Sept. 1, 2015 School Start: Where is the legislation?
As a result of the continuous pressure by school districts in the state, the vetoed education bill includes the ability of school districts to begin school Sept. 1, 2015.
MREA encouraged local school boards to pass resolutions requesting this or similar legislation and sharing it with their local legislators for approval. MREA received more than 40 resolutions from school districts in Greater Minnesota and shared them with rural legislators, and the legislators introducing bills. The result was approval of the resolutions for the respective local school districts and a general authorization that MREA advocated for.
Now that the bill is vetoed, MREA recommends:
- Let your representative know that you support Speaker Daudt’s approach to pick up HF 844 where it was left at the end of session and add to it the funding and provisions necessary for Governor Dayton’s signature, and to do it quickly. This way the Sept. 1 provision remains in the bill and is signed into law.
- Prepare to call a special school board meeting for the day after a special session to adopt your 2015-16 calendar if you have a 2015-16 calendar option with a Sept. 1 start date. If you have a later June regular board meeting already scheduled, that should work as well.