Speed Gibson

The DFL, once again convinced that our public schools are under-funded, are once again taking their "principled" stands to provide them with "full" and "stable" funding.

My city is served by two Representatives and one Senator, all DFL. All three somehow managed to be heard in our local suburban newspaper this week.

From State Representative Debra Hillstrom (46B):

"We need to stop the teacher layoffs, the rising class sizes, and the rising property taxes that are burdening our communities and weakening our schools," Hilstrom said in a press release. "Parents, students, teachers, and administrators throughout the state have told us that in order to prevent further cuts we need substantially more funds that are included in this bill. As someone who believes in excellence in education, I felt that I had no choice but to vote against this bill."

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"This is not an honest way to fund our schools," Hilstrom said in a press release. "We need an education bill that invests adequate state money into our schools, not one that passes the buck to local school districts and uses gimmicks to disguise the cuts that it's making. Our students deserve strong schools and honest solutions."

From State Representative Lyndon Carlson (45B):

Minnesota students have been successful, due in large part, to the state's historical commitment to our schools. Our economy, our quality of life – every one of us has benefited from those investments. However, waning state support has put our students at risk of falling behind. We must act now to strengthen our schools and ensure success for all students.

House Democrats listened to Minnesotans concerned with the state of our state's public schools and developed a plan that will invest in our students. Most importantly, our plan is the only current proposal that will stop the cuts to teachers and classrooms.

We provide for strong schools by increasing per pupil funding by 5 percent in each of the next two years. The plan also includes an additional 5 percent for special education in the second year of the biennium, dedicate funding for gifted and talented programs, and funding for voluntary all-day kindergarten.

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The most important investment we can make for the future of education in the state is the investment in our youngest Minnesotans. In doing so, we save taxpayers in the end by reducing the need for remedial education.

From State Senator Linda Scheid (45):

With a commitment to providing Minnesota’s children the best education possible, holding down property taxes, and focusing on a state budget that provides fiscal responsibility rather than gimmicks, shifts, or hidden fees, the Senate passed three education finance bills all on a bipartisan basis.

The K-12 Education Omnibus Budget Bill passed on a unanimous vote and will increase funding for Minnesota schools for the upcoming two years by $761 million.

This is the first state education funding increase schools have seen in four years. The bill puts the bulk of the money on the per-pupil funding formula and which will increase by 5 percent in 2006 and 4 percent in 2007.

The Higher Education Omnibus Budget Bill totals $41 million in increased revenue and would put an end to double-digit tuition increases seen in recent years.

As Minnesota seeks an educated workforce to compete with other states, the growth of tuition rates is clearly hurting Minnesota students as well as Minnesota businesses. The bill seeks to provide adequate funding to the systems and students, and it fully funds the enrollment growth of both the University of Minnesota system and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

The Early Childhood Omnibus Budget Bill focuses on early childhood education and school readiness, child care, and adult basic education, and it appropriates $35 million in increased revenue for those programs. In an effort to strengthen families and invest in Minnesota‚s children, the bill ensures more children will have access to quality early care and education programs and gives parents the resources they need to prepare their children for kindergarten.

To fund the increases in education revenue, the Senate has proposed a Tax Bill, which has yet to be approved by the full Senate. The bill calls for a temporary increase to raise $795 million in the next biennium and will affect only 42,500 of the highest income tax filers. As soon as the economy improves and we fix the budget gimmicks, this temporary increase will automatically disappear. We confront the budget problem directly rather than shift the cost to higher property taxes, higher tuition, new fees, and future budgets, and we adequately fund education, committing to long-term stability that our children deserve.

To sum up, here is what my Legislative delegation promises to do for our public schools:

1. Raise taxes


2. Spend more

Here are the promised benefits:

1. Stop teacher layoffs


2. Reduce class sizes


3. Limit property tax increases


4. Reduce the need for remedial education


5. Reduce growth in post-secondary tuition


6. Provide more non-K12 programs

See anything about lowering the drop-out rate? Raising test scores? Closing the minority achievement gaps? No, these would be definable, measurable goals.

But take heart. The DFL plan will strengthen our (public) schools by giving parents the resources they need to ensure success for all students.