March 2, 2008
Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update
Busy Week at the Capitol
Last week was action packed at the Capitol:
Other than that, it was pretty boring. J
Committee Deadlines Approaching
The committee deadlines are coming soon:
1st deadline – March 14 – a bill must pass out of all of the policy committees in at least one body
2nd deadline – March 19 – the other body must act favorably on bills the met the first deadline
3rd deadline- March 28 – finance committees must complete work on their omnibus bills
While a final decision has not been made, it is quite possible that there will be one omnibus budget reconciliation bill to address the projected budget shortfall. There will also likely be an omnibus education policy bill.
Minnesota Taxpayers Association
I am attaching a copy of the latest newsletter from the MN Taxpayers Association – not to be confused with the Taxpayers League. There is an interesting article related to education finance in the newsletter. While we would take issue with some of the points raised in the newsletter, there is much with which we’d have to agree.
Tax Reform Commission
On Friday Governor Pawlenty issued an executive order creating the Governor’s 21st Century Tax Reform Commission. According to the press release announcing the Commission, “The Commission will be charged with recommending tax law changes to improve Minnesota’s ability to successfully compete with other states and nations for jobs and business investments, and that promote the long-term economic prosperity of the State and its citizens.” The Governor will appoint up to 15 members including a chair. The Commission will be instructed to report its recommendations by December 1, 2008.
Committee Action in the Coming Week
The coming week will be even busier than last week with several AMSD platform items on the agendas of legislative committees. I have highlighted issues that are AMSD initiatives or issues of particular interest. I would especially draw your attention to the House K-12 Education Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday and Thursday, March 5 and March 6. The Committee meets at 2:15 p.m. in room 10 of the State Office Building each day. On Wednesday, representatives from 10 school districts from around the state will be offering testimony outlining the budget challenges they face in 2008-09. Superintendents Stan Mack and Dee Wells will be representing AMSD at the hearing along with a parent leader from their respective districts.
On Thursday, March 6 the Committee will be taking up HF 2978 (Morgan) for consideration. This is the AMSD and Alliance for Student Achievement initiative to add 2% to the formula and fund the state special education formula. Please let your staff and parents know about the March 5 and March 6 hearings and invite them to attend. The more support we have at the hearings the better!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. Charles W. Wiger
3 p.m. Room 15 Capitol
Agenda: S.F. 3151-Torres Ray: Narrowing the achievement gap plans.
S.F. XXXX-Rummel: Minnesota's Promise.
S.F. 2653-Betzold: Conflict of interest exception for certain school contracts for professional and other services.
S.F. 2754-Betzold: School Background checks.
TUESDAY, March 4, 2008
Committee: E-12 Education
8:00 AM
Meeting Time Note: The committee will recess at 9:30 AM and reconvene at 6 PM in the Basement Hearing Room.
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF3472 (Mariani) Achievement gap; school district plan to reduce the achievement gap provided.
HF3390 (Loeffler) Public health access fund established, BMI monitoring program for children established, statewide health improvement program established, tobacco impact fees increased, and money appropriated.
HF3347 (Moe) Adequate yearly progress designations appeals process clarified relating to education.
HFXXXX (Slocum) GRAD test appeals process established.
HF3465 (Swails) Education assessment results reporting modified.
HF3263 (Clark) American Indian tribes contributions and communities instruction integrated into teacher preparation and licensing requirements, and money appropriated.
Report from Task Force to Compare Federal and State Special Education Requirements.
*The report from the Task Force to Compare State and Federal Special Education Requirements will be first on the 6 PM agenda.
E-12 Education Budget Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 2397-Clark: Independent School District #750, Rocori; disability access account fund transfer.
S.F. 2514-Frederickson: Independent School District #411, Balaton; fund transfer.
S.F. 2868-Lourey: Independent School District #2580, East Central; fund transfer.
S.F. 2371-Wiger: Ice arena education levy authority increase.
S.F. 2801-Lynch: Independent School District #2899, Plainview-Elgin-Millville; community education fund balance adjustment correction.
