The Henton Headlines

The Henton Headlines: April 27, 2023

THE HENTON HEADLINES
April 27, 2023
Here’s the scoop for the week

House Names Conferees:

Leadership for the House has named the representatives who will serve on the education conference committee. They are as follows:

• House Education Finance Chair Representative Cheryl Youakim (D) 
• House Education Finance Vice-Chair Mary Frances Clardy (D)
• House Education Finance Policy Committee Chair Laurie Pryor (D)
• House Education Finance Policy Committee Vice-Chair Representative Josiah Hill (D)
• House Education Finance Committee Representative Ron Kresha (R)

The Senate had not named their conferees as of this writing.

The conference committee will reconcile the Senate Omnibus and House Omnibus bills into one bill which will then go to the floors of both houses for a vote. If successful, the bill will go to the governor for his consideration. 

Leadership Matters!

“Trust has two dimensions: competence and integrity. We can forgive mistakes of competence. Mistakes of integrity are harder to overcome.” - Simon Sinek

Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar

May	Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Military Appreciation Month, National Mental Health Awareness Month
May 1	School Principal's Day
May 1	MASA/MSHSL Executive Officer Meeting
May 5	School Lunch Hero Day
May 6	National Nurses Day
May 8-12	Teacher Appreciation Week
May 9	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
May 12	School Communicators Day
May 16	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 7 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
May 25	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
June 13	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
June 14	MASA Master Class: Understanding State Aid: Equalization, Ag2School and more | 10 - 11 am | Virtual | Registration coming soon!
June 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 1 - 2:30 pm | Virtual
June 20	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 8 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
August 8	Save the date! MDE Back to School Conference | Minneapolis Marriott NW, Brooklyn Park
October 8-10	MASA Fall Conference | DECC, Duluth, MN

The Henton Headlines: April 20, 2023

THE HENTON HEADLINES
April 20, 2023
Here’s the scoop for the week

What Does Hattie say about Reducing Class Size and the influence on student achievement?

Given the discussion about class size at the legislature this session and the MASA Action Alert request on Monday, Dr. Debbra Marcotte, Executive Director of the Hiawatha Valley Education District, shared the following links with me. I recommend opening them for new information you can use, or a quick review if you are already familiar with what John Hattie’s research reveals.

Hattie effect size list - 256 Influences Related To Achievement Reducing class size ranks at 186 out of 252.

https://visible-learning.org/2022/01/hatties-barometer-of-influence-infographic/

Action Alert Results:

Members of both MASBO and MASA received an action alert on Monday to contact their legislators regarding the changes to PELRA and the unemployment insurance unfunded mandate. The result? Almost 1000 emails have been sent to senators and representatives. THANK YOU! 

These letters, signed by the statewide education organizations, were sent this week to Senate Education Finance Chair Kunesh, and House Education Finance Chair Youakim. Feel free to share with your school boards and to use them as talking points for your advocacy efforts.We need all hands on deck.

From AASA: Jed Foundation Focus Group Opportunity:

AASA information on this opportunity follows:

“Want to play a part in helping to design better systems of mental health support for K-12 students? 

AASA and Jed Foundation Focus Group Opportunity are looking for K-12 superintendents, principals, teachers, and school mental health staff to share their experience with student mental health. 

Your participation will help inform evidence-based, first-of-its-kind programming for improved and sustainable mental health support for students” 

Leadership Matters!

Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar

April	World Autism Awareness Month | Financial Literacy Month (#MySavingsStory #FinancialLiteracyMonth #FinLitMonth) | Counseling Awareness Month (#CounselorsHelp) | School Library Month | National Internship Awareness Month | Mathematics Awareness Month | National Volunteer Month
April 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
April 25	Leading with Excellence and Equity, Part 2
April 26	MASA Master Class: Why Prioritizing Educator Mental Health is Critical to School Culture and Student Success | Noon - 1 pm | Virtual | Registration & Full Info
April 27	Great Start Cohort #7 | Quora Education Center
May 1	MASA/MSHSL Executive Officer Meeting
May 9	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
May 16	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 7 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
May 25	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
June 13	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
June 14	MASA Master Class: Understanding State Aid: Equalization, Ag2School and more | 10 - 11 am | Virtual | Registration coming soon!
June 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 1 - 2:30 pm | Virtual
June 20	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 8 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
August 8	Save the date! MDE Back to School Conference | Minneapolis Marriott NW, Brooklyn Park
October 8-10	MASA Fall Conference | DECC, Duluth, MN

The Henton Headlines: April 13, 2023

THE HENTON HEADLINES
April 13, 2023
Here’s the scoop for the week

Recommended reading: PELSB Rulemaking Changes

The following are among the changes announced on Monday, April 10:

• Short call substitutes may now replace a teacher or vacancy for up to 20 days;
• Posting requirements for Out of Field Permissions reduced if teacher meets certain requirements
• Middle level licenses available to those from other states if the candidates meet certain requirements.

Read more here!

Have Questions about Universal Free Meals?

MDE has released an FAQ that you might find useful. Go to Free School Meals for Kids Program and click on FAQ.

