Dear Neighbor,
As the new school year begins, I want to start this update by passing along some information regarding education funding in case you missed it in a recent newspaper column I submitted to publications in our region. Here it is:
The Legislature earlier this year approved a 2-percent increase in the basic formula, which amounts to $1.35 billion in additional funding, or about $245 more for each student enrolled in a public school in Minnesota. The most recent estimates available show that the Alexandria district will receive $1.76 million in new funding over the next two years. Albany is set to receive $729,000 in new funding, Melrose $723,000, and Minnewaska Area $555,000. Other schools in District 12B are Sauk Centre with $470,000 in new funding, and Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa with $276,000.
A major change is also set to take place in the area of teacher licensure. The Board of Teaching has been replaced by a new Professional Educator License and Standards Board. This restructuring comes after recommendations from the Legislative Auditor and a bipartisan group of legislators who met last year to discuss moving Minnesota toward tiered licensure. It’s hoped this new system will help alleviate the teacher shortage in parts of the state, especially here in Greater Minnesota. We have heard testimony over the years in the Education Committee about the difficulties of teachers from out of state wanting to come here and get their Minnesota license. This new system will still include a stringent set of guidelines for the new teaching tiers.
As for other legislative news, I was pleased to join members of the House Capital Investment Committee as they recently visited our district to review the site of a proposed Highway 55/Highway 29 rail grade separation project. We discussed how the proposal would improve safety and alleviate traffic wait times in the area. Competition for bonding dollars always is strong, but it was a positive visit from the committee and this project will be on the radar as discussions continue in preparation for assembling a bonding package for the 2018 session.
Stay tuned as things develop in the upcoming months. Until next time, please be extra careful behind the wheel now that school is back in session and more farm equipment also will be out on the roads as we make our way into fall harvest season. Let’s give those buses and implements some extra room.
Sincerely,
Paul