ST. PAUL – State Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, has authored a bill which provides additional grant funding and resources to improve safety for students and staff at Minnesota’s schools.
Kresha’s bill (H.F. 579) provides an additional $18 per pupil for school districts, and $18 per pupil in new funding for charter schools. The bill also provides $7.50 per pupil for school district cooperatives in Greater Minnesota.
“We owe it to our children to ensure our schools provide a safe environment in which they can learn and grow,” Kresha said. “The bill I have authored is multi-faceted to help us make improvements in a wide range of areas, from enhancing security at school buildings to expanding suicide-prevention efforts. The bill I have authored is a comprehensive plan that helps us meet challenges our schools face that have not been fully addressed and I look forward to working with members from both sides to bring this legislation through the process this session.”
Some components in Kresha’s bill are similar to measures the Legislature approved in an education package last year, only to be vetoed by then-Gov. Mark Dayton. For example, the bill provides school districts with the flexibility to use facilities maintenance revenue for physical security upgrades, and communications.
Safe Schools Revenue is $43 million for the 2020-21 biennium, plus $2 million for physical security audit grants, $400,000 for school resource officer training grants, and $273,000 for suicide prevention teacher training.
A hearing is not yet scheduled for Kresha’s bill.
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