The state is getting a lot of bang for its buck when it comes to the Annandale School District, State Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) told school board members, Monday, June 28. Though it is ranked near the bottom when it comes to state aid (293rd out of 341 districts), time and again Annandale has submitted some of the best math and reading scores in the state. “I think the state is getting a good thing for its money,” Urdahl said. Urdahl visited the board during its regular June meeting to discuss changes education has been dealt since the last legislative session. Though many called the session unproductive, he said some good things were accomplished and public education actually came out better than other areas. Standards were established for science, social studies and physical education, for instance, though Urdahl, a social studies teacher himself, questions whether the social studies standards may be too comprehensive. “I think teachers can do the job, but my question is, can they do it in a way that is interesting?” he said. “My concern is they may be teaching the bones without the flesh on it.” But the item pressing most on educators’ minds, school funding, remained stagnant. Two years ago the state froze funding for public schools and it hasn’t budged since. When Supt. Steve Niklaus asked if there was any hope for increased funding in the next two years, Urdahl referred to the deficit the state is experiencing but reassured him that “things can change.” “One comment I heard in the Legislature is that schools cannot go four years without an increase. That’s the hope I can offer.” But the fact that schools like Annandale continue to prosper despite no new money is what Urdahl heralded as the achievement of public schools. “Annandale is ranked very high, but as far as receiving funding is near the bottom … That says a lot for the district,” he said. Niklaus gave credit to the local taxpayers, who continually elect to support the school district by passing levy referendums. “We are doing well because of the local property taxpayer’s help. We are directing that money to things like smaller class sizes, but if local money has to replace what should have come from the state … there is a limit to what can be done,” he said. Discussion on June 28 centered around funding, the highly debated social studies standards and the feel in the Legislature toward public schools. “What is the general feeling toward public schools?” Niklaus asked. “I can’t speak for everybody,” Urdahl said, “but I know among some members there is a very negative perception.” Niklaus referred to a comment made at the close of the session in May by Senate Minority Leader Dick Day (R-Owatonna), who was critical of the Minneapolis and St. Paul schools. “It’s frustrating to work in an environment where people are doing the maximum they can, yet have such little value put on them,” Niklaus said. “What can we do to change that perception?” Two of the issues contributing to that perception is the idea that, no matter how much money the state pours into education, more is always needed, Urdahl said. “Jesse Ventura called education the ‘great black hole for money,’” he said. The other criticism is the performance gaps among underprivileged and minority children. Former education commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke was particularly vocal about that. “My statement to her,” Urdahl said, “was, if you want all students reading by the first grade, why are we cutting ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) programs? How can we cut programs essential to these children. Investing in education, especially in the younger students, that will shrink the gap.” Urdahl’s appearance was not the first he has made at Annandale School Board meetings during this term, his first as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. “He has been a more frequent visitor, more interested than prior reps,” Niklaus said. “Given his background as a social studies teacher, he understands schools and places high values on students and the need to provide for them.”
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