"More money is not what is needed. Spending reform is what is needed. When you have a system that is so top-heavy with administrative salaries, exploratory ‘fad’ programs like what (Rochester Superintendent Romain) Dallemand is doing now, which will cost Rochester millions in the end, too many charter schools ... and thousands wasted on students who take post-secondary college education who either fail the class or withdraw; add with all the added state testing costs, you are going to have money shortfalls..."
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"Do they really need the state-of-the-art computer labs? Do we need shop class? Whatever they call home economics today? Does JM need a greenhouse?"
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"It is not hard to see what should be eliminated when you focus on the mission of education, which is reading, writing, and arithmetic. Anything beyond the three ‘Rs’ is fluff and is outside the schools’ mission. Schools aren’t social service agencies."
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"I would be interested in the educational background of those on this message board who don’t believe top-quality education is essential for our state. Since anyone on-line can be anything they want to be, I won’t ask. I can tell you that my family is more well-off than most, and I believe the number one reason why is the high quality of education that my spouse and I have received. The cynicism and negativity towards education is shocking and painful though to read."
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"Boy, some people really hate education here. This is not for frills, this is basic survival for schools, everything, gas, food, paper, computers, textbooks services, supplies, maintenance on aging buildings... The Legislature and governor long ago gave up giving schools a cost-of-living increase. That’s why so many districts are running levy overrides. School boards are not fiscally irresponsible, they are mostly very conservative.
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"...You need to always support schools even if you don’t agree with the use of the funds. Soon China will be the world’s number one English speaking country, which equals greater competition. Children born after 2000 are the first generation not expected to outlive their parents. Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years. Support your local school!"
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"One of the first programs to get cut is PE. The majority of the kids go home and sit on their butts. PE gives them 30-60 minutes of physical activity they wouldn’t otherwise get. It is one of the many things schools need. By the looks of things in the schools, many parents aren’t doing a good job watching what their kids eat, either."
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"As a citizen, I have a compelling interest in public education. That does not include a blank check. From what I can see, public education is extremely well funded in this state. However, the quickest way to be labeled ‘anti-education’ in any political discussion is to question the need for even more state funding. The fact that anyone would consider the state public teachers’ union to be an impartial source of information on educational funding is laughable. The union has only one agenda — acquire more compensation for its members."
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"Let's get our facts straight, please. The emotional blackmail regarding spending on our children needs to stop. Below is the 2008-09 education budget from the State of Minnesota. Please note that 40 percent of every tax dollar goes to the Department of Education. That number doesn't include the $1.3 billion for Higher Education. The other 60 percent runs everything else at the state: DNR, State Patrol, Human Services, DOT, Economic Development, and the State Government.
- $13.7 billion from the state’s General Fund and is a 7.7 percent increase from FY 2006-07 spending; when the impact of education shift buy-backs are excluded.
- $714 million in new dollars for education
- Nearly 40 percent of the state general fund would be spent on education
- Every district receives general formula increase of two percent in each of the next two years. (Total of $294 million)"
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"The funding for education is fine. It is the managing of that money by our legislature and school districts that needs fixing."
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"Funny, the military always asks for more and more money, and no one ever says, ‘When is enough enough...’ The defense department has cost overruns all the time, where are cries for them to live within their means?"
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"Here’s the deal, education is a matter of national security. If we don’t keep up with the rest of world (China), we are in trouble. Why doesn't the richest country in the world have the best schools?..."
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"Education spending is one of the sacred cows that in some people's view is beyond criticism. The only acceptable answer is ‘more.’"
