A voice for the have-nots

The ECM editorial board has published its opinion on my letter to Governor Tim Pawlenty and the state of funding in Minnesota. It is entitled "Parents with kids in have-not school districts need to stand up for kids’ equal education" and you can read it here. Here's an excerpt:

Henton pointed out there are have and have-not districts because some receive more dollars from the state, and property-rich districts are able to pass special levy referendums.

The school funding mechanism is inequitable and needs to be fixed, she said, citing her own district where operating funds per student in 2008 was $8,136.

Compare that to Minneapolis which had total operating fund aids and levies per student of $14,324, St. Paul, $12,199; Mounds View, $12,473, Wayzata, $12,047; Lakeville, $9589 and Elk River, $9,572.

In other words, funding for a student in North Branch was $6,198 less than for a student in Minneapolis.

Compared to a student in suburban Mounds View, a North Branch student received $4,337 less total operating fund revenues.

Please read it all and share the link with anyone you know who cares about education and North Branch Area Public Schools.

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