parents and the student early prepares them for success from K-12 and onto secondary education. All school districts should be funded with equal funding. Students in small school districts in outstate Minnesota need the same educational opportunities as the larger school districts get. I will work for Equity of Funding for all of our school districts in Senate District 48. My priorities for education 1. No state mandates without funding 2. Support Early Education 3. Equity funding for all school districts 4. 100% payments to prevent schools from having to borrow funds to operate 5. Increase Special Education funding at the state level and work to get additional funding from the federal government. 6. Provide funding for the Teachers Academy to improve and maintain a higher quality of teachers 7. Allow school boards local level decision making authority on school levies with a cap based on inflation. Bonding (building buildings) will continue to be voted on by the voters in the school district 8. Full funding for all day kindergarten 9. Mandatory gym classes for all grade levels K-12 |
Education Demand The Truth - Get The Facts... "I DO" |
As a former school board member for ISD 15 from 2001 - 2005 and as a current substitute teacher for ISD 15 I have seen the problems in our schools. No Child Left Behind and special education mandates from the National and State level have really impacted our school budgets. Our property taxes have been raised because of mandated school programs. Mandated school programs never come with enough funding and without violating state or federal laws, property taxes have to be raised. The state of Minnesota has now shifted payments to our school districts (so the state can balance their budget) and now many of them will have to borrow money to make payroll, heat the schools and operate their buses. The interest payments alone will be in the millions across the state. |