Guest Column by Peggy Bennett

 

As someone who spent more than 30 years in the classroom, I can tell you that prioritizing one student over another is not something a teacher sets out to do.

The goal is to make each boy or girl as successful as they can possibly be in the classroom. No preferential treatment; no picking winners or losers.

A student is a student.

Unfortunately, this goal does not come close to being met when it comes to funding the students in our state. There is a definitive winner, and the winner is always the Minneapolis School District.

This year, the Minnesota House Democratic majority brought forward a bill that was ultimately signed into law. Though it included needed funding increases to local classrooms, it did not significantly reduce the funding disparity that exists between Minneapolis’ and rural Minnesota’s schools — a move that’s desperately needed.

Let’s use the Austin School District as an example. Austin is expected to have $12,755 per pupil in combined revenue (state and local) for fiscal year 2021, which is roughly 25% less than the $16,968 per pupil for Minneapolis.

Similarly, Albert Lea is looking at $14,790, or about 13% less than Minneapolis. Winona is expected to have $14,267, which is about 16% less than Minneapolis.

The education funding disparity problem has been going on for decades and its only getting worse.

In the coming days, the Minnesota House will be holding a mini session in southeastern Minnesota. This includes an education hearing, which will be in Austin on Oct. 2. I have little doubt we will be discussing a number of important education issues at this gathering and look forward to local school district representatives sharing their opinions.

But I am hopeful that attendees will ask why the education funding disparity continues between schools in Minneapolis and those the in rural areas. No matter where a student lives, that child should be treated, and funded, equally in the eyes of the state of Minnesota.

State Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, is a member of the Minnesota House Education Finance Division.