Legislative
Action
Coalition
Steering
Committee
Meeting
December
5,
2008
Members
present:
Yvonne
Selcer,
Bob
Mattison,
Sue
Sadowky,
Phil
Cykana,
Angie
Sundell,
Francine,
Gersh,
Michele
Cleary,
Lori
Weissman,
Scott
Grayson,
Sheila
Goldstein,
Mardie
Marshall,
Stacy
Gallop
Staff
present:
Eileen
Harvala
Meeting
was
called
to
order
at
11:36
a.m.
Yvonne
mentioned
the
event
on
December
19,
2008
–
AMSD
platform
presentation
to
AMSD
legislators,
8:00
–
10:00
a.m.
Please
let
her
know
if
you’d
like
to
attend.
Attendees
to
date:
Wendy
Donovan,
Yvonne
Selcer,
Bob
Mattison
and
Angie
Sundell.
(Angie
Sundell
is
now
unable
to
attend.)
Report
on
West
Suburban
Consortium
platform
presentation
event
Bob
reported
that
the
major
concerns
of
the
superintendents
are:
Raising
or
removing
the
referendum
cap.
This
is
also
part
of
our
platform.
The
legislature
is
sympathetic
to
this.
Correcting
the
inflation
factor
on
referendum
revenue.
Currently
there’s
a
limitation
of
¼
of
any
increase
to
the
general
fund.
Outstate
legislators
are
opposed
to
this
as
they
don’t
want
the
west
suburbs
to
get
too
much
money.
Location
equity
index.
This
is
a
part
of
our
platform
as
well.
There
is
not
much
support
in
the
Senate
for
this.
This
is
also
an
outstate
issue.
Adding
an
inflation
factor
to
Q‐Comp.
This
is
a
wonderful
program.
The
superintendents
feel
this
program
is
very
important.
The
chair
of
the
Senate
K‐12
Finance
Committee,
Senator
Stumpf,
does
not
like
the
Q‐Comp
program.
He’s
from
outstate
Minnesota.
But
Governor
Pawlenty
does
like
it.
Fully
fund
special
education
100%
and
include
an
inflation
factor.
There
is
optimism
that
this
will
happen
this
legislative
session.
Increase
local
control.
This
would
give
superintendents
and
school
boards
more
flexibility
in
how
dollars
are
spent.
Legislators
are
sympathetic
towards
this
issue.
Yvonne
mentioned
that
the
West
Suburban
Consortium
is
made
up
of
the
Hopkins,
Minnetonka,
and
Wayzata
School
Districts.
John
Kahl
is
the
main
lobbyist
representing
these
school
districts.
We’re
on
his
e‐mail
list.
Request
from
Scott
Croonquist,
AMSD
Executive
Director
Scott
has
asked
us
to
lobby
Senator
Terri
Bonoff
to
support
the
Minnesota
Miracle
II
bill.
Thank
her
for
co‐
sponsoring
the
bill
last
year.
Let
her
know
that
we
understand
that
there’s
no
money;
that
the
bill
has
to
be
phased
in.
Ask
her
to
please
bring
the
bill
forward
in
the
Senate
because
the
problem
with
school
funding
is
not
going
to
go
away.
Her
phone
number
is
651‐296‐4314.
Her
e‐mail
address
is
[email protected].
We
understand
that
this
bill
will
not
be
passed
and
fully
funded
this
year,
but
we
need
to
move
forward
with
the
proposal
now.
With
a
$5.2
billion
shortfall,
we
understand
that
it
will
take
courage
to
bring
this
bill
forward.
Senator
Bonoff
needs
to
know
that
she
has
people
supporting
her
on
this.
Please
ask
people
you
know
to
contact
her
as
well.
Circulating
a
petition
was
mentioned.
Legislators
have
asked
the
superintendents
if
they
have
contingency
plans
for
cutting
budgets.
The
superintendents
have
reported
that
they
know
this
could
happen
and
they
have
thought
about
it.
Yvonne
will
send
a
link
where
we
will
be
able
to
find
a
basic
understanding
of
the
Minnesota
Miracle
II
bill
so
we
can
educate
people
on
the
legislation.
Scott
asked
if
there
was
a
form
letter
that
laid
out
the
main
points
of
the
bill.
