House K-12 Education Finance Chair Davnie Statement on Exclusion of Emergency K-12 Education Legislation

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – This afternoon, the Minnesota Legislature enacted a package of legislation to assist Minnesotans coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruptions. However, Senate Republican leaders chose to block efforts that would protect hourly workers’ pay in K-12 schools, and various other K-12 education measures to keep Minnesota’s education system intact, and the state’s teachers and students whole.

House K-12 Education Finance Committee Chair Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) released the following statement:

“I’m disappointed with the absence of any policy or finance provisions on K-12 education in today’s COVID-19 response bill. In the Minnesota House we worked on a bipartisan basis to develop a proposal that anticipated the needs of schools, staff, students, and families for a clear path in confusing times. Multiple attempts over the past week to engage the Senate GOP in a productive exchange were met with silence. 

School staff and their families deserve to know if they are going to be paid during this distance learning period. Schools need to know if they are going to receive the anticipated revenues they need to pay those staff. High school seniors need to know if they are going to be allowed to graduate and younger students if they are going to progress to the next grade. Teachers and administrators need to know if they are going to be able to renew their licenses and everyone needs to know if state testing is on for this year or not.

A public health crisis is not a time for silence. The people of Minnesota expect action right now from their elected leaders. The GOP Senate failed Minnesota schools, staff, students, and families through their inaction today.”