DID YOU KNOW???

The Roseville Area Schools Legislative Action Committee . . .

  • Is a nonpartisan, school-board authorized committee, that serves to inform, educate, and advise the School Board and community concerning legislative issues and matters affecting public education.
  • Believes that a high-quality public education system is the cornerstone of our community and that stable and adequate funding sources are essential for providing quality educational programs.
  • Gives parents and other community members a practical way to get involved in legislative issues relating to our schools.
  • Meets monthly throughout the school year 6:30–8:30 pm at Fairview Community Center Room 102 on the following dates: Wednesdays 9/16, 10/14, 11/11, 12/9, 1/13, 2/17**, 3/10, 4/14, and 5/12.

Two of our local legislators chair key state education committees: Representative Mindy Greiling, Chair, House Education K-12 Finance Committee and Senator Chuck Wiger, Chair, Senate Education Committee.

 

Programs

Minnesota Miracles for District 623 Kids:  A New Funding Structure for Our Public Schools -

March 23, 2009, 7:00pm - Roseville Area High School Auditorium, 1240 County Road B2 W, Roseville
Watch the forum video

January 26, 2009 Forum - Why Invest in Education - Even in Difficult Times?
Watch the forum video

Presentation by State Economist Tom Stinson and State Demographer Tom Gillaspy held at Roseville Area MIddle School on January, 26,2009.  

Background

At their January 9, 2007, meeting the School Board authorized the formation of a Legislative Action Committee. The Committee exists as a non-partisan organization to serve the following purposes:

  • Advise the Roseville Area School Board concerning legislative issues and matters affecting public education.
  • Provide information and education to the community, including but not limited to parents, concerning legislative issues and matters affecting public education.
  • Promote parental and community involvement in legislative issues and matters affecting public education.
  • Advocate for education-related legislative positions as developed and decided by the LAC (Legislative Action Committee) annually.

2009 - 2010 Meeting Schedule

LAC meetings will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on the following dates at Fairview Community Center, Room 102.

September 16 - Minutes

October 7 - Minutes
November 11
December 9

January 20 - Minutes
February 17 (**changed from the meeting originally scheduled on February 10)
March 10
April 14
May 12

Meeting Minutes Previous Years

LAC Minutes February 2009

LAC Minutes January 2009

LAC Minutes November 2008

LAC Minutes October 2008


For more information on becoming a member of the LAC or if you have questions, contact the Legislative Action Committee at: lac@isd623.org


2009 Legislative Action Committee Platform

•  Support the New Minnesota Miracle bill (HF2) - this bill addresses many of the problems associated with the current E-12 funding system.  Aspects of the bill we particularly support would:

1.  Substantially increase funding for K-12 public schools.

2.  Eliminate much of the complexity so that education funding will be more transparent to the public.

3.  Increase equity through the reduction of dependence on local referednums for general funding.

4.  Increase funding for students with special needs including, but not limited to, students living in poverty

and students with limited English proficiency.

5.  Fully fund the costs of special education that are not covered by the federal government.

6.  Recognize that the cost of living varies with geographical location and fund districts accordingly.

7.  Automatically adjust funding to reflect inflation.

•  Support programs that increase achievement at all age levels, such as school readiness and program to close the achievement gap.

•  Support programs that ensure that each student is prepared to succeed in a 21st century global economy.

•  Support an adjustment to the GRAD (Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma) rule to allow alternative tests or measures to be used when necessary to assure that all students deserving a diploma attain that diploma.  

2007 Legislative Action Committee Platform

A public education system of high quality is a cornerstone of a strong community and economy. We believe that we need world-class public schools with stable, adequate funding to serve our students, our community, our state and our country.

We believe that the state needs to do the following to achieve the student success that all Minnesotans believe is important

  1. Adequately fund education and make funding transparent to taxpayers.
    1. Put more money on the formula so all schools have the resources to help students achieve state and federal performance expectations.
    2. Complete P.S. Minnesota study and implement defined reforms to make the funding formula more understandable and linked to student needs.
  1. Help close the achievement gap by providing dedicated resources to groups with the largest gaps.
    1. Fully fund special education and eliminate the cross-subsidy.
    2. Maintain compensatory funding for students in specific categories that need additional support to achieve success: Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Free and Reduced Lunch Students. 
    3. Significantly increase funding for school readiness programs and all day Kindergarten to improve early learning and help decrease the gap.
  1. Help districts meet unique community needs by increasing local control (funding, curriculum and administrative.)
    1. No more unfunded mandates.
    2. Maintain stable academic requirements during the transition to more rigorous performance standards.



