Education Minnesota St. Francis Local 1977

In defense of public education

Randi Weingarten and NYC teacher Tamara Simpson

Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it.

MN School Districts Seek Money from Voters

Updated: August 01, 2019 06:08 PM

While students have been enjoying summer, dozens of Minnesota school districts have been busy crunching numbers.

From Belgrade to Blue Earth and Walker to White Bear Lake, so far, at least 30 school districts will ask voters for money this fall. That money may be for bonds, building projects, or levies, which cover schools' operating expenses.

"In the old days, levies were used to get special things, like specialists and other additional things, but today it's about running business everyday," said Bernie Burnham, vice president with Education Minnesota.

"Funding

Teachers union says Minnesota schools need $4 billion more — and the wealthy and corporations should pay

Minnesota needs to spend about $4 billion more every two years to “fully fund” public schools and the state teachers union wants businesses and the wealthy to pick up the tab.

“We believe the public is on our side,” said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota, said at a Friday news conference. “There was a time when all Minnesotans believed and invested in our education system.”

Specht didn’t specify how the state should raise the new money