[Winona Online Democracy] Minnesota SOS 3,000 rally at State Capitol for more school funding by Kavita Kumar About 3,000 people, some in tuxedos and prom dresses, rallied on the steps of the State Capitol on Saturday in a last-ditch effort to increase K-12 school spending. Teachers, administrators, parents and students from all over the state carried signs, chanted "Keep Minnesota Smart" and booed House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon. The House and Senate school spending plans, passed last week, exceed Gov. Jesse Ventura's recommendation. But protesters said Saturday that neither was enough. "This fight is far from over," said Sandra Peterson of the state teachers union. Peterson, co-president of Education Minnesota, asked the crowd, "Is the governor's proposal enough?" They responded with a resounding "No!" "Is the House's enough?" "No!" "Is the Senate's enough?" "No!" "They are all inadequate," Peterson said, predicting widespread teacher layoffs, increases in class sizes and program cuts. "And we're about to do this in a time of plenty." The House bill, an $8.7 billion total package, includes $355 million in new funding for K-12. The Senate's $8.8 billion package includes $458 million in new money. With just two weeks left for legislators to decide the final amount, union co-president Judy Schaubach said she is "cautiously optimistic" that more funding can still come. She urged people to keep the pressure on. More than 6,000 people have called legislators since Monday night when education Minnesota began running television ads, she said. Sviggum was booed when he pointed out that there had been large increases in school funding in the past two years. He added, "But we also need to improve that." Angry crowd members interrupted his speech with chants and shouts, while Sviggum pleaded for civility. DFLers, including U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., drew a more friendly response. Some, though not all, said they supported the Senate's bill. Jackie Jenko, a fifth-grade teacher from Chisholm, said she has seen her classes swell to 32 students. And there is only $122 in the budget next year for her supplies. "I feel like that limits my ability to teach," she said. Some students from White Bear Lake High School attended the rally dressed for their prom, which was Saturday night. "It's absurd they think they're giving us enough money," said Trevre Andrews, a senior wearing a tuxedo and carrying a large bullhorn. Courtney Barrette, a junior, said that some of her favorite teachers have been laid off because of an already strained school budget, and that class sizes have grown. "You have to stand in a line just to get help from the teacher," she said. "I can't learn like that." -- +----------------------------------------------------------+ | Fred A. Bischke | Home Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | 1490 66th Ave. NE | Work Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]| | Fridley, MN 55432 | Phone: (763) 571-2248 | +----------------------------------------------------------+ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
