New Education Committees and Chairs in the Legislature

Here is how Politics In Minnesota describes the new chairs for the Education Committees in the Minnesota House and Senate:

House Education Finance: Pat Garofalo

Entering his fourth term, Garofalo is known around the Legislature as one of the most thoughtful conservative voices on K-12 matters - “not a school-basher, but a genuine innovator,” in the words of one former GOP colleague. Known as a pragmatist, he has better relationships with DFLers than many of his caucus mates.

Garofalo hails from a very conservative party of the Twin Cities suburbs. Early in his legislative career, he drew a GOP challenger who had a base of support among local Republicans despite the fact Garofalo had cast conservative votes on guns and social issues. He weathered the storm and has won re-election by strong margins. Garofalo has a 73 percent lifetime ranking from the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.

House Education Reform: Sondra Erickson

During her previous tenure in the House (1998-2007), Erickson served as vice-chair of K-12 education policy during the last Republican House majority, and counted as her proudest accomplishment the repeal of the state’s Profile of Learning standards. An advocate of local control, she was also known to fulminate against federal No Child Left Behind standards. Erickson is more strident and more doctrinaire than her budget committee counterpart in the House, Pat Garofalo. “She’s a pedagogue,” notes one House source, “and she is always ready to teach everybody what’s what.” Her committee will likely be the venue where legislators resurrect the bill that allows alternative pathways to teacher licensure. The measure has been a priority of the Obama administration. The statewide teacher’s union fiercely opposed the proposal last spring.

Senate Education Budget & Policy: Gen Olson

There were rumblings early in the year that Olson was among the group of long-entrenched GOP moderates in the Senate who were getting a push toward the door. Sens. Dennis Frederickson and Pat Pariseau took the hint and announced their retirement; Olson dealt with the pressures by announcing that her current two-year term - her ninth in a Senate tenure that began in 1983 - would be her last. She thus takes up a critical gavel as a lame duck.

Olson has a rather lonely role in representing the traditionalists in the caucus, a fact that was underscored when she ran for Senate president after the election and lost to Michelle Fischbach. Olson has a long background on Senate K-12 education committees and played a key role in abolishing the State Board of Education. She memorably broke down in tears in 2005 when the DFL-controlled Senate Education Committee voted against confirming controversial Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke. Insiders say they expect her to be a calming presence on a flashpoint committee in 2011.

Hopkins School District Candidate Forum - October 5th

The Hopkins School District Legislative Action Coalition will be putting on a Candidate Forum on October 5th from 7-9pm at Eisenhower Community Center. Candidates for all state House and Senate candidates that represent their district are invited and since there is some overlap, the SLP representatives and senator (44A, 44B and 44, respectively) and opponents will be included. This will be great opportunity to find out about the candidates' positions on public education.

May 4 and 11 Visits to the Capitol

On Tuesday May 4 and Tuesday May 11, SLP ICARE will be going to the State Capitol to show support for public education, talk and learn about the current education legislation and meet with some legislators. We will be there from 10-12 each day. Please let me know if you would like to join in. We will meet at the Information Desk.

I have set up meetings with Sen. Ron Latz both days at 11:00. Rep. Steve Simon has also responded that he is willing to meet with us. Additionally, we can join the Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition who will also be at the Capitol. On May 4, they have meetings scheduled with Sen. Terri Bonoff (11:30) and Rep. Mindy Greiling (12:00) who is the K-12 Education Finance Division Chair.

May 2010 Links

Here are some pertinent links to education legislation:

Bills currently in the legislature (from AMSD)

Status of bills currently in the legislature

Parents United

St. Louis Park Schools

Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition