EDINA, Minn. — The Edina School Board was set to discuss its budget Monday night when its meeting was interrupted by Pro-Palestinian protesters. The school board then put a hold on the entire discussion.
It is one of dozens of districts across the metro that says it's facing millions of dollars in budget shortfalls and balancing it could lead to layoffs and program cuts.
The data was released Monday by the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD). It includes 47 K-12 school districts and six intermediate/cooperative districts in the seven-county area, including Rochester, Duluth and Mankato.
AMSD reports its survey last month amongst its members found more than 70% face a combined budget shortfall of more than $300 million for the 2024-25 school year.
This comes as the legislature passed a record $2 billion in new school funding last year and has experts trying to explain where the money is being spent.
"Even though we saw a big increase this last session, we’ve still been digging out of that hole for the last two decades," said AMSD Executive Director Scott Croonquist. "And it’s going to mean some challenging decisions for our school districts."
Croonquist says half the historic money was already earmarked for government-mandated, new programs like free school meals, a new reading curriculum and extended unemployment benefits.
The other half of the money goes into a general fund that's available for school operations, according to Croonquist. He says that pays for things like school supplies, transportation and salaries. Historic inflation and staffing shortages have had a major impact on the budget and districts have responded by increasing salaries in several job categories to fill vacancies and settle employment contracts.
The statewide teacher's union, Education Minnesota, says more than 100 districts are still negotiating contracts, including St. Paul. The teacher's union there is set to go on strike next week if a deal isn't reached.
"It makes it so localities have to fill in the gap," said Macalester Political Science Professor Lesley Lavery. "The federal and state government are going to have to take action if we care about our public schools and if we want people to go into teaching and continue this public service."
Professor Lavery says the disconnect deepens at the polls, too, if voters think districts are well-funded, meaning they may be less likely then to pass a levy.
Add in low teacher morale and an aging workforce ready to retire, even more are being pushed out of the profession.
The president of Education Minnesota, Denise Specht, calls this a longtime crisis that has only grown on the backs of educators.
"I think the fact that there are shortfalls being reported by the school districts just goes to show how dire things were," said Specht, who points out that educators have made longtime sacrifices. "I hope we’re not blaming the workers. They're saying, 'Time's up, it's time to recognize us.'"
Croonquist is now calling on state policymakers to approve more, supplemental funding in light of last week's announcement from the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget that the FY24-25 biennium is projected to end with a $3.7 billion surplus.
He acknowledges the 2024 is not a budget year, but is hoping for $100 million by the end of the session in May.
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