MASA... "At the Capitol" w/ Charlie.... Final negotiations

A report on the work of the Minnesota Legislature as it enters the final couple of weeks of the session. Written by Charlie Kyte, Executive Director, to the members of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA).

The podcast above is 7 minutes long.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS TO 'WIND DOWN'

There are just over 2 weeks left in the session. The education bills are being finalized, but there is some question if they will be signed by the Governor. See below.

EDUCATION FINANCE BILL IS PART OF THE LARGER FINANCE BILL

K-12 Education is a part of the larger finance bill and the legislative leaders and the Governors staff are still negotiating a possible agreement. It is still too early to tell if an agreement will be reached or if a Bill, without the Governors approval, is sent to him by the legislature. If the later happens, it will be a 'dare' to the Governor to veto the whole Bill and then have him use the un-allotment process at a later time.

A governor cannot veto budget cuts, so line item vetoes aren't likely in this particular case. This finance bill is about cut backs, not increases.

EDUCATION POLICY BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES AND IS READY FOR CONFERENCING

We may see the conference committee beginning it's work this evening. Not only do the Senate and House need to come together, but they also need to work with the MDE/ Governors staff on several controversial items. One of these is the new language on school report cards. The MDE especially objects to the language in the House version of the Bill on the report cards.

HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY BILL AMENDMENTS

The House passed their version of the K-12 Policy Bill on Monday night and there were several interesting amendments added. ONe gives all Charter School students access to all sports and activity programs in the traditional public schools. Another requires comprehensive sex education fro 7-12 grade students. Another ends Minnesota's participation in NCLB. One other removes a school districts ability to non-renew a probationary teacher if the required evaluations are not completed.

Of course these and other differences in the House and Senate Bills must be reconciled. Either both the Senate and House conferees agree, or the language is not included in the final Bills.

PENSION BILL.... MAY BE LAST BILL CONSIDERED

This may be the last Bill passed in this session and would probably be signed by the Governor if no significant changes are made to it on the trip thru the legislative bodies on the way to the Governor's office. We will be watching this BIll closely in the next 2 weeks. there is more about the pension bill on the audio pod cast.