Monday Wrap Up.  There will likely be progress on the MNLARS issue today as the Senate is taking up the bill on the floor this evening.  The big education news of the day took place in the House Education Policy Committee and the release of the Legislative Auditor's report on Debt Service Equalization.  The House Education Policy Committee took up a number of bills related to teachers, including HF 1329, which would dramatically change a number of provisions in the recently-established tiered licensure system.  HF 1559 was also heard.  This bill would raise the training requirements for special education paraprofessionals and fund sixteen hours of training.  It is going to be a very hectic week for the House Education Policy Committee as they wade through a colossal number of bills as the work to meet the March 15 policy committee deadline.

The more exciting news for SEE districts is the release of the evaluation of the Debt Service Equalization Program by the Program Evaluation Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor.  The report gives an excellent and thorough description of the program and its shortcomings in meeting the current building needs of school districts throughout Minnesota.  Foremost among its recommendations is the suggestion that the current thresholds and equalizing factors for the program be updated to create greater property tax fairness.  Another recommendation looked to explore the differences between the needs of growing districts in need of new construction and districts that need to replace, rather than continue to repair, older buildings.  There are also suggested revisions to the Minnesota Department of Education's Review and Comment process.

Here is a link to the page where the Executive Summary and the complete report can be downloaded:  Debt Service Equalization for School Facilities

Kudos to Jody Hauer as Project Manager and Will Harrison from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on a job well done.  And just in time for the hearing on Senator Carla Nelson's SF 1237 on Wednesday.