Back-to-school time brings opportunities

Journal Staff Report
The beginning of a new school year means opportunities and challenges, not only for schoolchildren, but for elected officials, education leaders, parents, and teachers, said state Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids.
“For as long as I can remember, our state has been known nationwide for our excellent public schools,” Saxhaug said. “That means we not only have students that get good grades and test well, we also have teachers, administrators and parents committed to giving the best to our children and getting the best in return.”
Saxhaug added that in order to uphold that tradition, legislators must make a funding commitment to the state’s schools. Steps were taken in that direction during the 2008 legislative session. Minnesota schools did receive a funding boost and a major funding policy change was passed, although this was not a legislative “budget” year, he said. The 1 percent increase comes on top of the 3 percent increase passed in 2007 that helped schools lower class sizes, rehire laid-off teachers, purchase needed technology, and hold-the-line on fee increases.
“That good news is offset somewhat by the challenges of the economic downturn, which means that rising energy costs and continued state deficits are taking a toll on quality education,” Saxhaug said, adding that No Child Left Behind continues to be a challenge for many schools. “If we want our schools and our students to move forward, we need to build in more flexibility for our educators, while still holding schools accountable.”
The legislative session begins in January.