Posted 2/22/01 Governorís budget for education is an insult At a time when the Legislature and the governor are talking about unprecedented surpluses and tax rebates, the governorís budget for K-12 education is an insult. Parents of students in growing suburban school districts should rise up, march on the Capitol and express their outrage over a proposed budget that gives a 1.8 per cent increase in the state aid formula over fiscal years 2002 and 2003. The proposal, in fact does not raise the formula the first year and raises it only $60 per student in the second year. Should the governorís revenue budget for K-12 education stand, school boards would have to cut into the bone to survive. Many good programs for students, particularly the extra-curricular programs, would be cut. For example in the 728 district headquartered in Elk River, what will be taken away along with no increase in the formula for next year would result in up to a $750,000 loss in state aid. The governorís proposal would provide only a .3 percent increase in the second year of the biennium. While the governor is correct in saying that K-12 education received $1.3 billion in the last two years and that this same amount does not go away, he knows most of it went to increase salaries and benefits for the staff. Such increases, valid or not, come at a time when there is a teacher shortage and salaries need to be competitive and attractive to future teachers. The governorís budget does not include all the one-time revenues granted last year;. He is proposing that the student weighting for figuring student aid be reduced from 1.3 for secondary to 1.15, which will reduce aid from the formula. The impact of such a budget, if approved, would be in the words of one school official "devastating." According to Education Minnesota, three-quarters of Minnesota school districts will experience a net decrease in their total general education revenue in the upcoming biennium. The hope is that Minnesotaís senators and representatives will not stand for such treatment and will approve and stay united on a funding formula increase which is realistic. Most Minnesotans would take less of a tax rebate if they knew those funds would go directly to K-12 education. Meanwhile, parents should organize and contact their legislators because the parental voice is heard. This Governor who calls himself an Education Governor, needs an education. ñ By Don Heinzman ©Post Review