Neighbors, This is an exciting time as students and teachers head back to the classroom. My kids, like many of yours, have already begun. This year there are several new reasons to anticipate the new school year: - Free breakfast and lunch for all student saving families hundreds of dollars annually.
- Better access to mental health services by helping districts hire more school counselors, psychologists, nurses, and social workers.
- Record funding for local school districts to ease reliance on property taxes as a funding source.
- $42 million in additional state funding for area schools.
- More prekindergarten opportunities to help our youngest learners get a great start in life.
I wish a successful school year to all students, families, and teachers!  Storm Damage AssistanceMany of you may have sustained damage from recent area storms. It is important to know where to turn if you need help. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has a Disaster Response Guide to help walk you through next steps. Rochester legislators celebrate delivery of support to local nursing facilities State Representatives Tina Liebling, Andy Smith and I announced on August 1, local nursing facilities received a significant amount of new state funding as part of a bipartisan agreement to stabilize a sector of the economy facing financial hardship. We released this joint statement: “Well-staffed and accessible nursing facilities play a critical role in health care for Minnesotans. The state reimburses nursing facilities for their costs, but workforce shortages and other post-pandemic conditions have made it difficult for some to keep up. We are pleased to provide additional financial support to help the facilities recover from the pandemic, and to support their hardworking and dedicated staffs.” Of these initial investments, $1,651,012 has been delivered to Rochester nursing facilities on August 1, including: - $208,896 to Rochester West Health Services
- $335,416 to Rochester East Health Services
- $237,012 to Madonna Towers of Rochester
- $275,169 to Maple Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation
- $369,557 to Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth
- $224,962 to Rochester Rehab and Living Center
In addition, the same amount will be delivered to each facility on August 1, 2024. In the CommunityAugust has been busy in the district. Here are a few photos from some of the events I participated in this month: Sen. Liz Boldon and I attended a back-to-school event. We also toured Channel One Regional Food Bank and Food Shelf. I attended a celebration of investments in the City of Rochester, a community conversation around homelessness and housing, and participated in a hospitality panel to discuss the 2023 legislative session.  Stay Connected with the LegislatureDuring the legislative interim, please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page,and follow me on Twitter. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Kim Hicks State Representative |