President Tom Dooher’s statement on November budget forecast
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St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 1, 2011 – Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher issued the following statement today:
"While it is relatively good short-term news that the state is projecting a small budget surplus, in the long term it only means that a bad situation did not get worse. The bottom line for schools is this: Our students, from early childhood to higher education, are still hurting. These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; these are real lost opportunities for our future generations.
"Schools and colleges have paid a steep price for the state to have a slightly brighter fiscal outlook – more delayed funding, more communities forced to fund the basics of education through local levies, more districts forced to borrow money and more cuts in staff and programs.
"We must get on the path to growing Minnesota, and investment in education is the key to doing that. Gimmicks and delays are not acceptable. Education – the cornerstone on which our children’s and our state’s future will be built – must remain the state’s top priority.
"Education Minnesota will continue to advocate for reforming the pre-K-12 and higher education funding system so that it is equitable, sustainable, predictable and sufficient, so that Minnesota is positioned to prosper for the long term once again."
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.
December 01, 2011