FOR OUR STATE.

>> Barry: MORE TO COME, AS THEY SAY.

SENATOR LUCERO, LET'S GO BACK TO YOU.

I PROMISED WE WOULD COME BACK TO K-12 EDUCATION.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO OUR VIEWERS.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A VARIETY OF ISSUES, THE AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET, BUDGETING FOR K-12 EDUCATION, AND QUESTIONS ABOUT MICROMANAGING EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER KINDS OF ISSUES.

THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, I BELIEVE IN THE BIENNIAL BUDGET, BETWEEN 45 AND 50% OF THE BUDGET IS K-12 EDUCATION, AND IF I'M NOT CORRECTLY, TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT BILL IS AND YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW IT'S DEVELOPING AND WHERE IT MAY GO, AND WE WILL GO TO SENATOR BOLDON AND HE WANT REPRESENTATIVE HEINTZEMAN.

FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> ONE OF THE -- YOU ARE SPOT ON IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET.

K-12 EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ARE THE TWO LARGEST APPROPRIATIONS IN ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

WELL, IN TERMS OF K THROUGH 12, WARRANTED BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION THE SKILLS AND ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO SET THEM UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS SESSION WITH THE BILL THAT CAME OUT.

SO EARLY ON, THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO, AMONG THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE K-12 EDUCATION AREA WAS MINNESOTA.

THEY WITH THE BUDGET SURPLUS, AROUND 17 1/2 OR 19 BILLION, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT THAT, THEY SAID WE WANT TO FULLY FUND EDUCATION.

SO I ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT EXACTLY DOES FULLY FUND MEAN?

PLEASE GIVE ME A NUMBER SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND.

THEY SAID 8 TO $9 BILLION ON TOP OF LAST YEARS.

NOT LAST YEAR.

8 TO $9 BILLION IS FULLY FUNDING EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE IT'S NOW OVER $2 BILLION OF WHAT'S BEING ADDED.

SO THAT'S NOT FULLY FUNDING EDUCATION PER THEIR STANDARDS.

THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE IN THE BILL ARE NOT EMPOWERING BOARDS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M ADVOCATING THE ENTIRE TIME IN OFFICE IS CONFIRMING THE WORD INDEPENDENT IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM WAS SET UP BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE FOR NEEDS AND HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAXIMIZE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL STUDENTS.

THIS LEGISLATURE AND THE MAJORITY CONTINUED ON THE PATH OF USURPING CONTROL, PUTTING MANDATES, SOME OF THEM UNFUNDED, THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL.

I HAPPEN TO SERVE IN AN AREA, ST. MICHAEL AND CMA SCHOOL, THAT IS THE BOTTOM OF THE FUNDING AND THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THE BOTTOM THE ENTIRE TIME IN OFFICE, AND THAT IS DENYING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE BOARD.

THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO NOT CONTINUE DOWN THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEMS AND AREAS, AND INSTEAD EMPOWERING OUR LOCAL SOURCES SO THEY CAN TAYLOR THE ASSISTANCE.

>> Barry: SENATOR BOLDON, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I I DON'T SIT ON EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE BUT POLICY.

EDUCATION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE -- >> Barry: TELL OUR VIEWERS WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU SAY EDUCATION POLICY.

PEOPLE WHO WATCH THIS PROGRAM REGULARLY GO THEY SPEAK LEGISLATIVE, BUT YOUR ORDINARY VIEWER MAY WONDER WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?

TELL OUR VIEWER WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT PROMPT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AS WE SORT OF LABEL OUR COMMITTEES AND DIVIDE UP THE WORK, SOMETIMES WE WILL DIVIDE UP THE FINANCE FROM THE POLICIES.

ESSENTIALLY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS THE ONE THAT HANDLES THE BUDGET, THE DOLLAR IS CONNECTED TO EDUCATION, WHICH I DON'T SIT ON POLICY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE POLICY.

THEY ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE FUNDING ATTACHED OR MONEY ATTACHED TO THEM.

SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

SOME ARE CAMPAIGNED AND SOME ARE SEPARATE.

>> Barry: INTERRUPTED YOU IN FULL THROAT THERE ON THE K-12 EDUCATION.

YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.

GO AHEAD AND TELL US.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING IN TERMS OF EDUCATION FUNDING, IT IS IMPORTANT, AND APPROPRIATE THAT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR BUDGET.

AS A STATE, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

IT IS A PUBLIC GOOD.

WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN THE NEXT GENERATION IS WELL EDUCATED.

SO IT IS NECESSARY THAT ANOTHER THING I WILL NOTE IS THERE'S CHALLENGES NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT INVESTED AS WE SHOULD HAVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO THERE'S A HOLE THERE THAT WE NEED TO DIG OUT OF THAT QUITE FRANKLY WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT HOLE JUST IN THIS BIENNIUM, AND IT WILL BE WORKING INTO THE FUTURE AS WELL.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN WILLING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THIS YEAR WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE.

I WILL NOTE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS AND IT RELATES TO EARLIER CONVERSATION, A LOT OF THE DOLLARS, MOST OF THE DOLLARS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS ONE-TIME MONEY, NOT ONGOING MONEY.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE LEGISLATURE YOU MIGHT NOT BE THINKING OF THINGS THAT WAY.

BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE THAT WE HAVE THIS MONEY TO SPEND THIS ONE TIME VERSUS MAKING CHANGES THAT WILL GO INTO THE FUTURE AND ADDING THOSE FUNDS IN THE FUTURE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN SPEND ONE-TIME MONEY THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE AND RIGHT, AND THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Barry: VERY GOODMENT THANK YOU, SENATOR BOLDON.

REPRESENTATIVE HEINTZEMAN, K-12 EDUCATION.

>> WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD THIS BILL IN THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE THIS MONDAY.

I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE SHOCKED TO HEAR WHAT I WAS HEARING FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TYPICALLY WHEN THE EDUCATION BILL COMES, THEY KNOW I'M A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE GUY, AND THEY SAY HEINTZEMAN, THERE ARE THINGS WE LIKE AND THINGS WE DON'T LIKE, BUT WE REALLY COULD USE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

THEY ARE NOT SAYING THAT.

THIS BILL IS SUPER HEAVY ON REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM ST. PAUL AS OPPOSED TO THE OPERATING DOLLARS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE AND THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF QUALITY EDUCATION THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO APPLY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING, THAT WE ARE SEEING SO MANY STRINGS ATTACHED TO THESE DOLLARS, THAT MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE SCARED OF WHAT THIS BILL MIGHT MEAN FOR THEM IN TERMS OF ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS AS I JUST MENTIONED.

>> Barry: I HEARD THAT.

THIS ISSUE POPPED UP ON PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AND PREVIOUS YEARS, AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE US EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT MIGHT BE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> WELL, WE COUNTED, BARRY, SO I'M HAPPY TO GET INTO SPECIFICS HERE.

65 NEW MANDATES ARE IN THE HOUSE BILL THAT MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, THINGS THAT GET AT A LOT OF THE -- WHAT HAS TYPICALLY BEEN DESCRIBED AS LOCAL CONTROL, THINGS THAT SCHOOL BOARDS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WOULD USE FUNDING DOLLARS.

THE FORMULA INCREASE HERE IS 4 ON THE FRONT SIDE AND 2 ON THE BACKSIDE, WHICH I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME SUPPORT THERE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADDITIONAL ISSUES, EVEN STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCESSES ARE BEING CHANGED.

LICENSURE RULES ARE BEING CHANGED.

CURRICULUM MANDATES THAT GO ON AND ON AND ON, AND IT'S REALLY CONCERNING TO SCHOOL BOARDS AND TO MY PARENTS QUITE HONESTLY AS THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE GOING TO LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD POST COVID AND SO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE THE LAST TWO YEARS IN LEARNING BECAUSE OF SO MANY KIDS GETTING BEHIND, E LEARNING DID NOT WORK FOR OUR K THROUGH 12 SYSTEM.

WE REALLY NEED TO BE ON TOP OF THIS GOING FORWARD.

IF NOT, OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO STAY BEHIND.

THESE MANDATES THAT ARE UNFORTUNATELY IN THE HOUSE LANGUAGE, WHICH IS 40% OF MINNESOTA'S BUDGET IS EDUCATION.

THESE MANDATES ARE NOT GOING TO GET AT THOSE PROBLEMS AND EMPOWER OUR TEACHERS TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS FOR OUR KIDS THAT ARE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT FLEXIBILITY HAS TO BE THERE, AND I HOPE THE FINAL PRODUCT INCLUDES IT, BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT IT DOESN'T.

>> Barry: REPRESENTATIVE LUCERO, GO AHEAD.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ADD IS PARENTS ARE RESPONDING IN A MANNER OF GROOMING THEIR CHILDREN YOU ARE SEEING A RECORD INCREASE IN HOME AND PRIVATE SCHOOL.

PARENTS ARE NOT HAPPY COMING DOWN FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THEY ARE USURPING AND CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

THESE MANDATES, THEY ARE NOT HELPFUL, AND IT'S MORE OF A AN INDOCTRINATION.

IT'S JUST NOT REALLY BENEFICIAL IN ANY CAPACITY FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE COMPETING WITH PEERS IN A COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE WHO ARE NOT LEARNING THIS SAME TYPE OF DIVISIVE UNNECESSARY CONTENT, WHEREAS MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND IN MATH AND TYPES OF TESTING SCORES.

THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE.

EMPOWERING THEM CAN SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO AGAIN.

AGAIN, THEIR PEERS AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON MATH AND OTHER AREAS RATHER THAN THESE THAT ARE NOT HELPFUL WHATSOEVER.

>> Barry: SENATOR BOLDON, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE WENT AROUND THE STABLE A SECOND TIME.

ANY THOUGHTS ON K-12 EDUCATION?

>> AGAIN, I WOULD REITERATE, TAKE IT BACK TO THE FOCUS ON STUDENTS.

I HAVE MED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS MANY TEACHERS WHO SHARE THE CHALLENGES AND TALK ABOUT EARNING A LIVING WAGE, AND THAT'S PART OF THE INVESTMENT AND OTHER FUNDING GOING INTO CLOSING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUBSIDY AND ENGLISHING LANGUAGE LEARNING SUBSIDY.

WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE NOT INVESTED THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEEDED TO OVER A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, AND SO WORKING TO CATCH UP TO THAT, MAKING SURE THE SCHOOLS