News Advisory

For more information
Megan Boldt 
megan.boldt@edmn.org 
651-245-9163 

SPFE: It’s time to raise revenue to fully fund our schools 

St. Paul, Minnesota, April 16, 2021 – All students deserve welcoming public schools with smaller class sizes and access to mental health support and other resources so they can thrive and pursue their dreams.  

But decades of chronic underfunding have school districts across Minnesota continually cutting budgets. St. Paul is no exception.  

St. Paul educators, parents and state lawmakers on Monday will talk about how the lack of funding and resources affects students, families and educators and will call on state leaders to raise taxes on the richest Minnesotans and largest corporations to fully fund public education. 

A new report released by the Saint Paul Federation of Educators shows Saint Paul Public Schools would receive at least an additional $67.2 million a year if state aid had just kept up with inflation in four key funding areas.  

As school districts prepare for layoffs and program cuts – SPPS estimates $12 million in reductions for next school year — many large corporations are reporting enormous gains despite the economic downturn. UnitedHealth Group, General Mills, Target and 3M made billions more in profits in 2020 than the year before.  

What: Press conference on chronic underfunding in Saint Paul Public Schools 
When: 3 p.m., Monday, April 19 
Where: Via Zoom. Please register advance at https://edmn.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kde-opjIrGdXtWhrPk5c0kntIBr-8q_8K. After registering, members of the news media will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.