Dr. William (Bill) Crandall, Cook County I.S.D. 166 superintendent of schools
In Cook County Schools, we want to have all of our students meet our mission, which is Success for Each, Respect for All. But we cannot do it alone. We rely on state funding.
We thank Rep. Rob Ecklund and Sen. Tom Bakk for the increases in education funding in the previous biennium, now is the time to fix education funding going into the future. Schools like ours need Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature this session to fulfill the state’s 2003 promise to adequately fund public schools with part of the $1.54 billion state surplus.
Funding education is a constitutional duty of the governor and the legislature.
State funding has not kept up with inflation since 2003. That stacks up to nearly $600 per pupil in Cook County Schools, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.
This underfunding has led Cook County Schools to cut language programming, art, music, and business opportunities for students. It also prevents schools from effectively planning and executing on our community’s vision for education.
Education Underfunded
This $600 gap per pupil is especially troublesome for Greater Minnesota school districts like Cook County Schools that are more dependent on the basic formula than metro area districts that have greater access to local operating referendum revenue due to higher household incomes and property wealth.
Local voters across the state have had to fill the gap for basic education services. In our community, local voters have supported Cook County Schools in the past for operations and redoing our science facilities and culinary arts space.
“Communities should not be reliant entirely on local property taxes to fund schools – that’s a recipe for racial and geographic disparities,” Gov. Walz said in his platform.
The Cook County school community supports Walz’s goals. “Our goal is to make referendums rare or extinct,” Walz said to a packed ballroom of school board members at the Minnesota School Boards Convention, January 17, 2019.
Serving Students
Gov. Walz advocated for “One Minnesota Vision” where a child’s education is not determined by his or her zip code during his inaugural address.
In his platform, Gov. Walz said his administration will “fully and equitably fund our schools and reject the budgetary gimmicks we’ve used in the past, because all kids should have access to a high quality education regardless of their zip code.”
Together with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, he said they “will ensure funding for our schools that is not only stable, but equitable.”
In his December press conference on his budget plans, Walz called on Minnesota lawmakers to have an honest conversation about the impact of inflation. We agree.
Meeting the needs of students funding formula requires 3 percent and 3 percent on the formula this biennium and predictable, forecasted increases above inflation into the future. This would provide predictable budgeting and enable Cook County Schools to maintain smaller class sizes, provide opportunities for our students to learn a language starting in the elementary school, and invest in elective opportunities in the arts and business areas.
Without the approval of 3 percent and 3 percent and predictable, forecasted increases above inflation this legislative session, Cook County Schools would need to increase class sizes in the elementary school, eliminate extracurricular options available like Knowledge Bowl, cross country running, and track, reduce classroom supplies and future curriculum investments.
“A child’s chance to succeed should not depend on living in a particular zip code,” Walz says in his platform. “If we’re serious about every child’s future, let’s do what works. We need resources in all schools so students have the support professionals they need (nurses and school counselors), more one-on-one time to learn, inviting classrooms, and a well-rounded curriculum.”
Using the state’s General Fund is the most equitable, stable and responsible way to have local communities address the needs of their students.
Join us in calling on Gov. Walz and the Legislature this session to step forward for students and fulfill the state’s constitutional requirement to adequately fund education. Our students – and their future – depend on it.
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