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Morrison education issues aired
Staff Writer LITTLE FALLS - Morrison County residents were given an opportunity to ask questions of area legislators and a state education official Thursday to find out where they stand on critical issues involving education.
A county-wide education forum titled, "Coming Together for Education," was held Thursday night at Lindbergh Elementary School, an event sponsored by the Education Committee Health Communities Collaborative of Morrison County.
The forum panel included Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley; Sen. Betsy Wergin, R-Princeton; Rep.-elect Al Doty, D-Royalton; and Mark Steffer, vice president of Education Minnesota, the state's largest teachers' union. Susy Prosapio was the panel moderator.
While there were more than 60 people in attendance at Thursday's forum, other viewers watched the live broadcast on local access Channels 6 and 10 and were given the opportunity to call in and ask questions.
Topics discussed included inequities in school funding, early childhood programs, special education requirements and No Child Left Behind federal requirements.
All panelists agreed that education, along with health care and property taxes, would be hot topics addressed during the upcoming legislative session. They also seemed to agree that the way schools are funded needs to change in order to create equity among the haves and have-nots.
"Constitutionally, Minnesota is responsible for the education of our children and that burden belongs on the Legislature and the governor because property taxes aren't working anymore," Koering said. "The way we're funding schools is broken. It's not working."
The panel agreed that early childhood education is important.
Steffer said Minnesota previously was a state leader in education but now is in the bottom 10 states when it comes to some state-paid early childhood programs.
Fifty percent of children entering kindergarten in the state are not ready, while 10-15 percent are "severely not ready," Steffer said.
"If we have kids who can't even start at the starting gate, how are they going to catch up?," Steffer asked.
Panelists criticized the federal No Child Left Behind mandates.
"Nobody likes it," Wergin said. "I think it's bad policy."
"No Child Left Behind can't leave soon enough to make me happy," Doty said.
Steffer said there are positives to NCLB. It raises academic standards and looks at achievement gaps among students. However, Steffer said the federal requirements also unfairly judge an entire district based on one test taken on one day.
"Every time a new administration comes in, they think they have all the answers, and sometimes I think it just goofs up everything," Koering said.
Koering said he also doesn't support Q-Comp, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's pay-for-performance teacher compensation program.
Wergin said it's a mistake to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" when it comes to judging Q-Comp.
"I have no problem with rewarding good teachers," Wergin said. "We finally have merit pay for wonderful teachers."
Koering challenged viewers and audience members to inform their legislators on issues that are important to them.
"You're stuck with Paul Koering for the next four years," Koering said. "I heard someone once say, 'It takes a village.'"
"It was a Democrat," Doty whispered to Koering in jest. Koering laughed.
Doty said this was the year that change was going to come in education at the state Legislature. He said he needs support from his constituents as well as any information they can share with him that will help in St. Paul.
Wergin reiterated what other panelists previously said, that not everyone is going to get what they want during a legislative session. It's a process of give and take.
Steffer said the state needs a comprehensive education plan that makes sense, and the bottom line is, education is going to mean additional revenue is needed.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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