Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools: The Issues

Eden Prairie Schools are Accountable

Academic Success 2003:
*98% graduation rate!
*A Record Number of National Merit Scholars!
*ACT average scoreis top in the nation!

Fiscal Responsibility Our schools have been successful while stretching dollars as far as they can go. Eden Prairie remains the lowest per pupil spending district in Hennepin County and Eden Prairie's per pupil spending is lower than the state average.
graph

The Problem:
In spite of $11.5 million in cuts over the last5 years, the school districtwill continue to face a $3 million dollar deficit every year if state funding does not keep pace with inflation. Recent cuts in the amount of $3.5 million came very close to raising class size and removing valuable academic programs. Items that were spared from cuts will only end up on the list again if Lawmakers donot provide the funding that the State Constitution guarantees for public education. More cuts will affect the delicate balance between student achievement and financial efficiencies. More cuts could affect the delicate balance between student achievement and financial efficiencies. Some of the factors that affect that balance are out of district control. For example:

No Child Left Behind regulations bring new requirements to Eden Prairie with no additional funding. (Example: testing all children in grades 3-8).
The Federal Government regulates the education of students with disabilities, but they have never produced their obligation of 40% of the funding needed to comply.
The State has placed inequitable caps on local district referendum.
Inconsistent and unreliable state funding hampers the ability to plan ahead and create new programs to grow student achievement. (School funding remained flat for years in the 90's and currently we are in another cycle of no increases).
Demographics (fewer student mean fewer dollars in funding, diverse populations bring new challenges).

How has the district kept the balance before?

Cost efficiency plans for utilities, technology, transportation, paper and others.
Raising fees, including a fee for busing.
Negotiating responsible settlements with 7 different employee unions.
Deferring purchases and repairs
Passing a local referendum
Increasing class size and cutting programs
Seeking partnerships, volunteer efforts, fundraising, grants and alternative revenue.
Negotiating lower rates for vendor contracts.

The district has adjusted the factors that are within its control, but how far can they go before the scale starts to tip?

Why did past fixes not fix the problem?
Cutting expenses has helped the district through the past years' deficits. However, the amount of per pupil revenue from the state has remained flat, and declining enrollment reduces the total amount for Eden Prairie while at the same time district expenses are increasing. The Minnesota State Constitution states that "The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state."(Article XIII, section 1). We cannot expect to continue the cycle of cuts without a negative impact on the quality of education.

Shared Accountability
The Eden Prairie School District has a proven history of fiscal accountability. The most recent budget report showed that "the District made important decisions to limit and even freeze spending in a number of areas in response to an uncertain level of state funding...." (quote from Dennis Hoogeveen of Larson Allen Weishair). For detailed accountability records, please visit the finance section of the district website at: https://www2.edenpr.org/wps/portal/.cmd/cs/.ce/151/.s/1110/.r/1/_s.151/670

Eden Prairie Schools are doing their part to keep the balance. Now we must hold our legislators accountable to their constitutional duty to fund education!