Education Minnesota says fix school funding

Pioneer Press Sat, 03 May 2008 15:52:09 -0600
Public schools need stable, equitable funding
[from commentary by Tom Dooher, president of Education Minnesota, the union of 70,000 educators.

State funding for public education has become inequitable, unpredictable and insufficient. The situation is unsustainable. ... Education Minnesota's position on funding has been clear and consistent. We believe public education funding must be: # Equitable. The quality of a child's education cannot be determined by his or her ZIP code. All Minnesota children deserve a world-class education. # Sustainable. It must come from stable sources that we can count on. # Predictable. It must be able to withstand inevitable downturns in the economy. # Sufficient. It must provide the resources to meet defined expectations for our schools and our students. Minnesotans know the consequences of failing to support schools. Last year, record numbers of school districts had to ask voters for operating money, not just money for "extras." This spring, it looks as if more than 1,000 teachers as well as other educators will be cut in Minnesota schools. That means higher class sizes and fewer academic opportunities for students next fall. Please join Minnesota's educators in advocating for predictable, sufficient, equitable public education. Working together, Minnesotans can rebuild a sustainable public education funding system.

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