Home > Organizing > School Levies > 2007 School Levies > 2007 Levy Letters	Print View

Subject: Funding Our Schools

Dear Governor Pawlenty,

As you know, almost 100 school districts in our state are asking local taxpayers for levy authority to help meet some of their educational funding needs. Even if these levies pass, they are not going to provide sufficient money to meet the growing needs and requirements in our schools. I have been volunteering in the Roseville School District for over five years and each year I see our teachers paying for more and more classroom expenses with their own money.

I have to ask you, would you have chosen to run for the Governor of Minnesota if:

1. You knew going into your job that your family's personal budget had to pay for the office supplies you needed to get your work done as Governor?
   
   
2. Your family's personal budget had to be used to purchase winter clothing and food for some of your staff members that could not otherwise afford it?
   
   
3. Your travel budget as Governor would only be provided if your constituents voted for it in a levy? If the levy did not pass, again, how would your family feel about picking up the cost of your travel?

I'm guessing the job of Governor of Minnesota would sound less appealing to you and your family given these sets of circumstances. We ask the hard working teachers of our state (and their families) to deal with these budgeting burdens each and every day. We not only ask our teachers to close just the achievement gap but we now ask them to close the economic gap as well.

Sincerely,

Amy Anderson