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An education perspective at the close of another legislative session
A Message from Dr. Don Helmstetter, Superintendent
One of the challenges of being a leader of a publicly-funded institution, such as our public schools, is that it is very difficult to communicate to the public for any length of time without having to raise concerns about revenue gaps or shortfalls.
I don’t want to have to say it, you don’t want to hear it.
This is particularly vexing for me, in light of our school district’s successful passage of a major, far-reaching bond referendum just over a year ago. Nevertheless, nearly 85 percent of our district’s revenue is based solely on the number of students who attend our schools and over 92 percent of the revenue per student is determined by the state legislature and governor.
Because of this, it is impossible to have a meaningful conversation about school district programs and achievements without also discussing the progress, or lack thereof, of the recent legislative session. To be sure, education was considered a top priority during this session. A large portion of the bills introduced this year were related to education, including funding for all-day kindergarten, an annual funding increase on the basic education formula, and additional funding for early education programs. Some of these objectives were met including another much talked about issue facing public schools—funding for special education.
The governor, as well as leaders in the House and the Senate, agreed that there has been a $500 million gap between what was promised for special education and what has been provided in the past. While the education bill did not fully close that gap, it did provide $330 million statewide to cover about 60 percent of the shortfall. In addition, the bill provides a two percent increase the first year on the basic formula and a one percent increase the following year.
The effort on the part of many to fully fund all-day kindergarten fell far short of its objective and leaves schools with very little additional revenues upon which to make any changes. The bill only provides 10 percent of the funding necessary to fully fund all-day kindergarten. Families and advocates for funding all-day kindergarten appreciate the gesture and good intentions, but realize that there is no likelihood of significant modifications to present programs as a result.
The bill does provide additional technology for schools in one-time money for upgrades and additional equipment. Spring Lake Park School District has an annual growth rate of about 3.5 percent. That’s the rate at which fixed costs, such as salaries and benefits, heating, maintenance, transportation, and other expenses grow from one year to the next. This rate is one of the lowest in the entire metro area, and it reflects the responsibility of the district toward its taxpayers, as well as its dedicated and hard-working employees.
The district constantly monitors and assesses all programs and costs, and continually makes prudent modifications to those programs and costs. That same experience occurs in big business as well, and our school district, with its $38 million annual budget, is certainly big business. The two percent increase on the foundation aid formula for all school districts for the coming year will be, for most Minnesota school districts, far short of the desired and necessary revenue to maintain present programs.
It will be difficult for this district as well.
However, the less than one percent increase in the formula for the following year, will again put school districts in a program-cutting mode or levy referendum situation. The limited amount of revenue projected for the second year will leave our school district nearly a million dollars short of a balanced budget, unless we, too, make program modifications. It has been just five years since we last asked the voters for an operating levy, and at that time we also promised that we would be vigilant stewards of taxpayer dollars.
I believe that we have done just that.
In addition, we have made our process one of the most transparent, credible processes in the entire state. For that we take great pride. On the other hand, we have always emphasized that what we need from the state is both adequate and consistent funding. The state, with its many special interests, has had to balance its own budget and, consequently, provided only minimal, measured increases to state programs, including education.
Therein lies the rub—when the state can’t or doesn’t provide an adequate and consistent revenue stream to its constitutionally mandated public schools, local school districts must go to its local populace and with them, determine the extent and the quality of its existent programs. As economic times get tougher, so does the discussion of public schools. The purpose of this column is not to begin the discussion or the debate, but rather to remind taxpayers, and legislators, that just a few short months ago, education was the top priority for voters in Minnesota as they elected their legislators and governor.
In January, when the legislative session began, it still remained the top priority. That’s because the governor and legislators recognized that schools had been under-funded and needed additional revenues to maintain or enhance programs, and to help schools catch up from previous years when revenues were less than what was needed. Our school district will not be one of the districts that needs to seek an operating levy in the fall, and for that we are all grateful. However, I cringe when I think of some of the discussion that will occur in the districts which do have to seek an operating levy this fall and for justifiable and legitimate reasons.
In fact, Anoka-Hennepin School District, our good neighbor to the north, is attempting to renew an operating levy that is already in place and due to expire. We have made good things happen in our school district, and as superintendent, I take pride in the tremendous effort of the community and of our staff in these accomplishments.
Learners of all abilities and of all ages are reaching, and even exceeding their levels of expectations, and their parents and other taxpayers can feel satisfied and proud that their dollars are being well-spent. The facilities improvements that have begun and will continue for the next few years give our public a tangible and visible reminder of progress now and for the future.
For all that, we thank our elected officials for their level of support.
It isn’t easy to make thousands of decisions each year that affect millions of lives. We recognize that when we feel the pressure locally for continued academic improvement and continued fiscal vigilance, that’s when it’s most important to continue to inform and to have conversations with our constituents, so they recognize our challenging, rewarding, and never-ending purpose of High expectations. High achievement for all. No excuses.
Thanks for listening.
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