Education Panel Advances Supplemental Funding Plan

The Senate Education Finance Committee advanced the supplemental education budget Wednesday, April 18. Much of the debate centered on a provision that would require school boards to adopt a written academic balance policy. The policy would prohibit students from having to identify their personal political, ideological or religious beliefs for academic credit.

Senator Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, said the provision still needs more public testimony. “Unfortunately, we can’t get affirmation from a number of the groups that have expressed strong concerns,” he said.

Referring to the criticism that the policy is unnecessary, Senator Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, said, “Saying that there’s no need for a policy, I could understand that except that some of the people at Minnesota said it’s unworkable and unconstitutional. Well, I’m sorry, but you can’t have a policy in place that’s unworkable and unconstitutional. You can’t have it both ways.”

A major provision of the bill focuses on improving school safety by allowing school districts to raise levies to support the effort and to use building funds to make schools more secure.

The supplemental budget bill was sent to the Senate Finance Committee.