This is a report to the members of the MN Association of School Administrators (MASA) from Charlie Kyte, Executive Director.
Above is a 5 minute audio podcast and a 4 minute video that provides another medium to view the information below.
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS MOVING SLOWLY. MUCH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE BUDGET
Until legislative leaders are able to see the ramifications of the Federal Stimulus package and the February State Budget Forecast, it is hard for them to begin to put together a plan to set the budget for the next biennium. Once the process begins to move, it is going to be ugly both from a monetary and from a political standpoint.
We don't think Districts should count on any (net) new money for the next 2 years.
KEY DATES:
Governor's Budget................. About February 15
Federal Stimulus approved......... About February 18
New state budget forecast......... About March 1
POLICY ISSUES:
Mandate Repeal Process:
MASA, along with several other associations identified about 100 mandates that we felt could be repealed. We did this in response to pleas from legislators who asked us to show them how they could help school districts have more flexibility to operate. It comes as no surprise that the response from legislators has been timid at best.
So far only a few of the less objectionable mandates are finding there way into Bills. Legislators don't want to upset any of their perceived friends and will rather opt to leave school districts 'hamstrung' under the whole pile of mandates. Once we see the size of the budget deficit in 3 weeks, maybe there attitude will change a bit.
11th Grade Math GRAD Tests:
There seems to be general agreement on a short term solution that would change the requirement away from denying a student from graduating if they don't pass the 11th grade math test. The Bills to fix this are hung up because some parties want the Bills to include a complete plan for future testing.
MASA's position is that we need the revised plan for the testing to be passed now so that students, teachers and parents know what they are up against when the students take this test for the first time in April.
New idea to accelerate students in HS and provide college scholarships:
This new Bill has just been introduced. It would reward students taking college courses in HS with college scholarships. We are still analyzing this idea.
FEDERAL STIMULUS PASSES SENATE
There are 2 versions of the federal stimulus Bill. One past the US House of Representatives that includes money for special education, Title I and for school construction. The Senate version has special education and Title I funding, but no school construction funds.
In the next few days the two bodies will resolve the differences in conference committee. We hope some school construction money can be included in the final stimulus Law.
PLEASE APPROVE THE NCLB REAUTHORIZATION RESOLUTION
MASA sent every Superintendent a sample resolution that we are asking school boards to adopt. So far 10 Districts have notified us that they adopted the resolution. We would like to have 300 Districts approve the resolution by April 1 so that our Federal Advocacy group can bring it to Washington and present it to members of Congress.
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