Dayton wants more money for schools in second term
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he wants to continue giving annual funding increases to public schools if he’s re-elected this fall to a second term.
Dayton campaigned on a similar pledge in 2010. He told a gathering of school district superintendents today in Brooklyn Park that he was proud that he was able to accomplish that goal. But Dayton said despite new school spending of $895 million over four years, Minnesota is only slightly above the national average in per-student spending.
“Our work isn’t done,” Dayton said. “I continue to believe that increasing the basic formula is funding without strings attached that give you and your boards of education the freedom, the flexibility and the authority to make those decisions on what’s best for your district.”
Dayton did not specify how much he wants to spend on schools. He told the superintendents that his plan would rely on a state budget surplus.
The governor also said he wants to help school districts improve their facilities by creating a dedicated state fund.
“You can’t have a first-rate education system with third and fourth-rate facilities,” he said.
Dayton asked the superintendents to help him devise the right approach for the dedicated fund, and then help get the legislative support needed to make it happen.
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