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Subject: School Funding

Our school funding system is broken.  State funding is not sufficient or sustainable.  Over the last seven years the Stillwater school district has made more than $15 million in budget cuts.  And this year will be the fourth time in seven years that we have asked local taxpayers for levy authority to meet our students' basic needs.   We are not alone.  This year nearly one third of our school districts are asking for this local levy authority.

As a former school board member I am painfully aware that this is not an effective use of our educators and administrators.  Their focus and expertise is needed to further the achievement of our students and prepare them for their future, not seeking resources and struggling to provide the basics.

When will the state develop a rational funding system that will provide sufficient and sustainable funding for all of our schools?  I'm tired of begging for the basics.

Respectfully,

Christy Hlavacek
Afton, MN