Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools: Resources

Did you know?

Even though per capita income in Minnesota is rising faster than the national average, Minnesota has fallen below the national average in per pupil spending for K-12 education for the first time in 35 years! (see pg 3, www.amsd.org/Newsletter/Volume2/AMSD_Connections_Jan_2005.pdf).

The MN Taxpayer's Association released a report that determined that Eden Prairie Schools are under funded. (www.mntax.org)

Eden Prairie ranks 8th from the bottom of 350 MN Districts for the amount of state funding per student. (MN Dept. of Education Revenue Disparity Report of 10-29-03). Eden Prairie's state revenues for education ranks 164 out of 168 school districts studied by the State Auditor. (www.osa.state.mn.us)

Eden Prairie ranks 96th out of 111 metropolitan communities for total school taxes. ((2004 Property Tax Report, www.citizensleague.net)

Eden Prairie's ability to receive funding from local referendum is capped lower than neighboring districts. (Example: EP's cap is $869.57 per student, while Edina's is $1,395, Minnetonka's is $1,428, and Hopkins is $1,396 to name a few).

The Eden Prairiehigh school football program is fully supported bythe Booster club, fundraisers, fees and ticket sales. It is not a cost to the District.

The Eden Prairie "dome" was less expensive to build than a "bricks and mortar" building. It is used during the day for PE classes, after school for intramural activities, and pays for itself with rental revenue.

Eden Prairie ranks 157th out of 168 MN districts for class size. (www.osa.state.mn.us).

EPS capital expenditures have decreased 17% over the last 5 years as the district has continually deferred basic maintenance projects that they cannot afford. (EPS Accountability Report, Jan. 2004, and www.osa.state.mn.us).

The EPS Business Office has received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for two years in a row. And Eden Prairie Schools is one of anelitenumber of Districts in the state who have received an Aa3credit rating from Moody's.

Bishop Engineering named Eden Prairie Schools as one of the most energy efficient school districts in the state.

Eden Prairie's School District audit "reflect(s) very good budgeting and monitoring and also reflect(s) the fact that the district made important decisions to limit or even freeze spending in a number of areas in response to an uncertain level of state funding." (Quote from Dennis Hoogeveen of Larson Allen Weishar).

Statewide grassroots lobbying group for education -- www.parentsunitednetwork.org