Membership

The Roseville LAC membership strives to represent most schools and programs in the district.  The committee is looking for members to represent Brimhall, Central Park, Edgerton and Fairview.  The current members are:

Member E-mail address School/Group

Amy Anderson

aamy1017@qwest.net

Little Canada, ECSE

Lisa Belak

lisa.l.belak@comcast.net

FH
Eva Ekola eekola@visi.com

EDW

Ruth Ellen Luehr

ruthellen@markfausner.com

RAHS
Edwin Hodder ehodder@q.com PCS

Michelle Howard

michelleandtoddhoward@msn.com

EDW, RAHS

Teri Mathews

dtmathews@usfamily.net

RAMS

Missy McDonald

missylarry@comcast.net

PCS

Linda McLoon

linda.mcloon@isd623.org

Community Member

Ann Nelson

nel-son@usfamily.net

PCS

Shari Dion

shari.dion@isd623.org

School Board

Richard Wassen

rwassen@comcast.net

Community Member

Chris Sonenblum chris.sonenblum@isd623.org Administrative Liaison


If you are interested in becoming a member of the Legislative Action Committee or would like more information, please contact the Legislative Action Committee at: lac@isd623.org




State Legislators Representing Roseville Public Schools


To find the legislator that represents you, go to:
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Districtfinder.asp


House District 54A
Mindy Greiling
259 State Office Building
651-296-5387 (office)
rep.mindy.greiling@house.mn

Senate District 54
John Marty
323 State Capitol
651-296-5645 (office)
sen.john.marty@senate.mn

House District 54B
Bev Scalze
241 State Office Building
651-296-7153 (office)
rep.bev.scalze@house.mn

Senate District 55
Chuck Wiger
226 Capitol Office Building
651-296-6820 (office)
sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn

District 55A
Leon Lillie
353 State Office Building
651-296-1188 (office)
rep.leon.lillie@house.mn

Senate District 66
Ellen Anderson
120 Capitol Office Building
651-296-5537 (office)
sen.ellen.anderson@senate.mn

District 66B
Alice Hausman
245 State Office Building
651-296-3824 (office)
rep.alice.hausman@house.mn

 



Want to Learn More About Education Funding and Issues Affecting Schools in Minnesota?


The Minnesota School Boards Association and the Association of Metropolitan School Districts have information on legislative issues affecting public education. For more information, you may access their websites using the following links.

Minnesota School Boards Association
http://www.mnmsba.org/public/main.cfm

Association of Metropolitan School Districts
http://www.amsd.org/legislativemenu.html

Other legislative information may be found on the Legislature web site at http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

Other Resources and Websites
where parents and district patrons can
Obtain Information, or
Voice their Opinions in Advocacy of Public Education:


Alliance for Student Achievement
www.allianceforstudentachievement.org
The purpose of the Alliance for Student Achievement is to speak with one voice on pre K-12 education policies and issues, with the goal of improving student achievement in Minnesota.

Association of Metropolitan School Districts
www.amsd.org
The Association of Metropolitan School Districts is a group of 27 suburban and urban school districts that lobbies at the Legislature for the needs of public schools in the metro area. The AMSD web site is a useful tool for anyone interested in K-12 issues at the Legislature.

Legislation and Bill Status Resource
www.leg.state.mn.us

Minnesota House of Representatives
www.house.leg.state.mn.us

Minnesota Senate
www.senate.leg.state.mn.us

Minnesota House and Senate Loggers on Education
http://216.114.200.148/Public/displaycontent.cfm?ScreenID=573

Parent Lobbying Packet
www.amsd.org/pdfs/parentpacket.pdf

Parents United for Public Schools
www.parentsunited.org
Parents United for Public Schools is a statewide, grass-roots organization of concerned and informed Minnesota parents and citizens committed to Minnesota's leadership in quality public education.

P.S. Minnesota
www.psminnesota.org
P.S. Minnesota is an uprecedented coalition of statewide education organizations and parents dedicated to meeting the educational challenges facing students in the 21st century.