Legislative Priorities and Delegation

Ensuring equitable student achievement and promoting safety through stable and predictable funding

Our district is committed to giving scholars and families the educational experience they desire and deserve as outlined in a new strategic plan. It’s going to take the financial backing of our state and communities to bring this to life. As such, we strongly believe that educational decisions that directly impact our scholars should be made at the local level. The following priorities have been identified to secure the necessary funds to achieve these critical needs:

Provide stable, predictable funding

• Increase the general education formula by an additional 2% for fiscal year 2026 and
  fiscal year 2027.
  • Increase inflation range to a 2-4% increase annually, instead of 2-3% as under
• Fully fund summer unemployment insurance.
• Hold district-level compensatory funding harmless at fiscal year 2025 levels going
  forward.
• Increase local optional revenue to $974 per pupil and link to the basic formula.
• Link all categorical funding to inflationary increases in the general education formula.
• Fully fund the special education and English language learner cross subsidies.

Enhance school safety and support mental health

• Increase Safe Schools funding to $108 per pupil to support the needs of scholars and staff.

• Expand the allowable uses of long-term facility maintenance funding to include:

  • Cybersecurity and technology infrastructure hardware.

  • The modification of buildings to enhance safety and security

Address the workforce shortage

• Expand programs and incentives to attract, develop and retain teachers of color.

• Remove barriers and provide incentives to address the shortage of teachers, education service professionals and other staff.

Reduce mandates

• Fully fund or repeal all existing unfunded mandates.
• Refrain from adding any new mandates.
• Review and repeal any obsolete requirements in current law

These platform items align with those of several statewide education organizations, including Association of Metropolitan School Districts, Minnesota School Boards Association, Minnesota Association of School Administrators, and Minnesota Association of School Business Officials.

2024-2 Legislative priorities