Draft 2009 Legislative Platform
Presented by Mark Ranum and Doug Johnson, 2009 MLA and MEMO Legislative Chairs
October 2, 2008
This platform is not in priority or any other specific order. More specific talking points will follow.
1. State Library
· MLA/MEMO (M/M) supports funding levels for the Braille and Talking Book Library that insure the must needed services and programs are readily available by the vision impaired and others to these valuable resources. (Funding level to be determined)
· M/M supports funding for the Minnesota Library Structure Study on how library services are delivered in the state as proposed by the State Librarian and the State Library Services agency. ($200,000)
2. Regional Library Basic System Support
M/M supports an increase in the RLBSS grant of $4.8M each year of the biennium.
3. Multitype Library System Support
M/M support the Minnesota multitype library systems' request of an increase of $325,000 in each year of the biennium to be added to the base funding. This increase will expand opportunities to educate library staff as they develop, and serve, skilled information consumers. Minnesota multittype library systems strengthen all types of libraries: academic, public, school and special libraries. (draft)
4. State telecommunications funding for schools and libraries
M/M seeks a $5,750,000 increase in FY 10 and an additional $1,000,000 increase in FY 11 for K-12 school telecommunication and Internet connectivity for a total appropriation of $9.5 million in FY 10 and $10.5 million in FY 11 to equalize costs to districts across the state for a basic level of service. The additional funds will be used to cover existing costs that vary greatly throughout Minnesota. MLA/MEMO also supports continued funding to public libraries at $2.3 million annually through the Regional Library Telecommunications Aid (RLTA) program. Telecommunications and Internet access as well as access to MnLINK and ELM are integral components of K-12 instruction and public library use. K-12 schools and public libraries in Minnesota share a common statewide backbone, as well as local lines in many communities for high-speed networking.
Highspeed Telecommunication Infrastructure is Essential to Meet K-12 Education and Public Library Goals
Current administration and legislative proposals assume the statewide existence of a “free” electronic highway – the Internet. A connection to the Internet is not free and availability, performance and cost varies widely across the state.
· The Learning Network of Minnesota was created to allow students, staff and library users equal access to worldwide learning resources, including those available on the Internet. While the volume, quality and relevance of instructional and informational content has greatly increased over the last ten years, many schools and libraries cannot afford to increase the capacity of their connections and cannot take full advantage of these resources. Some districts and libraries have decreased their capacity due to budget constraints.
· As schools increase the use of online learning techniques to meet their instructional needs, particularly to serve special populations, connection capacity is being further strained and degraded. Similarly, as library users access the full powers of the Internet including video streaming, the bandwidth capacity of the library network is severely taxed.
· Accountability reforms spawned by No Child Left Behind and Minnesota statute require rapid, secure access to student performance data. The use of network-based programs and regional servers for online testing and data warehousing and data-driven decision making is increasing.
· A stable, efficient and secure telecommunications infrastructure is essential to continued productivity gains in the administration of both K-12 schools and public libraries. E-mail and web posting of documents allows asynchronous communication. The mailing of printed reports between MDE and school districts or the State Library and public libraries has been replaced with digital data transmission, and videoconferences for both entities and electronic field trips for students are saving time and reducing travel costs.
· Regional cooperation and collaboration for K-12 education and public library telecommunications and Internet access infrastructure development has proven to be cost effective and service efficient and should be recognized and fostered by legislative funding.
· While the unit cost of telecommunications capacity has generally decreased, telecommunications costs are distance-sensitive and cost disparities exist throughout Minnesota. Telecommunications equity aid and Regional Library Telecommunications Aid reduce those disparities for both urban and rural schools and libraries, allowing them to afford the connection capacity necessary to achieve their education and information goals.
5. MINITEX / MnLINK
· M/M supports the current base budget of MINITEX funding at $5.6M
· M/M supports an allocation of $156,000 for the MnLINK Gateway for required software upgrades to insure effective technology for resource sharing in Minnesota
Policy Planks (no funding requested)
6. State Technology Standards
MEMO/MLA supports the finalization and adoption of the state technology plan.
· Minnesota school districts need to plan effectively for technology implementations to support learning and school management.
· The Minnesota Department of Education needs accurate information on technology infrastructure in Minnesota schools to assess the impact of state initiatives such as online testing, data reporting requirements, and global competitiveness (STEM disciplines).
· Minnesota schools need access to sufficient technology infrastructure to engage and educate 21st century students. We can no longer afford an 18th century model of education that is irrelevant to the global economy in which we live and do business.
· Minnesota used to enjoy a sound reputation as an education technology leader. Minnesota is now ranked at C or D levels on national evaluations of education technology use by publications such as Education Week.
· Minnesota students are having to "power down" when they come to school. The 21st century student expects an education that is relevant to the world in which they live, includes real-life experiences, and provides them with the opportunity to learn and communicate outside of the boundaries of their local school district.
7. Early Learning and Literacy
M/M supports funding for programs in early learning and literacy, particularly programs which use the resources and expertise of libraries across the state.
8. Increase in general education funding formula
MEMO/MLA supports a significant general education formula increase for all schools such as that represented by the New Minnesota Miracle.
· School libraries and technology programs are currently underfunded and inequitably funded across Minnesota, leading to inadequate resources and staffing for teaching 21st century skills and workforce development skills.
· Underfunding of specials education programs are cutting into general fund dollars.
9. LGA/CPA and levy limits
M/M supports an increase for LGA/CPA as these programs provide significant financial support for local library services. MLA supports the removal of all levy limits on local governments.
10. M/M supports the recommendations of the MN Library Funding Committee on changes to current Maintenance of Effort laws regarding libraries
Watch List
· Unaffiliated Libraries (MLA currently opposes access to all state services and supports department of education policy as outlined in Commissioner Seagren’s Letter dated November 28, 2005.
· New approach to addressing perceived library staffing/program cuts
· MDE staffing concerns (no school library specialist or educational technology specialist)
· Mandatory completion of the School Library Survey each year by all libraries
