STATE LAWMAKERS INVESTIGATE EDUCATION FUNDING

The Brainerd School Board will certify last week's referendum election at Tuesday, November 13th meeting at noon and talk about budget reductions on Wednesday, November 14th at 11:30am. Brainerd, Crosby-Ironton and Wadena Deer Creek referenda were defeated and administrators at all 3 schools have said budget cuts and teacher layoffs could be in the future. Most school administrators say state funding remains inadequate and that's why they're short of money. Roseville lawmaker Mindy Greiling is the chairperson of the House Education Finance committee. She participates on a task force of 4 state senators, 4 state representatives and Education Commissioner Alice Seagren. The task force is looking at the state education funding formula and looking for ways to fine-tune it. Greiling said one of the resources the committee's using is the work of education research group PS Minnesota ( http://www.psminnesota.org/.) Greiling said the committee's work was to have been done in January but she thinks now it will be more of a work-in-progress and a key part of next session.