The Facility Task Force has identified issues of concern surrounding facility funding. One that’s been highlighted is the inequity that has grown between the 25 districts qualifying for the alternative facilities bonding program and the more than 300 who done don’t. The inequities have grown so large that these 25 spend $2.79 per square foot and all the other districts only $0.58. Districts with fewer than 1,000 students spend $0.45. MREA has released an interactive map on this issue. A thumbnail of the map is below. View the interactive map.
Alternative Facilities Bonding was initially a carve-out for Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth because of their size and the age of their schools. Because they had over 1,850,000 square feet, they would alternately bond rather than participate in the Health and Safety program. With every succeeding session, more and more districts have clamored to get into the program and now 25 districts can update their buildings without voter approval.
“New Cross-Subsidy”
When Commissioner Brenda Casselius welcomed the 15 members of the Facility Task Force charged with redesigning facilities funding, she described their work as “unfinished business” and critical to this state because facilities have become “the new cross-subsidy.” The term cross-subsidy originally described how inadequate levels of special education funding required districts to use their general fund to subsidize those unfunded mandates.
With increased safety needs, deteriorating buildings, as well as adapting spaces for younger learners, districts are more and more pressed to subsidize these costs as well. Get Vernae Hasbargen’s view of this issue.
How bold will the task force go?
One of the key players at the table is Senator LeRoy Stumpf, the former chair of E-12 who now heads the Capital Investment Committee. Stumpf thinks too many districts postpone routine maintenance because they are required to get voter approval while cities and counties aren’t.
Another member of the task force is Windom Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt. Having come from South Dakota, he is a strong voice urging the task force not to tweak, but to think bigger and redesign facilities funding entirely. So far the task force has taken him up on this. Get Sam Walseth’s take on this issue.
Learn more…
1. Follow the task force in the MREA Updates.
2. Check out the task force page on MDE website for up to date information.
3. Connect with one of the four MREA member school districts that have members of the task force:
- Ann Pate, Task Force Co-Chair, Wadena-Deer Creek Board Member
- Earl Athman, Business Manager, Pierz
- Peter Nelson, Board Treasurer, St. Peter
- Wayne Wormstadt, Superintendent, Windom