Eden Prairie, MN— Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, issued the following statement regarding recent news that the Eden Prairie School District is receiving $275,000 in school safety grant funding for the Lower Campus. The Lower Campus contains the Community Education Center where Little Eagles Preschool classes are held. Last session, Rep. Loon authored a comprehensive package of initiatives to help schools make safety improvements, hire more school counselors, and address student mental health. The funding awarded to the Eden Prairie School District was part of a $25 million grant program for physical safety improvements to schools that was spearheaded by Rep. Loon. Loon's proposal was contained in the capital investment bill approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Dayton during the 2018 legislative session. The Minnesota Department of Education formally announced all of the grant allocations in a news release.
“As chair of the House Education Finance Committee, it is a privilege to advocate for issues important to students, educators, schools and families. After providing significant increases in education funding for our schools in 2017, this year we focused on student and school safety, and meaningful ways we could help improve the school environment, address student mental health, and give schools the flexibility to do what works best for them,” said Rep. Loon. “I am pleased that the Eden Prairie School District was awarded this important grant, and I will continue to champion measures for the health and safety of Eden Prairie's children and schools, as well as all others across the state of Minnesota.”