From Classroom to Capitol: Working Together
Dedicated Educators and School Officials,
As both a middle school principal and a state representative, I have the opportunity to see both sides of the work we do at the Capitol. I’m part of the process when policies and bills are being created, and also see how those decisions actually play out in the classroom. That perspective is important, because it keeps the focus where it should be, on what works for students and educators. It also reinforces how important it is that your voice is part of that process.
One thing I’ve always tried to do, both as an educator and as a legislator, is listen first. The best ideas don’t come from St. Paul, they come from the people who are really doing the work. That’s why I’d appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete my three-question “Classroom” survey. Your input helps ensure that what’s happening in your classrooms is actually reflected in the decisions we’re making.
Last session, I was proud to support improvements to educator pensions alongside colleagues like Rep. Danny Nadeau. We have a lot of work to do to continue to support educators across our state. This year, we’re facing some difficult realities. The Governor recently proposed increasing cuts to special education funding, from $250 million to over $300 million statewide. This comes at a time when the Association of Metropolitan School Districts is reporting more than $220 million in budget shortfalls across Twin Cities area districts. Those are strong pressures that districts are dealing with right now.
Rather than getting caught up in political back-and-forth, my focus is on practical, workable solutions that actually support schools, educators, and students. No single bill is going to fix everything, so I’ve been working on and supporting a number of proposals aimed at addressing different parts of the challenge. I’d genuinely value your feedback on these:
- Stopping Cuts to Special Education (HF 4114) Repeals the $250 million dollar special education cut passed last year. If this cut is not repealed it will result in future cuts to local schools. You can see a short discussion on this below:
- Mandate Relief (HF 4116) Required a local impact note and implementation timeline for all mandates forced onto schools.
- School Discipline Bills (HF 514, HF 1052, HF 1436, HF 4027, and HF 3493) Multiple versions of bills to allow school administration to suspend students.
- “Boots on the Ground” (HF 412) Requires legislators to spend at least 12 hours shadowing educators over two years so we stay connected to what’s actually happening in schools.
- Local Option Funding (HF 409) Provides districts with the option to generate additional flexible revenue to meet their specific local needs.
- Student Growth Opportunity (HF 3490) Allows districts to benefit from a federal tax credit program where individuals can donate up to $1,700 to local school nonprofits or endowments at no cost to the state. Even modest participation could generate meaningful new resources for things like tutoring, transportation, and classroom support.
- School Safety, Mental Health & Flexible Funding (HF 3511, HF 3493) Increases school safety funding, which hasn’t been increased in over a decade, and provides flexible resources to help reduce class sizes, hire staff, and strengthen student supports, all without raising taxes.
- Funding for Online Students (HF 4332) Ensures schools continue receiving funding for students who are temporarily learning online out of state while still living in Minnesota.
As always, please feel free to reach out directly. Whether you agree or disagree, your feedback is important and helps inform the work we’re doing. The goal is to make sure we’re making decisions that truly support you and your students.
Thank you again for everything you do. I appreciate your time, your work, and your willingness to share your perspective.
Sincerely,
Please Contact Me
Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-5185 or by email at rep.ben.bakeberg@house.mn.gov.
Have a great weekend!