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Julie Schultz Brown, Saint Paul parent
thank you letter to Speaker of the House
Steve Sviggum re: June 21, 2005 meeting.

June 21, 2005

Rep. Steve Sviggum
463 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

Dear Speaker Sviggum:

Thank you for taking the time today to meet with citizens about their concerns.  I wonder about your motivation, however, given that you have most certainly made up your mind concerning education funding and the sources of that funding.  The governor’s recommendation is not equitable or satisfactory.  I would recommend that you read the enclosed editorial by Rep. Erhardt – with whom I never thought I would agree!

I also wonder about your motivation in suggesting that the principal of my children’s school – Carol Markham-Cousins, with whom you met directly after meeting with my St. Paul NEAT group – is performing her job inadequately.  (I thought you wanted respectful behavior?)  I’ll grant you the benefit of the doubt by suggesting that you are obviously under a great deal of stress in your job.  But to suggest that you could walk into a dual immersion school setting and perform well as a teacher is ludicrous.  I don’t know how many years it’s been since you stood in front of a classroom, but things have changed, Rep. Sviggum, and it’s time that you and the rest of Minnesota’s leadership wake up and smell the coffee! 

Minnesota has, until this point, been known as a State of integrity and solid values, with its focus firmly on the common good.  We are slowly but surely becoming focused on ourselves, ourselves, (our pocketbooks), ourselves, and to hell with the common good.

Education is not a cost, Speaker Sviggum, it is an investment.  As the steward of Minnesota’s dollars, you need to think like an investment banker, not a teacher.  Taxes must be set at rates to fully and sustainably fund Minnesota’s education needs.  We have an abundance of resources, and some of us are happy to share with those in need – not just through philanthropic gifts (which we also make), but through tax dollars. Listen up.

Sincerely,

Julie Schultz Brown

cc:  Governor Tim Pawlenty, Rep. Matt Entenza, Sen. Dean Johnson

enclosed:  Star Tribune editorial and article on School Finance.