Senate votes to cut hundreds of millions from K-12 spending

Originally, the Senate's goal was to slash school spending by $972 million, or 7 percent of the $13.8 billion total K-12 budget in 2010 and 2011. But hundreds of millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds have started to flow into schools, and Senate policymakers subtracted that amount from their proposed cuts.

The cuts would be across-the-board reductions in the basic education funding all school districts get.

"I think it's fair and responsible given the difficult economic times we're facing," said Chuck Wiger, the North St. Paul DFLer who is deputy chairman of the joint Senate education policy and finance committee. "Most people realize this approach is the more responsible way to deal with the budget. Do I like making cuts? No."

Asked when the last time the DFL-controlled Senate cut education spending, Wiger replied: "It's maybe been a generation."

The DFL vote was, in fact, mixed. Out of a vote of 37-29, 10 DFLers voted against it.

Tom Dooher, president of the Education Minnesota teachers union, has warned that the Senate cuts would result in thousands of teacher layoffs across the state.

"It really compounds what we're already seeing with cuts already proposed for the next school year," Dooher said. "It's going to make it more difficult for students who need it the most, because there are going to be fewer academic programs, and classes are going to be too large for optimal learning. ..."

Most districts have been making their budget plans anticipating a funding freeze from the state. Even with that freeze, many have been anticipating major teacher and program reductions over the next two years.

Republicans voted almost unanimously against the bill.

"We think this is a very bad bill," said David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, a Senate education policy and finance committee member. "It's a very dramatic reduction in per pupil spending." Hann also warned of the one-time nature of the stimulus spending, which will dry up after two years.

DFL senators had been threatening to cut education for much of the session, stating that all state-financed services needed to share the pain of a $4.57 billion shortfall over the next two years.

A House bill that proposes a funding freeze, but not a cut, for education, is slated to come before the House K-12 Finance Division next week. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has proposed some modest increases to the K-12 budget, with big cuts elsewhere in state spending.

The Senate bill passed Tuesday actually calls for some modest spending increases in early childhood education. It proposes no cuts to special education funding. The bill also contains a number of education policy provisions.

It calls for limiting the agencies that can sponsor charter schools, which are public schools allowed to develop programs and curricula that differ from ordinary public schools and often serve students with particular needs or interests. It also tightens up other regulations governing charter school sponsors.

The bill loosens up requirements for high school students to pass a state math test before they can graduate. There are concerns among educators that many students will not be able to pass the test, which would lower Minnesota graduation rates.

Norm Draper • 612-673-4547