February 29, 2008
Update for Feb. 25-29, 2008 — From Mary Cecconi, Executive Director
If this is your first update from Parents United, welcome!
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In This Issue
Hot Topics
At the Capitol
Next Week at the Capitol
Bills to Watch
What Can I Do?
List of Bills
Hot Topics
- Mark your calendar for Parent's United's 6th annual Parent Leadership Summit: Monday, April 7, 2008.
- Stay up-to-the-minute on Minnesota and national education news: Bookmark our website's News and Events page for easy access to the latest information.
What is happening at the Capitol?
I think it is critical for us to turn our attention to the actions brought to light with the override of the governor's veto on the transportation bill. We need to pay attention to the fact that the Republicans who voted to override the veto are being severely punished for this action.
Many of these long time veterans of the body have been stripped of their stature as lead Republicans of committees. This "lead" designation is not just to reward loyalty but to put in leadership positions those most knowledgeable about a particular issue. So to have Rep. Bud Heidgerken (R-Freeport), arguably one of the most passionate advocates rural schools have, stripped of his position does a great disservice to our kids and their schools.
These representatives are also being told that the Republican Party will not help in their re-election campaigns. It is in these campaigns that we often hear from candidates themselves of the need to reduce partisanship, to "cross the aisle" to get things done; but the punitive actions taken this week are meant to keep legislators "in line." This is the very definition of partisanship and creates an atmosphere of fear when what we need from our political leaders is courage.
Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-Edina) was quoted in the Star Tribune, "This is the way we get treated if we vote our districts and vote our consciences and vote our feeling that we are doing the right thing for the state."
This should alarm all of us. These representatives are supposed to be there for us, not for the Party. We need legislators like these folks if we are ever to break partisan gridlock. Imagine in the future if there were a vote to raise taxes for schools, how do you think representatives will act after witnessing these tactics from those in leadership?
No matter what you may think of the final outcome of the vote, I believe we need to thank these legislators who put the priorities of their constituents above the demands of their political party and I hope you will do just that for these courageous leaders. This is especially true if you are one of their constituents. A note of appreciation to them for putting the needs of Minnesotans above a partisan vote would go a long way right now.
I remember a quote about a republic getting the government it deserves. I hope we tell our elected officials loud and clear what kind of government we deserve.
In this issue
A Look Ahead at the Week of March 3
A daily schedule of hearings and agendas can be found here.
This next week promises to be very interesting -- definitely a good time to come and visit the Capitol if you are interested!
There are so many bills receiving hearings in this short session that keeping tight to a schedule is very difficult. If there is a particular bill that you are interested in hearing, you would be smart to check to see if the agenda for the scheduled meeting has changed.
On Monday in the Senate Education committee SF 3151 (Torres-Ray), a bill dealing with closing the achievement gap, and SF XXXX (Rummel), a bill dealing with implementing in statute language from Minnesota's Promise, will both be heard.
On Wednesday, March 5, the House K-12 Finance Division will hold a hearing on Education Funding. There will be parents, school board members and superintendents there to testify as to how the present funding of schools is not working for them. These districts will be from around the state. On Thursday, March 6, in the same committee, two bills will be heard to increase funding for schools: HF 2978 (Morgan) and HF 3601 (Greiling).
In this issue
Other Bills to Watch
HF 3329 Brynaert/SF 2882 Rummel companion bills (the same bill moving through both bodies--rather important if a bill is to finally make it into law) are bills dealing with changing the state report card.
SF 2815 Saxhaug
HF 3601 Greiling (see above)
HF 2978 Morgan (see above)/SF 3125 Saxhaug
Several funding bills are being heard and warrant some watching as they work through the system.
- If you have received this email and want to learn more about us, check our website and let us know if you have questions. If you are interested, check out our legislative platform.
- Also, the Minnesota School Boards Association hosts a lobby line which they update daily with legislative activity they see as pertinent to Minnesota schools. That number is 1-800-864-6722.
- If you are interested in tracking specific bills or in finding out more about the legislative education committees and when and where they meet, link to At the Capitol.
In this issue
What Can I Do?
1) Stay connected to this process. Consider sending a weekly email to your local legislators asking how things are going and if there is any thing you can do to help them keep education a priority this session. Many of you sent emails to your legislators and copied the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader and the Governor! This is great--we need a constant drumbeat on these issues.
2) Forward this email on to others who may be interested in the link between state policy and our local public schools.