Please check the FAQ often for updates. MDE staff will continue to update the list!

Leadership Matters!

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar

April	World Autism Awareness Month | Financial Literacy Month (#MySavingsStory #FinancialLiteracyMonth #FinLitMonth) | Counseling Awareness Month (#CounselorsHelp) | School Library Month | National Internship Awareness Month | Mathematics Awareness Month | National Volunteer Month
April 13	MASA Women's Leadership Network | 9 - 10 am | Register
April 13	MASA Foundation Board Meeting | Quora Education Center | 11 am - 1 pm
April 18	Leading with Excellence and Equity, Virtual Session
April 19	MASA Executive Development Committee Meeting | Virtual
April 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
April 25	Leading with Excellence and Equity, Part 2
April 26	MASA Master Class: Why Prioritizing Educator Mental Health is Critical to School Culture and Student Success | Noon - 1 pm | Virtual | Registration coming soon!
April 27	Great Start Cohort #7 | Quora Education Center
May 1	MASA/MSHSL Executive Officer Meeting
May 9	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
May 16	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 7 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
May 25	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
June 13	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
June 14	MASA Master Class: Understanding State Aid: Equalization, Ag2School and more | 10 - 11 am | Virtual | Registration
June 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 1 - 2:30 pm | Virtual
June 20	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 8 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
August 8	Save the date! MDE Back to School Conference | Minneapolis Marriott NW, Brooklyn Park
October 8-10	MASA Fall Conference | DECC, Duluth, MN

The Henton Headlines: April 6, 2023

THE HENTON HEADLINES
April 6, 2023
Here’s the scoop for the week

It Bears Repeating!

A number of you may have missed information shared in the Headlines last week and are not aware of some key points regarding what has not been included in the Omnibus Budget Bills released by both Houses. 

Please note that the $25 minimum wage, class size ratios, and additional prep time for all teachers (there is additional prep time for special education paperwork) are not included in either Omnibus Budget Bill.

You are encouraged to continue advocating for the following:

• Future formula increases linked to inflation

• The House omnibus bill ties future formula increases to inflation capped at 3% along with a formula increase of 4% and 2%. This is the Governor’s proposal as well. 
• The Senate omnibus bill does not tie future formula increases to inflation and the formula increase is 4% and 5%. 
• Tying the formula to inflation has been included in MASA’s platform for quite some time and that of the other major education organizations.

• The elimination of the EL and Special Education cross-subsidies

• The Governor’s bill and both omnibus bills have reductions to the EL and Special Education cross-subsidies over time. We may only be able to get a reduction in both cross-subsidies.
• The House bill has an eventual elimination of the EL cross-subsidy. 
• MASA’s platform along with that of the other major education organizations calls for the elimination of these cross-subsidies.

• No changes to the terms and conditions of employment

• Specifically, we are opposed to requiring school districts to negotiate class size, the testing calendar and student to teacher ratios. 
• These are managerial rights and it must be the decision of the school board as to whether or not they want to negotiate class size and/or student to teacher ratios.

• Full funding of unemployment insurance

• Both Houses have levy neutral targets meaning that school districts will not be able to use their unemployment levy for the increased cost of covering employees beginning this summer who would qualify for unemployment insurance under the proposals. 
• They also did not provide additional aid to cover these costs as was originally included in the Governor’s budget recommendations.

We still have seven weeks to go in the session, so stay tuned!

Leadership Matters!

Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar

April	World Autism Awareness Month | Financial Literacy Month (#MySavingsStory #FinancialLiteracyMonth #FinLitMonth) | Counseling Awareness Month (#CounselorsHelp) | School Library Month | National Internship Awareness Month | Mathematics Awareness Month | National Volunteer Month
April 11	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
April 11	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 6 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
April 13	MASA Women's Leadership Network | 9 - 10 am | Register
April 13	MASA Foundation Board Meeting | Quora Education Center | 11 am - 1 pm
April 18	Leading with Excellence and Equity, Virtual Session
April 19	MASA Executive Development Committee Meeting | Virtual
April 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
April 25	Leading with Excellence and Equity, Part 2
April 26	MASA Master Class: Why Prioritizing Educator Mental Health is Critical to School Culture and Student Success | Noon - 1 pm | Virtual | Registration coming soon!
April 27	Great Start Cohort #7 | Quora Education Center
May 1	MASA/MSHSL Executive Officer Meeting
May 9	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
May 16	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 7 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
May 25	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 9-10:30 am | Virtual
June 13	BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting | 7:30 - 8:30 am | Virtual
June 14	MASA Master Class: Understanding State Aid: Equalization, Ag2School and more | 10 - 11 am | Virtual | Registration coming soon!
June 20	MASA Instructional Leadership Network | 1 - 2:30 pm | Virtual
June 20	Professional Dialogue with Dr. Brenda Cassellius | Session 8 | 9 - 10 am | Virtual
August 8	Save the date! MDE Back to School Conference | Minneapolis Marriott NW, Brooklyn Park
October 8-10	MASA Fall Conference | DECC, Duluth, MN