St. Paul school board OKs referendum question for November ballot

A referendum to boost operating funds will go to voters in November as the St Paul school district aims to head off what they say would be million in budget cuts The St Paul school board unanimously approved ballot language at their Tuesday meeting that will ask voters to increase the district s general revenue by per pupil for years beginning with taxes payable in The development will cost the average St Paul homeowner with the median home valued at per year or per month The -year tax is subject to increase with inflation Voters approved similar referendums in and The levy gave the district per pupil or million per year plus inflation in new revenue If approved by voters the increase will generate approximately million per year in additional revenue The school board approved a billion budget in June for An estimated million budget shortfall is to be covered by million in reserve funds and million in budget cuts and new revenue including funds from the levy If the levy is not approved by voters district authorities say they expect to make at least million additional budget cuts Arts music language cultural programs A Morris Leatherman analysis of district residents in June located that supported a property tax increase to maintain educational programs revealed St Paul Residents Schools Superintendent Stacie Stanley And supported a property tax increase to provide financial stability It s our arts and music programs our language and society initiatives we have robust college- and career-readiness programs and pathways Stanley declared And in that survey our residents recounted us that is what they appreciate the greater part about St Paul Residents Schools So really this is to maintain and sustain those programs Because without this additional funding we are guaranteed that we will have to cut million for the - school year And those types of programs would have to be on the table Transportation guard and academic endorsement services also face reductions if the district is not able to find additional revenue according to district bureaucrats And those types of services again are things that our families prioritize when they come to us and they literally cost tens of million dollars to provide Stanley announced Budget strains If state funding kept pace with inflation each year since the district would receive more per scholar than it at present does or approximately million per year according to district authorities And if the district received the same amount in per-pupil funding as the average of districts in the surrounding metro area such as the Minneapolis Citizens School District it would have more per trainee The additional funding endorsement we are seeking is not for enhancements it is to maintain and sustain what we have now Stanley noted The district s decision to move the referendum forward comes as populace schools nationally face funding uncertainty from federal sources Attorney General Keith Ellison publicized Monday that Minnesota joined a coalition of attorneys general and two states suing the Trump administration for freezing funding administrated by the U S Department of Development The funding includes more than million in mentoring funding for Minnesota and billion total across the U S according to Ellison s office At least million was for St Paul Residents Schools Stanley stated That funding goes toward programs like adult basic teaching services for English learners training for tenure-track teachers and direct candidate patronage Stanley reported Referendum has union assistance Functionaries with the teachers union St Paul Federation of Educators expressed endorsement for the referendum Tuesday citing school districts loss of federal COVID relief funding federal cuts and state funding not keeping pace with inflation Our public understands the reality our schools are severely underfunded revealed SPFE President Leah VanDassor in a declaration We entirely can t continue to reduce staff and essential programs without harming students opportunities and our ability to keep great educators in our district This levy is our chance to protect what makes our schools strong A district website with information on the referendum is expected to go live Wednesday at spps org vote Stanley expects to share information at Rondo Days on Saturday and hold district forums Related Articles St Paul Masses Schools brings in special-education teachers from Philippines to meet necessities St Paul school board OKs billion budget for St Paul Central students design a mascot to represent everyone St Paul s Maxfield Elementary breaks ground on neighborhood schoolyard SPPS New Superintendent Stacie Stanley begins first week with district