Dear Neighbors,
I hope those of you with school-aged children enjoy your spring breaks this year! I know some schools in our area have already had their breaks and Minnetonka’s is still yet to come. Enjoy the time off, recharge your batteries, and get ready for the final push to summer!
Also, a big thank you to everyone in Mound that came out to my latest Coffee with Constituents event last weekend. We had a great turnout and discussed the issues and concerns that matter most to you in Your Backyard. Keep an eye on my Facebook page and your email inbox for the next event.
Thanks for coming out to last week's Coffee with Constituents in Mound!
Funding Education
Our communities value the importance of a good education and the critical role it plays in preparing students for a bright and successful future. As the father of four school-aged children, I understand how important it is to have good schools.
That’s why I have had countless meetings with education professionals in our communities to learn about the challenges they’re facing and what policies we can adopt at the state level to help them succeed. Listening and learning from our superintendents, principals, school board members, teachers, staff, and more has helped me draft legislation that fully funds special education in Minnesota.
I am disappointed that Gov. Walz’s education budget proposal fails to fully fund special education. By not listening to the needs of our education professionals we are making their lives much more difficult. Adopting my proposal would make sure that school districts get the funding they need to put dollars directly into classrooms, help recruit and retain teachers, paraprofessionals, and more.
Thanks to the Minnetonka School Board for stopping by this week!
Thank you, Principal Kari Wehrmann from Wayzata Public Schools, for stopping by to help me create policies that will support our schools, staff, teachers, parents and students in Your Backyard and Minnesota.
Protecting Your Backyard
The opioid epidemic has had significant impacts on communities across Minnesota, including right here in your backyard. That’s why I am supportive of legislation that increases criminal penalties for the illegal possession and sale of fentanyl.
Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Deaths due to opioids have skyrocketed in recent years with 978 Minnesotans passing away in 2021.
In addition to stricter penalties, this legislation would also require law enforcement officers to carry at least 2 opioid antagonists (Naloxone, etc.) while on duty.
Legislation like this bridges divides in St. Paul as all of us work to make sure our communities are safe from these dangerous drugs.
Additionally, I signed onto a bill last month that provides schools with resources to upgrade and install comprehensive, multifaceted security systems in schools. Students, parents, and teachers should not have to wonder if their school is equipped and prepared for an emergency.
Staying in Touch
Thank you Council-member Jennifer Caron and City Administrator Kristi Luger for your testimony this week in support of legislation supporting Excelsior!
If you plan on being in St. Paul sometime soon, I encourage you to reach out to my office to set up a time to meet and chat! It is always my goal to be as responsive as possible to the needs and priorities of you and Your Backyard.
Please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-9188 or via email at rep.andrew.myers@house.mn.gov.
Have a great day,
Andrew