STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTEENTH MEETING
MN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY SECOND SESSION
EDUCATION FINANCE
MINUTES
Representative Jim Davnie, Chair of the Education Finance Committee, called the virtual meeting to order at 10:31am on February 16, 2021 pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting is being broadcast via Zoom and House Public Information Services.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
DAVNIE, Jim
SANDSTEDE, Julie
KRESHA, Ron
BENNETT, Peggy
DANIELS, Brian
DEMUTH, Lisa
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
ERICKSON, Sondra
FEIST, Sandra
JORDAN, Sydney
MARQUART, Paul
MUELLER, Patricia
RICHARDSON, Ruth
THOMPSON, John
WOLGAMOTT, Dan
XIONG, Tou
YOUAKIM, Cheryl
A quorum was present.
Rep. Demuth moved that the minutes from February 11, 2021 be approved. Motion prevailed.
HF 1064 (Davnie) This bill is the Governor’s bill appropriating fiscal year 2021 money for additional educational programming for the 2020-2021 school year, 2021 summer education programs, and Adult Basic Education (ABE) and mental health grants through the end of fiscal year 2022. The bill proposes approximately $83 million in fiscal year 2021 funding, with the majority going to grants. Each grant is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2022.
Chair Davnie presented HF 1064 before the committee without formal action in an informational hearing.
Testifiers:
Heather Mueller, Deputy Commissioner, MN Department of Education
Nekey Oliver, Grants & Government Relations Manager, MN Office of Higher Education
Matt Burdick, Director of State Government Relations, MN Department of Human Services
Steve Unowsky, Superintendent, Richfield Public Schools
Kathlene Campbell, Ph. D., Dean of the School of Education, University of St. Thomas
Annette Sallman, Director of Community Education, Stillwater Public Schools
Greta Evans-Becker, School Board Member, Robbinsdale Area Schools
Ms. Reverend Dr. Darcel Hill, Executive Director of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools,
St. Paul Public Schools
Kevin Wellen, Superintendent, Menahga Public Schools
John Ashby, Neighborhood House
Tom Cytron-Dysom, Literacy Action Network
Maria Snider, Director, Rainbow Child Development Center in St. Paul
Mary Rotter, Owner, Laker Prep Preschool, Detroit Lakes
Trisha Bolger, CEO of Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
Heather Alden MSW LICSW, Supervisor Project Reach and Fostering Connections, St. Paul
Public Schools
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations, MN Department of Education
The meeting of the Education Finance Division was adjourned 11:56am.
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Representative Jim Davnie, Chair
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Brittney Sunderland, Committee Legislative Assistant