Slocum: It's Time to Repay Our Schools

To the editor:

As a teacher, I understand how important education is to the next generation. Great schools and quality education are the tickets to economic opportunity for our kids. As a legislator, I am committed to ensuring our schools have the resources they need to provide a world class education to our children and grandchildren.

Due to budget shifts from the past two years, Minnesota owes our schools $2.4 billion in delayed aid. I am honored to serve this term as Vice-Chair of the Education Finance Committee. As Vice-Chair, I am working to repay our schools so that they have the resources they need to educate kids all across Minnesota.

Good schools can have such a positive impact on not only our kids, but on families and whole communities. We simply cannot afford not to repay our schools. I am focused on helping middle class families and ensuring that our youth get the education they need to be successful. 

Repaying the school shift is just a start. Expanding access to early childhood education programs, all-day kindergarten, and new alternative learning programs are ways we can improve the quality of education our kids receive. 

Though it is important, education is only one part of the equation. Throughout the session, I will be supporting legislation designed to help middle class families: property tax relief, health care reforms, and economic development. 

I am eager to hear your ideas about important issues before the legislature. You can reach me at (651) 296-7158 or at rep.linda.slocum@house.mn. You also can send mail to my office, 415 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155. To get regular updates from the capitol sign-up for my email newsletter: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/join.asp?id=15283.

Sincerely,

Linda Slocum

State Representative

*** All letters to the editor can be submitted via e-mail to caitlin.burgess@patch.com. ***

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