The release of Governor Mark Dayton’s budget plan calls for $373 million for E-12 education. While that represents 56 percent of the projected ongoing surplus revenue, it is closer to 15 percent of all new state revenue when considering state revenues are projected to grow 6.4 percent or $2.5 billion over the next biennium. Learn more about the Governor’s Budget Plan. … Read More
Governor's Plan Budget Battle Lines Being Drawn
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Affairs Governor Mark Dayton’s release of his 2016-17 budget plan last Tuesday has set the stage for the budget battle that will consume the remainder of the 2015 session. The public’s role — our role — in this process is going to fade sooner than we know it. Now is the time to engage … Read More
Governor Releases Education Plan
Governor Dayton released his proposed budget for the FY 16-17 biennium that would invest $343 million in education. Here’s a look inside the Governor’s plan for education: An increase to the general education formula by 1 percent in each year of the biennium, for a total cost of $174.4 million. Providing $109 million to expand four-year old preschool across the state. The Governor’s plan … Read More
Senate Bill to Fix Facility Fallout in 2015
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action A bill presented at the Senate E-12 Committee meeting on Thursday would fix the facility fallout by phasing in the Alternative Facilities levy authority for the more than 300 districts currently not eligible for it. Existing deferred maintenance and Health and Safety programs and revenues would be phased out as the new … Read More
Thanks for Visiting MREA at MSBA
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the MREA booth at the MSBA Leadership Conference last week. Representatives from 65 MREA member schools visited with MREA Board members Luther Heller, Todd Holthaus, Marvin Kleven, Chris Mills, Patty Stangl, and Mike Vasek at the booth and at the Regional Center Advisory Committee meeting. Members shared how much they are looking forward to the Annual Conference next … Read More
Legislature Takes on Education Hot Topics
By Sam Walseth, MREA Director of Legislative Action This week the House and Senate Education committees are reviewing proposed legislation on the topics of early childhood education, school facilities and technology. Early Childhood Senate E-12 on Wednesday morning will review SF 6 calling for state reimbursement to schools providing four-year old preschool education. Later that day the House Education Finance … Read More
MREA Testifies Before Senate E-12 on Key Issues
The newly merged Senate E-12 & Policy committee met last Thursday and took testimony from about 30 different organizations representing a wide variety of education interests. MREA Director of Legislative ActionSam Walseth was among the first to testify and asked the committee to go big on an E-12 investment this year. Walseth noted the budget forecast indicates that Health & … Read More
89th Minnesota Legislature Convenes Tuesday
By Sam Walseth, MREA Legislative Affairs Director The Minnesota Legislature at noon on Tuesday will convene their first meeting of the 2015-16 biennial session. Tuesday’s session is a ceremonial day and includes a swearing in of the House members as they accept their election certificates after winning in the November election. The Senate will also convene the new session, but … Read More
MREA Releases Map on Facility Maintenance Funding Disparity
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 … Read More