Late Day Update. The House and Senate continue hard at work on their versions of the Health and Human Services omnibus funding bill. This bill usually draws a lot of discussion and a lot of amendments and today is no exception. Both bodies are approaching hour number seven on this bill and who knows how long the discussion will continue.

Two education-related items were announced today. First, the E-12 conferees for the House and Senate have been named. They are (with links):

House

Representative Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville): http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10218
Representative Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul): http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10399
Representative Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood): http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10622
Representative John Ward (DFL-Brainerd): http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15253
Representative Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington): http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=12262

Senate

Senator LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Thief River Falls): http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1063&ls=

Senator Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood): http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1067&ls=

Senator Kathy Saltzman (DFL-Woodbury): http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1114&ls=

Senator Kevin Dahle (DFL-Northfield): http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1160&ls=

Senator Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista): http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1043&ls=

In related news, the conference committee will hold its first meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28, starting at 4 PM in Room 200 of the State Office Building. The first meeting is used to compare the provisions in each bill by going through each bill section-by-section. In some instances, provisions where language is identical will be adopted, but there is no guarantee that will happen right out of the gate.

Surveys: Scott Croonquist from AMSD usually gathers data from his districts showing the level of cuts that will occur as a result of both bills. This year, he asked me to join him and invite SEE members to participate. Deb Griffiths e-mailed every SEE superintendent a copy of the AMSD survey to be filled out. The survery is a Word document that can be filled out and e-mailed back to me. Please do that by Wednesday, April 29, so we can present the level of cuts to the E-12 Conference Committee early in its proceedings. Thank you very much.