Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A proposal to increase state aid to fund public schools is good news but one that does not go far enough.

So said Superintendent Lynn Steenblock last Thursday during a report on Gov. Pawlentyís proposed school funding plan.

The proposal comes as the ISD 831 School Board begins its process of adjusting expenditures by $2 million for the 2005-2006 school year that starts on July 1. The plan will include $1.5 million in spending adjustments and use of $500,000 from the districtís undesignated fund balance.

The Pawlenty proposal that must work its way through the House and Senate seeks 2 percent funding increases in each of the next two school years. The proposal would increase the basic education per pupil funding formula from $4601 to $4693 in the first year and to $4986 per pupil in the second year.

Steenblock reported to the school board at its regular meeting Feb. 3 the district would receive some $500,000 in the first year and $750,000 in new funding the second year if the proposal becomes law.

ìItís a start in the right direction,î Steenblock said. After three years of frozen state aid, the superintendent said he was pleased to see some movement even if it wasnít enough to solve the districtís financial woes.

Steenblock said he had additional concerns about changes in the weighing formula for determining average daily membership and its impact on the funding Forest Lake would receive. Other changes in the excess levy cap would open doors for additional local voter authorized excess levy dollars to support schools beyond current limits, he said.

Steenblock said school officials would continue to research other facets of the proposal that would replace miscellaneous levies with a per pupil discretionary levy that would be subject to citizen recall through a post-card reverse referendum proposal.

Districts that would adopt new methods for compensating teachers would be eligible for alternative compensation revenue dubbed ìQ Comp,î Steenblock said.

Steenblock said officials will continue to monitor progress of the proposal. How it will impact the current budget adjustment plan is another question as the district may not have the flexibility of delaying its decision while awaiting a state decision.

Additional state funding would have a positive impact on any final budget plan, officials said.

Meeting schedule

Residents of the district who desire more details on what the district is planning for its budget adjustment plan can find that detail at a series of community school meetings that began Feb. 1 and continues through March 10.

Public input as part of the process is welcomed, Steenblock said.

The meeting series is as follows:

ïFeb. 10, 7 p.m., Wyoming Elementary, 25701 Forest Blvd. (US-61).

ïFeb. 15, 6:30 p.m., Central Learning Center, 200 SW 4th St.

ïFeb. 15, 7:30 p.m., Southwest Junior High, 943 SW 9th Ave.

ïFeb. 21, 6:30 p.m., Linwood Elementary, 21900 Typo Creek Drive.

ïFeb. 22, 6:30 p.m., Scandia Elementary, 14351 Scandia Trail N. (TH-97).

ïFeb. 28, 6:30 p.m., Forest Lake High School, 6101 Scandia Trail N. (TH-97).

ïMarch 1, 7:30 p.m., Lino Lakes Elementary, 725 Main St.

ïMarch 7, 6:30 p.m., Forest View Elementary, 620 SW 4th St.

ïMarch 8, 6:30 p.m., Central Learning Center, 200 SW 4th St.

ïMarch 10, 7 p.m., Century Junior High, 21395 Goodview Ave. N.

The district is also scheduling meetings at several non-school facilities. More information about these meetings will be coming soon.

Meeting dates are posted on the districtís website: www.forestlake.k12.mn.us.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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