Health & Fitness
At the Capitol: School Issues are Hot Topics This Week
From unexplained six-figure settlements in Burnsville to a proposal to hold classes year-round at the U of M, there are a lot of interesting education debates underway at the Capitol.
New legislative maps were recently drawn and, if I am re-elected in November, I will have the opportunity to represent residents of Mendota Heights in the Minnesota House. With that in mind, I figured it is never to soon to start to provide updates on what's happening at the Capitol and to seek input on key issues.
This week, education issues will dominate the agenda. From unexplained six-figure settlements in Burnsville to a proposal to hold classes year-round at the U of M, there are a lot of interesting education debates underway at the Capitol.
BURNSVILLE SCHOOL PAYOUT UNDER FIRE. There is a hearing on Tuesday in the House K-12 Education Committee to discuss a change in the law regarding payouts to settle legal claims against school districts. The hearing was prompted by a recent $255,000 payment by the Burnsville school district to its former human resources director. To date, the school district has refused to provide specific reasons for the payout, citing data privacy laws.
Find out what's happening in Mendota Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
SCHOOL VOUCHER DEBATE IS BACK. Should students be given vouchers to attend private school? Legislation has been introduced to give poor students who are attending a failing public school the ability to be reimbursed for all or part of the cost of attending a private school instead.
TEACHER TERMINATIONS: SENIORITY VS. EFFECTIVENESS. A compromise might be brewing between Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders over a proposed new law to change the method used when teachers are laid off. The proposal would place more emphasis on teacher effectiveness, rather than seniority, in making layoff decisions.
Find out what's happening in Mendota Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
LABOR DAY: RESORTS VS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Under current law, schools cannot start classes before Labor Day. Legislation to change that has been introduced. It would allow school districts to start classes whenever they want, though they would not be able to hold class on the Thursday and Friday before Labor Day.
SUMMER SCHOOL AT THE U? New President Eric Kaler recently called for the University of Minnesota to hold classes year-round, enabling students to finish quicker and the U to make fuller use of facilities. He didn't mention it, but year-round classes would also allow the U to make more money each year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing either.
To weigh in about these topics, please email at Rep.Joe.Atkins@house.mn. I really do read all of my own emails. Or, feel free to take the brief survey about these issues at www.JoeAtkins.com; it is in the right-hand column. I can also be reached at the Capitol at (651) 296-4192. Thank you.