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Subject: The Financing of K-12 Schools in Minnesota

The current partnership between the State of Minnesota and Minnesota's local school districts is broken. The dependence on voter approved local levies has increased and they no longer are used only for local option services. The use of property taxes for fund core education services is not fair.  All Minnesotan's benefit from investing in the education of all children. This is not a local issue.  In fact it appears that the use of the referendum has divided communities rather than provide a positive voice to questions of how we all can help build stronger schools. We very much need your leadership in fixing this broken system.

I believe that three steps are urgently needed:

1. The State needs to define in operational terms what is an adequate education that meets constitutional muster ("general and uniform, thorough and efficient," etc.) and that should be provided to all Minnesota students; 
   
   
2. This program should be costed out; and
   
   
3. A fair and just revenue stream should be designed to provide a stable source of state and local support.

Minnesota can do better for all of its students than the current school financing system. Will you lead in this endeavor?

Thank you and best wishes!

Van D. Mueller
Professor Emeritus
University of Minnesota
Andover, MN