The 2015 Annual Conference focuses on Great Beginnings: When Learning Starts Early, Inspires, & Applies with an excellent line up of general sessions and breakouts designed for teachers, administrators and school board members. Register a team of three for only $495 to attend the three-day conference by Aug. 7. The conference will be held from Nov. 15-17 at Cragun’s Resort on the Lake in … Read More
Long-Term Facility Maintenance: Fast Footwork Needed Ahead
The new Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) program to close funding disparities between the largest school districts and rural districts was among the major victories this past legislative session. To use this new authority now enacted in law, districts and facilities personnel need to work quickly this summer: The MDE should release soon a template for developing a 10-year facilities maintenance plan. The … Read More
Minnesota Ranked Tops for Business, Education
Minnesota was recently ranked No. 1 in the Top States for Business 2015 study by CNBC. Key to Minnesota’s ranking is its top ranking in education, according to CNBC. Minnesota ranked No. 2 in education. Each state was scored on more than 60 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. Educators and school board members across the state can take a bow, knowing their hard … Read More
ESEA Reauthorization Set for Tuesday
ESEA Reauthorization is set to be heard on the Senate Floor on July 7. The House and Senate both have bills out of committee and ready for the floor. Many amendments are expected, but each will take 60 votes to be adopted. Both the House and Senate have adopted a budget resolution and are moving through the appropriations process. The … Read More
MDE Releases Look Up Table on Impacts
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) just released the FY ’16 and ’17 runs and look up table based on the results of the 2015 special session signed education bill. MREA downloaded the report and makes it easily accessible here: View the impact on your school. School districts can see the financial impact the bill has on their respective districts by putting their … Read More
Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) Equalized Levy Webinar Now Available
More than 80 member superintendents and business managers joined on online meeting June 29 to learn about new levy legislation passed during the MN Legislature 2015 Special Session. MREA hosted the session on the new Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) board-authorized equalized levy. The meeting featured a great lineup of experts: Tom Melcher, MDE School Finance Division Greg Crowe, Ehlers, Inc. Mike Hoheisel, Robert W. Baird … Read More
Governor Signs E-12 Bill into Law
The special session of the Minnesota Legislature ended over the weekend and the Governor Dayton has signed all of the special session bills into law. The E-12 bill, now Chapter 3 of the 2015 Special Session (SS HF 1 for those who want to look it up) provides $525 million for E-12 schools over the next two years. View details by issue. Overall the … Read More
New, Improved E-12 Bill Unveiled
On Friday, a new and improved $525 million E-12 bill emerged for approval during an upcoming special session. This bill includes 2&2 on the formula, more money in existing early learning programs like scholarships and school readiness and a major expansion of American Indian Education funding. Statewide access to an equalized levy for deferred maintenance funding stayed in the final … Read More
Special Session Plans
On Friday, the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee held a joint hearing to review four bills that are paving the way to a special session. Included in this package of bills is the new and improved E-12 bill that contains $525 million in new spending on a variety of education initiatives over the next two years. The … Read More
Talks Continue: Universal Pre-K Dead
An agreement on the outstanding education issues is elusive after Gov. Mark Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt met four days in a row last week. One thing Gov. Dayton and Speaker Daudt agreed to quickly is that the Special Session would be held in the State Office Building. Several hearing rooms are large enough to hold each body, it is … Read More