Yvonne
and
Bob
will
provide
that
information.
Final
review
of
2009
platform
draft
The
platform
will
be
presented
to
the
School
Board
on
December
18,
2008,
7:00
p.m.
All
LAC
steering
committee
members
are
encouraged
to
attend.
Eileen
has
made
sure
that
we
are
first
on
the
agenda
after
the
treasurer’s
report
and
open
agenda.
The
presentation
should
start
at
7:10
and
last
approximately
20
minutes.
Eileen
will
introduce
the
platform.
She
will
have
a
PowerPoint
presentation.
She
will
also
give
a
background
(which
is
scripted)
of
the
LAC.
Yvonne,
Bob,
and
Eileen
will
do
the
talking.
They
will
then
describe
the
platform.
Members
will
be
introduced.
And
then
the
Board
members
will
have
an
opportunity
to
ask
questions.
The
School
Board
will
receive
all
of
the
information
the
Friday
before
the
presentation.
The
Board
will
vote
to
accept,
reject,
or
amend
the
LAC
platform.
Historically,
the
Board
has
approved
the
platform.
The
same
presentation
will
be
given
to
SPLA,
Superintendent/Parents
Learning
Academy,
and
our
legislators
on
Monday,
January
5,
6:30
p.m.,
in
the
board
room,
Eisenhower
Community
Center.
This
is
John
Schultz’s
meeting.
He
will
dictate
the
structure
of
the
meeting.
An
introduction
will
be
given,
background
of
the
LAC,
and
then
the
platform
will
be
presented.
The
legislators
will
receive
questions
in
advance
of
the
meeting
asking
them
about
their
views
on
education
and
on
our
platform.
Members
of
SPLA
will
also
be
able
to
ask
questions.
This
meeting
will
last
an
hour
to
an
hour
and
a
half.
All
LAC
members
are
encouraged
to
attend
so
that
the
legislators
can
see
a
broader
spectrum
of
people.
This
meeting
will
be
taped
and
rebroadcast.
2009
platform
The
membership
voted
to
keep
the
same
beliefs
and
format
that
were
used
last
year.
Sheila
pushed
very
hard
for
the
purpose
of
education
for
all
students.
This
year
education
will
be
competing
against
health
and
human
services
and
transportation.
At
the
West
Suburban
Consortium
meeting,
Senator
Ann
Rest
made
the
comment
that,
We
are
not
going
to
put
grandma
on
the
street
to
avoid
putting
a
couple
more
kids
in
the
classroom.
Education
is
a
top
priority.
It’s
a
constitutional
mandate.
Eileen
has
recorded
all
of
the
proposed
planks.
The
membership
voted
not
to
include
a
“hedging
your
bets”
plank
statement.
Discussion
was
had
regarding
using
the
word
“will”
or
“may”
in
the
sentence
under
“Funding,”
that
reads
“The
new
funding
system
‘will’
or
‘may’
need
to
be
phased
in
over
time.
Some
comments
that
were
made
are
as
follows:
By
using
the
word
“will”
we
acknowledge
that
there’s
a
problem.
Using
the
word
“may”
puts
the
onus
on
the
state
legislature.
Phil
commented
that
the
Minnesota
Miracle
II
bill
has
the
“phase
in”
provision
in
it.
We
support
the
bill.
We’re
saying
to
phase
it
in.
Do
we
need
to
include
that
sentence?
We
understand
there’s
no
money.
Legislators
are
looking
at
$1
or
$2
billion
for
this
bill.
“Will”
or
“may”
should
be
included.
If
there’s
no
new
funding
or
decreased
funding,
restructuring
would
do
what?
Bob
made
a
motion
that
the
sentence
would
read
“The
new
funding
system
may
need
to
be
phased
in
over
time.”
The
motion
passed.
Discussion
was
had
regarding
the
sentence
that
reads
“facilitates
attracting
and
retaining
quality
teachers.”
This
statement
alone
does
not
capture
what
we
were
trying
to
say.
This
is
our
Q‐Comp
plank.
Should
we
specifically
mention
Q‐Comp
in
the
plank?
Scott
wondered
if
this
would
be
interpreted
that
we’re
lobbying
for
teachers.
