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Please reach out to Governor Walz, House Education Policy Chair Youakim and Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Chair Nelson and encourage them not to make any changes to the tiered licensure system before allowing it time to work. It would also be helpful to include if your district employs Tier 1 teachers and the impact changes would have on your district.   

2019 Legislative Session
Week 12 - March 25, 2019
Join School Board Members Across Minnesota in a Virtual Day at the Capitol 
A quick email or phone message will ensure lawmakers understand what policy bills and finance provisions are important to school boards.
 
Today school board members from across Minnesota are visiting with their school districts' Representatives and Senators to make a bigger impact.

MSBA wants you to participate too! Please take a moment to contact those leaders listed below. MSBA has provided email links, phone numbers and a model script. Feel free to use any tools or convey your own message. Please let's fill those inboxes and voicemails today and this week! Keep others posted on your efforts on Follow us on Twitter using #MSBADayattheCapitol.
 
Funding Education
 
 
 
Please send an email or leave a voicemail for:
 
"Hello, My name is (full name) and I'm a school board member from (school district name). I am calling to ask you to support an education funding target for at least 3% and 3% on the formula. Anything short of that would mean (Insert the impact on your school district. Thank you for your time and consideration."
 
Top 3 MSBA Initiatives 
 
 
 
Please send an email or leave a voicemail for:   

"Hello, My name is (full name) and I'm a school board member from (school district name). I am calling to ask you to support an education funding target large enough to fund money on the formula, relief in special education and school safety grants. 3% and 3% on the formula is critical. Anything short of that would mean (Insert the impact on your school district."  Our district currently has a cross-subsidy of
(insert amount of cross-subsidy). This also has had a tremendous impact on our district. And finally, keeping our students and staff safe is paramount to a strong learning environment. Thank you for your time and consideration."
 
Special Education Paperwork Reduction
 
 
 
Please send an email or leave a voicemail for:
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Chair Nelson - 651-296-4848
 
"Hello, My name is (full name) and I'm a school board member from (school district name). I am calling to ask you to include all the special education paperwork reduction bills in the E-12 Senate Education Omnibus bill.  Thank you for your time and consideration."  
 
Levy Renewal  
 
 
 
Please send an email or leave a voicemail for:
  
"Hello, My name is (full name) and I'm a school board member from (school district name). I am calling to ask you to allow school board members to renew an existing operating levy with board approval. Thank you for your time and consideration."     
 
  School Board Vacancy - Elections
 
 
 
Please send an email or leave a voicemail for:
House Elections Chair Dehn - 651-296-8659 
 
"Hello, My name is (full name) and I'm a school board member from (school district name). I am calling to ask you to allow school boards to appoint an individual to fill a school board vacancy until the end of a term or until the next general election.  This will increase voter turnout and decrease costs to the district due to special elections. Thank you for your time and consideration."  
 
 
Meetings Today! (Monday, March 25)
Senate  
Committee on E-12 Finance and Policy
Monday, March 25  3:00 PM 
Room 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Agenda:      
S.F. 1260 - Surplus computers disposition school board options expansion. (Pratt) 
S.F. 929 -   High school league eligibility review process; proposed eligibility bylaws, policies, and procedures public input and access; reporting. (Anderson, P.)  
S.F. 1297 - Textbook definition modification. (Anderson, P.) 
S.F. 773 -   Grand Rapids Children's Discovery Museum grant appropriation. (Eichorn)
S.F. 1341 - Minnesota Children's Museum grants appropriations. (Johnson, M.) 
S.F. 918 -   School year start before Labor Day authorization. (Nelson)
S.F. 2212 - Flexible learning year programs implementation by school boards without approval by education commissioner authorization. (Nelson)
S.F. 1957 - School safety facility grants appropriation. (Nelson)
S.F. 1993 - Eastern Carver county schools transportation hub lease levy authorization. (Jensen, S.) 
S.F. 629 -   Sunscreen at school possession and use authorization. (Rosen)
S.F. 1745 - Black Men Teach Twin Cities grants appropriation. (Anderson, P.) 
S.F. 1427 - School breakfast aids provisions modifications and appropriation. (Anderson, P.) 
S.F. 735 - Teacher code of ethics statutory codification and rule repeal; school district ethics complaints procedures requirement. (Nelson)
S.F. 2180 - Early childhood program eligibility modification. (Marty)
S.F. 2327 - Independent school district #281, Robbinsdale; post-employment benefits irrevocable trust fund to general fund transfer authorization. (Rest) 
 
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Education Finance Division
Tuesday, March 26  9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF824 (Kunesh-Podein) Increase Teachers of Color Act funding provided, seeking to double American Indian teacher and teachers of color, reports required, and money appropriated. (see amendment)
HF16 (Urdahl) Small school revenue calculation modified.
HF1148 (Christensen) Energy conservation revolving loan fund established in schools, and money appropriated.
HF566 (Wazlawik) School safety assessment teams required, and money appropriated.

Wednesday, March 27  9:45 AM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF882 (Sandstede) General education basic formula allowance increased by three percentage points per year, general education basic formula allowance future increases linked to rate of inflation, and money appropriated.
HF1190 (Sandell) Concurrent enrollment program fully funded, and money appropriated.
HF1969 (Erickson) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM) grant program created, report required, and money appropriated.
HF2110 (Lien) Long-term facilities revenue maximum amount modified for school districts with adjusted square footage.
HF2325 (Lee) Adult basic education aid calculation modified, and money appropriated.

Thursday, March 28  9:45 PM
Room: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF1979 (Marquart) Lakes Country Service Cooperative federal instructional level 4 program grant authorized, and money appropriated.
HF1980 (Marquart) Long-term facilities maintenance revenue and capital levies allowed use clarified, and school districts that are cooperative unit members lease levy authority increased.
HF1204 (Pryor) School sexual harassment and sex discrimination laws compliance required, training required, and money appropriated.

Thursday, March 28  5:30 PM ***Note Time
Room: 10 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF2046 (Pryor) Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins; International Spanish Language Academy program combining authorized, and levy authorized.
HF1052 (Noor) Students with interrupted formal education participation in early middle college program for one additional year made permanent.
HF2039 (Moran) Trauma-informed school incentive aid funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF1056 (Moran) Education partnership program modified, future grant priority established, and money appropriated.

Education Policy Division
No Meetings Scheduled March 25-29

Other Bills of Interest  
Capital Investment Division
Wednesday, March 26  6:30 PM
Room 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
HF521 Davnie School safety grant funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

The Weekly Advocate is delivered via email each Monday and is your "go-to" for education legislation.

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