Levy results prove Minnesotans support funding their schools, says President Dooher
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Tom Dooher, president of Education Minnesota, released the following statement today on the 2011 levy referendum results:
"Last night’s referendum elections results proved once again that even in tough economic times, the people of Minnesota believe funding education is a priority. Lacking a proper state investment, citizens chose to make a hometown investment in their schools. They understand that we should be asking what our students need to be successful, not telling the schools what they need to live without.
"By approving the vast majority of levies last night, Minnesotans demonstrated that they know the state is failing to provide necessary, basic funding for schools.
"While our members are pleased that so many levies passed, the problem of inequitable funding remains, and there will be real pain in districts that did not pass a levy. Statewide, the sheer number of referenda on the ballot is a sad commentary on the way we fund the basics of education in Minnesota. Our schools rely on an inequitable system of funding that varies from district to district and ZIP code to ZIP code. Students in some districts will have opportunities that students who live in a neighboring district do not. That is not what Minnesota is about.
"With the 2011 levies behind us, it’s time for us to convince state lawmakers to step up and provide equitable, sustainable, predictable and sufficient funding for all Minnesota schools."
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota represents 70,000 professionals working together for excellence in education for all students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and educational support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO. Follow us on Twitter.
November 09, 2011