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Board discusses drafting resolution asking legislature to avoid mid‑year budget changes that affect districts
Summary
Directors debated a proposed resolution urging the Minnesota Legislature to avoid passing mandates or funding changes that take effect during the budget year; some directors urged removing a session‑specific clause and pursuing direct legislator engagement instead of a resolution.
Board members discussed a draft resolution at the Sept. 9 meeting that would urge state lawmakers to avoid enacting mandates or budget changes that take effect in the same budget year and to consider timing changes so districts can budget effectively.
"This kind of addresses that and ask the legislature to make sure that anything that they pass, either to pass it earlier, their budget earlier, or to make it, not effective until our next budgeting year," said Chair Matt Swanson when introducing the item as a discussion point.
Directors raised procedural and strategic concerns. Director Baker questioned the value of a resolution without direct follow‑up, suggesting board members instead contact legislators or create a legislative committee for sustained engagement. "A resolution without action is just a piece of paper," Baker said.
Director Amber Cameron recommended narrowing or removing a session‑specific clause that tied the resolution to an immediate legislative date and suggested that doing so would make the resolution less partisan and more likely to gain support. She also relayed feedback she received from state legislators indicating the recommendation may require constitutional or timing changes to be effective. Director Carly Anderson said she was supportive of section edits and uncertain about the priority of the item relative to the board’s workload.
Superintendent comments noted the issue is long‑standing and that associations such as the Minnesota School Boards Association could amplify district requests. "Anything we could do to support that or to affect change with the legislature, you know, I'd be remiss not to support that," the superintendent said.
The board took no formal vote; members asked for further refinement if there is support to submit a resolution by the Minnesota School Boards Association’s Sept. 24 collection deadline. Director Cameron said she had contacted her state legislators and that they were open to conversation but warned a March‑1 timing request in the draft may not align with the constitutional and executive budgeting calendar.
No formal action was taken at the Sept. 9 meeting; directors asked the item remain a discussion and suggested edits and additional outreach before any formal submission.