Yvonne
offered
the
addition
of
the
words
“to
promote
student
achievement.”
Eileen
suggested
the
addition
of
the
words
“to
enhance
student
achievement.”
So
the
sentence
will
read
“facilitates
attracting
and
retaining
quality
teachers
to
enhance
student
achievement.”
Our
position
paper
should
include
Q‐Comp.
Discussion
was
had
regarding
use
of
the
word
“raises”
or
“lifts”
“the
referendum
cap,
providing
equalization
revenue
where
appropriate.”
There’s
zero
percent
chance
to
lift
the
referendum
cap.
There
is
some
chance
to
provide
additional
revenue
for
outstate.
“Raise”
has
more
of
a
chance
than
“lift.”
“Raise
or
remove”
would
be
better
than
“lift.”
So
the
sentence
will
read
“raises
or
removes
the
referendum
cap,
providing
equalization
revenue
where
appropriate.”
On
the
original
plank
under
“Local
Control/Mandates,”
the
last
sentence
read
“Modify
existing
legislation
to
allow
for
a
reasonable
implementation
date
for
the
new
GRAD
standards,
with
flexibility
built
in
to
ensure
individual
learner
needs
are
met.”
What
does
that
mean,
to
be
flexible?
New
wording
from
Eileen
reads
“modify
existing
legislation
to
allow
for
reasonable
implementation
of
the
new
Graduation
Required
Assessment
for
Diploma
(GRAD)
standards.”
The
mandatory
insurance
pool
issue
will
not
come
back
this
year.
Education
Minnesota
feels
that
Governor
Pawlenty
will
veto
it
again.
They’re
now
in
favor
of
a
voluntary
system.
There
is
an
article
in
the
St.
Louis
Park
paper
on
Senator
Ron
Latz
where
he
says
that
the
GRAD
standards
could
be
worked
on
this
year.
Go
to
MNSun.com
to
read
the
article.
Discussion
was
had
regarding
the
priorities.
Do
we
want
to
keep
the
ones
we
have?
Do
we
want
more?
Are
there
some
we
don’t
want?
Mardie
suggested
deleting
the
word
“full”
in
the
priorities.
The
Minnesota
Miracle
legislation
reads
“fully
funds.”
Eileen
mentioned
that
all‐day
kindergarten
is
fee
based.
With
early
childhood
and
all‐day
kindergarten
there
are
access
issues
and
equity
issues.
Lori
suggested
the
words
“increase
funding”
instead
of
“full.”
Scott
commented
that
“full”
is
more
neutral
wording.
Should
we
keep
all
five
bullet
points?
Yvonne
said
that
if
she
had
to
pick
one
priority,
she
would
pick
full
funding
of
special
education
costs.
Every
school
district
would
receive
additional
money.
Parents
United
has
in
their
platform
“Fully
fund
voluntary
all‐
day
kindergarten,”
and
“provide
flexibility
for
districts
to
fund
early
childhood
programs.”
The
decision
was
made
to
remove
“and
all‐day
kindergarten”
under
the
priorities.
The
word
“full”
will
also
be
removed
at
the
beginning
of
the
sentence,
so
the
sentence
will
read
“funding
of
early
childhood
programs.”
The
word
“recognition”
will
be
added
to
the
sentence
“the
unique
cost
and
price
pressures
affecting
public
schools
(implicit
price
deflator).”
We
will
leave
this
sentence
in.
The
word
“provide”
will
be
added
to
the
sentence
“adequate
funding
to
address
declining
enrollment.”
We
will
leave
in
this
sentence.
The
sentence
“market‐
based
cost
differentials
(location
equity
index)”
will
be
removed.
Hopkins
does
have
a
problem
with
declining
enrollment.
Scott
suggested
under
“Formula
Restructuring”
to
add
the
language
“Even
though
the
state
faces
a
historic
budget
deficit,
the
state
should
still
enact…”
There
was
consensus
to
adopt
this
proposed
additional
language.
The
meeting
was
adjourned
at
12:46
p.m.
Next
meeting:
Friday,
December
19,
2008,
11:30
a.m.
–
12:30
p.m.,
Eisenhower
Community
Center,
Room
207