Home > News & Events > 2009 News > 2004-2008 News	Print View

A recent study conducted by Minnesota 2020 says many Minnesota public school district superintendents think state funding is inadequate, and if it continues to decline, the quality of education will decline with it.

The survey was given to 321 superintendents in the state in December and January. More than half responded and 66 percent of them agreed that state underinvestment is dragging down the quality of education.

“I’m surprised it’s as low as 66 percent,” said David Pace, superintendent of East Grand Forks Public Schools. “About 95 percent of districts in the state have additional funding levies. That should say something in itself.”

The East Grand Forks School Board, along with many other boards in the state, presented a referendum to voters in November that would increase the levy to provide an additional $600 per student. It passed, and next year it will bring in $800,000. The district had a headcount of 1,719 in February, the lowest figure for the month since the early 1980s.

The 2006 per student levy average in Minnesota was $796 and has been at a steady increase since 2001, when the per-student average plunged to $357 from $666 in 2000. Minnesota 2020’s survey found that most superintendents think the levy soon will top $1,500 per student.

More than 99 percent of districts have seen state aid decreases since 2003, resorting to layoffs and program cuts in districts without additional funding levies.

“It’s a snowball effect,” Pace said. “School districts have to cut back when they don’t have the funding.

“Our concern is how the legislature is going to balance the budget for this fiscal year,” he added.

The state now provides districts with 90 percent of their budgets in the current year and holds 10 percent to be given to the districts the next fiscal year. If there is a funding formula shift, the districts will get significantly less money in the current year.

“They’ve gone down to only giving 77 percent in the current year before,” Pace said. “That makes a big difference. If you delay our payment, we don’t have the money to make our payments and we have to ask for it elsewhere.”

A funding formula shift is not inevitable, but it is a possibility. Lobbyists have heard talk of a 10 percent shift, which would impact East Grand Forks Schools and all Minnesota districts greatly.

“You hate to say it’s coming, but you have to think realistically,” Pace said.

If a sizeable shift does happen in the near future and additional funding referendums cannot keep up, districts would­­ have to resort to selling tax anticipation bonds until those needed funds come in, Pace suspected.

Minnesota 2020 concluded from its survey that referendums should not be the main funding source for school districts because they divide communities and were originally planned for extra funding. Instead, the state should provide adequate funding for its schools, the group said.

The legislature is working to reform education funding, but Minnesota 2020 says the change needs to happen now, and the group wants it either this year or in 2009, saying schools will continue to suffer until it is fixed.

Gibson reports on education. Reach her at (701) 787-6754; (800) 477-6572, ext. 754; or lgibson@gfherald.com.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=69632