Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools: News

Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools watching out for education legislation
Eden Prairie News
By Leah Shaffer

Visit a local school fundraiser and one can see direct results of parent involvement. Those involved in Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools wish they could channel some of that parent energy toward a focus beyond individual schools. "It'd be great if more people got involved with the group," said CEPS member Holly Parker. Parker noted what happened last year, when parent groups, like CEPS, from other districts joined together in demanding more money from the state level after years of no funding or cuts.

"That really, I think, impacted what happened," Parker said of the groups. Fellow CEPS member Ron Borchardt said the schools would not have gotten the 4 percent increase without the citizens of Minnesota making it happen. "The legislators need and want our help," said School Board and CEPS member Jill Scholtz.

"You can influence them," adds Borchardt.

But, after a successful year of lobbying for education funding, CEPS members aren't resting on their laurels. Members like Parker keep up to date on bills, call their legislators with their opinions and send out e-mails keeping others up to speed on issues.

And what are the school-related issues this year?

One of the plans proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, as stated in a news release, "would require every Minnesota school district to spend at least 70 percent of expenditures directly on classroom instruction."

That is one piece of legislation CEPS opposes, which it describes in its platform as an interference "with the district's ability to meet local needs and provide the best educational value for the dollar."

Other legislation CEPS opposes for that reason, includes "a mandatory 2 percent staff development set aside that dictates how the 2 percent is allocated" and "a mandatory health insurance pool for all school teachers."

The 70-percent proposal, said Scholtz "diverts the conversation away from student achievement."

What the group does want the Legislature to do in the short term, according to the CEPS 2006 platform is:

* Fully fund special education requirements.
* Amend the basic formula to account for market driven operating cost differentials.
* Pass a statutory amendment to allow school boards to have levy authority and/or charge an equal fee for all students riding buses.
* Restore funding to early childhood and kindergarten readiness programs.

Especially with special education funding, notes Scholtz, it's a shared responsibility between the federal government and the state. "And both parties are not living up to their part," she said. Because how special education is funded is such a complicated subject, an upcoming CEPS meeting will likely tackle that issue.

Along with keeping an eye on the Legislature, CEPS members also want to get on-site liaisons for each school and the family center, said Member Alicia Yost. Yost also said there's a big push to get people on the e-mail list.

Because although the group trains and informs citizens about school issues, it is also receptive to ideas, according to member John Estall.

"People should know we're nonpartisan, we're non-confrontational," he said.