SAINT PAUL, MN—Tomorrow, Governor Mark Dayton will visit Rochester’s Franklin Elementary as part of a statewide campaign to call attention to school funding shortfalls. Governor Dayton has proposed emergency school aid for school districts across the state. Right now, dozens of school districts are facing budget shortfalls, including Rochester. The Rochester School District is facing a $1.6 million shortfall, which could lead to teacher and staff layoffs and program cuts in the coming year.
“Minnesotans expect us to ensure every child has a world-class education,” remarked Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester). “The children in our community deserve a chance to get ahead and we cannot deliver on that promise when our schools are facing teacher layoffs, increased class sizes, and program cuts. It’s remarkable that my Republican colleagues have dismissed the idea of funding our schools so they can instead focus on tax cuts. I stand with Governor Dayton and the people of our community who know it is more important is to ensure our schools have adequate resources.”
Governor Dayton’s proposal would increase school funding by 2 percent in the coming year, amounting to an additional $126 for every student in Minnesota. In Rochester, that would amount to $2.7 million for the 17,562 students they serve.
Rep. Liebling is the DFL Lead on the House Committee on Health and Human Services Reform. Rep. Liebling can be contacted by email at rep.tina.liebling@house.mn or phone at 651-296-7173.
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