EXCERPT: “A number of school superintendents, board of education members, teachers and students from across the region took to the stand Friday to share with Minnesota legislators the unique educational needs of Greater Minnesota school districts. During an approximately two-hour long field hearing at Windom Area Middle/High School, those affected most by education finance and policy decisions shared some common messages to members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Education Finance Committee prior to the committee hearing and referring two bills forward. Among the testimony heard included: the need to reform public education financing, with specific regard to more equitable funding to school districts statewide; the need for better funding for special education populations; improvements to safety and security, which includes counselors and support staff for students’ social and emotional well-being; and appropriate funding and recognition of the importance of career and technical education programming.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2SqJh8q