3) Visit the Capitol! "Demystify the system" for yourself and others you may know. It is not as big or scary as you may think. Meet Mary Cecconi at the Capitol for an hour or a day, visit an education hearing and stop in to see your local legislators. Just call 651-214-6565 or email me.
"That the public understands that funding is the greatest problem facing the schools will have no practical significance unless we can find ways to translate this sentiment into better funding for schools. The day is gone when school people could concentrate on operating schools and leave others to take care of funding. School leaders, teachers, and parents have no choice but to become lobbyists for their schools. They are the best advocates for public schooling." -- from 39th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll
In this issue
Bills Scheduled to be Heard
Senate Education Committee
Bills scheduled to be heard:
SF 2804 (Rest-DFL-New Hope) Green Products in Schools
SF 2369 (Rest-DFL-New Hope) Coaching Background Checks
SF 2597 (Saltzman-DFL-Woodbury) Teacher Background Checks
SF 2988 (Olseen-DFL_Harris) Transporting Students, Licensure, Inspections
SF XXXX (Dibble-DFL-Minneapolis) Student Transportation Services Procedures and Standards
SF 3156 (Saltzman-DFL-Woodbury) Effective Literacy Instruction
SF XXXX (Bonoff-DFL-Minnetonka) Early Education Opportunities and Accountability
SF XXXX No Child Left Behind
SF 2882 (Rummel-DFL-White Bear Lake) School Report Card
SF 3157 (Saltzman-DFL-Woodbury) Library Media Specialist
SF 3001 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) MDE Policy and Technical Bill
SF 2773 (Pappas-DFL-St. Paul) Teacher Training in Rigorous Content
[SF 3001, SF 2773 were not heard]
Senate E-12 Education Budget Division
Bills scheduled to be heard:
SF 2394 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) School endowment fund technology use; permanent school fund subtraction elimination
SF 2422 (Wiger-DFL-North St. Paul) General education aid permanent school fund receipts deduction requirement repeal
SF 3125 (Saxhaug-DFL-Grand Rapids) Education and special education funding adjustment
Presentation: Minnesota's Promise
SF 2921 (Erickson-Ropes-DFL-Winona) Rushford Peterson cooperative facility grant bond issue and appropriation
In this issue
House E-12 Education Policy
Bills scheduled to be heard:
HF3329 (Brynaert-DFL-Mankato) Academic success state measures established.
HF3470 (Winkler-DFL-Golden Valley) Technology standards
HF2624 (Urdahl-R-Grove City) Teacher quality improvement task force established for effectively integrating secondary and postsecondary academic and career education.
HF2623 (Norton-DFL-Rochester) School district test results required to be provided by the state's testing contractor by the first week in May.
HF3472 (Mariani-DFL-St. Paul) High academic achievement for all students
HF2657 (Bigham-DFL-Cottage Grove) School boards required to seek information from prospective employees and the Board of Teaching about disciplinary actions against employees.
HF2782 (Bigham-DFL-Cottage Grove) K-12 athletic coaches required to undergo criminal history background check.
HF3203 (Dominguez-DFL-Minneapolis) Integration revenue program modified, goals strengthened, Department of Education program oversight increased, and integration revenue increased for certain districts.
HF2783 (Swails-DFL-Woodbury) P-20 education partnership established
HF2625 (Slocum-DFL-Richfield) P-16 statewide education partnerships required to include legislators
HF3181 (Benson-DFL-Minnetonka) Education provisions clarified, amended, and repealed, and state and district reporting systems analyzed.
HF3262 (Brynaert-DFL-Mankato) Alternative school start date provided for 2009 and 2010.
House K-12 Finance Division
Bills scheduled to be heard:
HF3206 (Rukavina-DFL-Virginia) School technology permanent funding source created, and fund endowment income distribution modified.
HF2981 (Carlson-DFL-Crystal) Intermediate school districts authorized to borrow in anticipation of revenue payments.
HF2650 (Brown-DFL-Austin) Principals' Leadership Institute money appropriated.
HF2559 (Brown-DFL-Austin) Wind energy production tax removed from county apportionment deduction for school districts.
HF2975 (Dittrich-DFL-Champlin) Permanent school fund subtraction eliminated.
HF2973 (Dittrich-DFL-Champlin) Permanent school fund subtraction eliminated, education funding simplified, and permanent school fund technology revenue dedicated.
HF3206 (Rukavina-DFL-Virginia) School technology permanent funding source created, and fund endowment income distribution modified
In this issue
Questions? Email Mary Cecconi
Parents United for Public Schools
1667 Snelling Avenue N., St. Paul, MN 55108
651-999-7391
www.parentsunited.org
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