S.F. 2678-Stumpf: Independent School District #356, Lancaster; transition revenue adjustment.
S.F. 3249-Tomassoni: Independent School District #706, Virginia; funds transfer authorization.
S.F. 3344-Vickerman: Independent School District #671, Hills-Beaver Creek; permanent fund transfer.
Committee: K-12 Finance Division
2:15 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF2860 (Olin) Independent School District No. 356, Lancaster transition revenue adjusted.
HF2980 (Benson) School facilities formulas modified, additional districts qualified for alternative facilities revenue, and deferred maintenance revenue and leased facilities levy increased.
HF2846 (Greiling) School district alternative facilities bonding eligibility standards modified.
HF2475 (Greiling) School district capital facilities bond repayment time period extended.
HF3022 (Juhnke) Independent School District No. 347, Willmar, school site minimum acreage requirement waived.
HFXXXX (Faust) School facilities
Committee: Early Childhood Learning Finance Division
4:00 PM
Meeting Time Note: Immediately after session
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
Agenda: HF2983 (Peterson, S) Office of Early Learning established
HF2555 (Slawik) Child care assistance provider reimbursement rates increased, and money appropriated.
HF2637 (Slawik) Child care absent day requirements effective date modified
HF2689 (Slawik) Child care assistance basic sliding fee waiting list reduction funding provided, and money appropriated.
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
Chair: Sen. Linda Scheid
6 p.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 2979-Stumpf: Auctioneers professional fund raising requirements exemption.
S.F. 2007-Carlson: Motor vehicle damage disclosure requirements modification.
S.F. 2747-Betzold: Minnesota school employee insurance pool creation and appropriation.
S.F. 2980-Dahle: Flood insurance noncoverage disclosure requirement for homeowners insurance purposes.
S.F. 2716-Olson, M. A.: Town cemetery funds use and dedication requirement modifications.
S.F. 833-Olson, M. A.: Minnesota Wireless Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
E-12 Education Budget Division
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
8:30 a.m. Room 112 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 3244-Skogen: Principals leadership institute grant appropriation.
S.F. 3312-Rummel: Minnesota Humanities Center grant appropriation.
S.F. 2964-Torres Ray: Adult basic education aid modification.
S.F. 2669-Rummel: Early childhood education developmental screening aid modification.
Committee: K-12 Finance Division
2:15 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: Presentations on education funding conditions
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. Charles W. Wiger
3 p.m. Room 15 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. XXXX-Bonoff: School technology initiatives.
S.F. 2815-Saxhaug: Basic formula increase; modifying referendum ballot language.
S.F. 3029-Dahle: Minnesota association of alternative programs.
S.F. 2420-Wiger: High school earth and space, life and physical sciences assessment requirement.
THURSDAY, March 6, 2008
Committee: K-12 Finance Division
2:15 PM
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling
Agenda: HF2978 (Morgan) Education finance; basic formula allowance increased, special education revenue proration eliminated, special education funding increased, referendum ballot language modified, and money appropriated.
HF2982 (Bly) Alternative learning centers and charter schools five-year pilot program established to identify systemic improvement measures to best serve eligible students, and money appropriated.
Committee: Early Childhood Learning Finance Division
4:00 PM
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Nora Slawik
*** Note: *** Change in Agenda
Bill(s) Added
Agenda: HF3290 (Peterson, S) School readiness assessments and kindergarten transition strategies provided, and money appropriated.
HF3246 (Winkler) Adult basic education aid modified
HF2984 (Slawik) School-age care program modified
HF2185 (Lanning) Healthy child development within communities grant program established, and money appropriated
Friday, March 7, 2008
Committee on Education
Chair: Sen. Charles W. Wiger
10 a.m. Excel Energy Center - 175 Kellogg Blvd. West, St. Paul
Agenda:
Minnesota State High School League overview.
We need to continue to let the Governor and legislators know about the needs of our school districts and the budget challenges we face next year. Budget shortfall or not, it is the duty of the state to properly fund our schools!