T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

Legislation to highlight the percent of school district funding slated towards classrooms was endorsed by Gov. Pawlenty on April 27.

Republican lawmakers, Rep. Karen Klinzing, R-Woodbury, and Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, are sponsoring the legislation which would require school district superintendents to annually certify the percent of operating expenditures intended for classrooms.

According to the Governorís Office, Minnesota school districts on average spend slightly more than 62 percent of total expenditures on classrooms.

A move to 65 percent would mean $214 million more is reaching the classrooms.

ìAs a matter of general, common sense principle, getting two-thirds of the resources into the classroom is a goal worth striving for,î Pawlenty said, adding that worldwide thereís a trend towards a ìflattening of institutions.î

Under the proposal, small school districts ó districts without the economy of scale of larger school districts ó can obtain a certification waiver.

There are no penalties for school districts that ignore certification.

ìIf it turns out youíre too small, you can get a waiver,î Pawlenty said. ìIf it turns out you donít feel like doing it, or you think itís stupid, then donít do it.î.

But once transparency has been given the issue, school districts not bothering with certification can explain their decision to the taxpayers, Pawlenty said.

The certification proposal has been included in the House K-12 education bill.

Services or staff not considered classroom expenditures include administrators, district, pupil, instructional support services, food service, transportation service, others.

Local school districts were ranked high and low in terms of instructional spending as a percent of total current spending in 2004.

The school district with the highest instructional percent in 2004 was Prinsburg, with about 80.9 percent of spending directed towards classrooms.

How they ranked

Local school district rankings are:

ïRosemount-Apple Valley, 67.1 percent, ranked No. 7 among the stateís 343 school districts.

ïSt. Francis, about 66.7 percent, ranked No. 9.

ïMonticello, about 66 percent, ranked No. 14.

ïAnoka-Hennepin, 66.1 percent, ranked No. 18.

ïBuffalo, 65.6 percent, ranked No. 22.

ïBurnsville, 65.2 percent, ranked No. 24.

ïFridley, 62.5 percent, ranked No. 74.

ïElk River, 62 percent, ranked No. 87.

ïCentennial, 61.3 percent, ranked No. 113.

ïMilaca, 61.3 percent, ranked No. 115.

ïCambridge-Isanti, 61.2 percent, ranked No. 117.

ïForest Lake, 61 percent, ranked No. 126.

ïChisago Lakes, 60.7 percent, ranked No. 138.

ïLakeville, 60.6 percent, ranked No. 148.

ïStillwater, 60.1 percent, ranked No. 161.

ïColumbia Heights, 59.3 percent, ranked No. 188.

ïCaledonia, 59.3 percent, ranked No. 189.

ïNorth Branch, 58.5 percent, ranked No. 223.

ïFarmington, 58.3 percent, ranked No. 229.

ïRush City, 57.9 percent, ranked No. 247.

ïBig Lake, 57.8 percent, ranked No. 248.

ïPrinceton, 55.5 percent, ranked No. 304.

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