Easter Events
The Courier
PAGE 20
www.the-courier.org
a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota
March 2013 | Volume 20, Issue 8
FREE
Parents advocate for schools at the Capitol Deb Griffiths Director of Communications, Schools for Equity in Education
On February 19, a group of parents from Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) and Centennial and Forest Lake school districts traveled to the Minnesota State Capitol to meet with area legislators. Deb Griffiths from Schools for Equity in Education (SEE) hosted the day, arming the delegation with buttons, posters and education funding details. SEE is an association of 62 Minnesota school districts that represents nearly 250,000 students including those from ISD 15. SEE works to advocate for equity and adequacy in K-12 education funding and policy. The parents asked legislators to fund schools fairly for all students no matter the zip code. With the heavy reliance on school levies to make up for inadequate state funding, the emphasis was on making school levies more affordable in low property wealth districts. The cost to the taxpayer for a levy dollar is based on the individual property wealth of the district. Without significant commercial and industrial development to broaden the tax base, taxpayers in low property wealth districts, such as ISD 15, pay over twice as much as their peers in high property wealth districts for identical revenue for their schools. Because of the disparities in the cost of a levy dollar with
Parents from Independent School District 15 and neighboring school districts visited the state capitol to talk about school funding issues. Pictured (L-R) Deb Griffiths, from ISD 15 Angela Leners, Valerie Vee, Sara Stream and David Roberts, and Kurt Schrader, Senator Karin Housley, Jill Olson, Kathy Osterberg, Kathy Timm and Julie Peterson Deb Griffiths, Schools for Equity in Education
Saturdays in January, the St. Francis High School boys basketball coaching staff and several players from both the boys and girls basketball programs offered a free clinic to ISD 15 youth, kindergarten to grade 3. The clinic was an opportunity for youth to interact with high school players and learn basic skills of the game. The clinic, sponsored by the ISD 15 Community Education Rec Department and St. Francis Basketball Association, required no registration and simply allowed young aspiring basketball players to show up and have fun. Participation at each clinic exceeded expectations with between 75-95 participants depending on the Saturday morning. High school athletes enjoyed the opportunity to pass on what they love about the sport of basketball and realized the impact they have as role models to young athletes in the community. By Ryan Hauge, St. Francis High School Head Boys Basketball Coach low property wealth have substantially less school levy dollars to support the needs of their students. The widening educational opportunity gap puts students in these districts at a distinct disadvantage, as they will compete for college placement and jobs with all students across the state. The parents urged the legislators to support several bills that would lower the school levy cost for taxpayers in SEE school districts. These school advocates also urged the legislators to provide inflationary increases to basic school funding. The group wants their schools to be able to maintain class sizes
The Pines Craft Retreat
LLC
East Bethel Bring friends, 3301 Viking Blvd., East of Hwy. 65 in fts, food and cra 501 8-9 -22 beverages. www.thepinescraftretreat.com 763 x, It’s for you to rela enjoy and have Specially designed for groups of 5-16 for scrapbooking, fun. quilting, reunions, getaways, meetings, retreats and more!
and program offerings for students. Without additional funding to keep up with rising costs, cuts to school district budgets are likely. The group met with area Representatives Tom Hackbarth and Linda Runbeck and Senators Michelle Benson, Roger Chamberlain, Karin Housley and Alice Johnson. As part of its efforts, SEE has put together a three-minute video to help inform and educate the public on the equity issue. To view the video, go to www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Thailal4iZs. For more information, visit www.schoolsforequity.org.
Newly constructed get-a-way! Fully furnished kitchen, 5 cozy bedrooms (with bedding and towels) Large crafting area with 5-foot tables and comfortable/ adjustable chairs Computer station with wireless internet and printer 55-inch flat screen TV and Blue Ray player
March What’s Inside Schools in Action..........................................2 School Board Highlights.........................13 Community Education............................14 Community & Business...........................17 Easter Events...............................................20 Sports & Outdoors....................................30 Life..................................................................34 Classified.......................................................36