STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTY-FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE
Representative Mindy Greiling, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 7:30PM on April 9, 2008 at Rocori High School, 534 5th Avenue North. Cold Spring, MN 56320.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
GREILING, Mindy (Chair)
MORROW, Terry (Vice-Chair)
BENSON, John
BROWN, Robin
DAVNIE, Jim
DEMMER, Randy
DOMINGUEZ, Willie
ERICKSON, Sondra
FAUST, Tim
GAROFALO, Pat
MORGAN, Will
OLSON, Mark
SWAILS, Marsha
Members excused:
ANZELC, Tom
DETTMER, Bob
DITTRICH, Denise
HEIDGERKEN, Bud
HILSTROM, Deb
MARIANI, Carlos
MARQUART, Paul
McFARLANE, Carol
Additional non-committee members included:
HAWS, Larry
HOSCH, Larry
A quorum was present.
Representative Larry Hosch assumed the gavel at 7:33PM.
Introductions and welcome by the committee.
Scott Staska, Superintendent, Rocori Schools, John Haas, Superintendent, Holdingford Schools, Elisabeth Rogers, Director of Special Education, St. Cloud Schools, and Duane Borgeson, Executive Director, Benton-Stearns Education District, provided an overview of their concerns of the state of special education throughout the state of Minnesota.
Alice Seagren, Education Commissioner, and Tom Melcher, Finance Director, Minnesota Department of Education, provided an overview of special education funding in Minnesota.
The following testifiers provided testimony and opinions regarding the state of special education funding in throughout the state of Minnesota:
Kristi Warne, teacher, Rocori Schools
Carrie Robarek, teacher, Rocori Schools
Danielle Liebl, student, Rocori Schools
Kaye Lambert, teacher, Rocori Schools
Representative Hosch adjourned the meeting at 9:00PM.
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Rep. Mindy Greiling, CHAIR
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Elizabeth Mandelman
Committee Legislative Assistant