STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Mindy Greiling, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 2:20PM on February 7, 2007, in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
GREILING, Mindy (Chair)
MORROW, Terry (Vice-Chair)
ANZELC, Tom
BENSON, John
BROWN, Robin
DAVNIE, Jim
DEMMER, Randy
DETTMER, Bob
DITTRICH, Denise
DOMINGUEZ, Willie
ERICKSON, Sondra
FAUST, Tim
GAROFALO, Pat
HEIDGERKEN, Bud
HILSTROM, Deb
MARIANI, Carlos
MARQUART, Paul
McFARLANE, Carol
MORGAN, Will
MURPHY, Mary
OLSON, Mark
SWAILS, Marsha
A quorum was present.
Representative Dominguez moved the minutes of February 6, 2007 be adopted.
THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
The following individuals provided information on all-day kindergarten:
Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, Interim President and CEO, The Minneapolis Foundation
Dr. Jeffrey Olson, Superintendent, St. Peter Public Schools
Dennis Carlson, Ass't to the Superintendent, Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools
Marilyn McKeehan, Principal, Park View Early Childhood Center
John Alberts, Director of Educational Services, and Candace F. Raskin Ed.D., Superintendent, Austin Public Schools
Anne Siegel, President, Minnesota Kindergarten Association
HF170 (Slawik) A bill for relating to early childhood; establishing an allowance for early childhood learning preparedness and enrichment expenses; reducing class sizes for K-3 to meet the statutory state standard.
Representative Nora Slawik presented an informational overview of sections 2, 3 and 4 of HF170.
HF2 (Swails) A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing funding for voluntary, full-day kindergarten.
Representative Swails moved HF2 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus K-12 Finance Bill.
Representative Swails testified.
HF78 (Morrow) A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing funding for voluntary, full-day kindergarten.
Representative Morrow moved HF78 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus K-12 finance bill.
Representative Morrow testified.
HF597 (Brown) A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing funding for voluntary, full-day kindergarten; phasing in full funding.
Representative Brown moved HF597 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus K-12 finance bill.
Representative Brown testified.
HF637 (Dittrich) A bill for an act relating to education finance; authorizing full-day kindergarten; providing a new sate aid for certain costs of full-day kindergarten programs; authorizing a sliding scale fee for full-day kindergarten; appropriating money.
Representative Dittrich moved HF637 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus K-12 finance bill.
Representative Dittrich moved to amend HF637 as follows:
Page 4, line 18, after "population" insert "times the formula allowance for that year"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Dittrich testified.
Questions and further discussion regarding all-day kindergarten followed.
Public testimony was provided by the following individuals:
Scott Croonquist, Executive Director, Association of Metropolitan School Districts (pro)
Rene Lara, Legislative Action Specialist, Education Minnesota (pro)
Dr. Karen Effrem, Policy Analyst, Edwatch (con)
Tom Prichard, President, MN Family Council (con)
Grace Schwab, Director of Governmental Relations, MN Schools Boards Association (pro)
The meeting was adjourned at 3:48PM.
Rep. Mindy Greiling, CHAIR
Elizabeth Mandelman
Committee Legislative Assistant