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EMID Board meets Wednesday 3/20

The EMID Board will get an update on the progress of legislation to allow Perpich to take over Crosswinds at its next board meeting, this Wednesday (3/20), 5:30pm at Harambee.

The board packet agenda also includes a discussion of EMID employee placement and resolutions on unrequested leaves of absence for staff.

Some families who have been present for hearings at the legislature plan to share observations with the board during the open forum.

This will also be an opportunity for families to catch up with Sue Mackert, of Perpich, who will be providing the board with an update.

While we expect this board meeting to be relatively drama-free, it is important to realize that the board has, as recently as two months ago, changed its agenda dramatically during the meeting itself. Until the Crosswinds situation, in particular, has completely resolved, it is important for as many families as possible to attend board meetings and witness their actions.

Perpich-Crosswinds bill passes House Government Operations committee unanimously

The Perpich-Crosswinds bill in the House (HF592) has passed its second committee with flying colors, getting a unanimous vote from the House Government Operations committee this afternoon. The unanimous support of the Government Operations committee follows an all-but-one win in the Education Finance committee, demonstrating the depth of the bipartisan support for Perpich and its plan to take over governance of Crosswinds.

Many EMID families witnessed the meeting, which started at 12:30pm and didn’t get to our bill until nearly 4pm. The committee had a huge workload and plenty was still on its agenda even after our bill. While waiting we heard the committee pass bills for a statewide health plan for schools and an anti-bullying initiative that demanded schools create a healthier more respectful environment. Many of us realized that the things we’d been saying in our testimonies for Crosswinds would apply equally to some of the other bills being heard. Much of that testimony has been gathered in a packet that we are sharing with each committee. Please write to testimony@emidfamilies.org if you would like to add your voice to this packet.

The depth of our bipartisan support is probably why the only effective tactic of opponents in Washington County has been to stall, especially by preventing any hearing in the Minnesota Senate. Sen. Torres Ray has tarnished her reputation as a defender of integration by refusing to give our bill (SF530) a hearing in her Education Committee. This has been especially disappointing since she is sponsoring SF711, the bill to implement the recommendation of last year’s integration task force, in the Senate. However, this past Monday even Sen. Torres Ray told Crosswinds activists “the bill will have a hearing in the Senate, if not in my committee, then in Sen. Wiger’s [Education Finance subcommittee].” Now we have to hold her to that commitment.

Meanwhile, the House bill was referred on to the Capital Investments committee to discuss an issue of state bonding and make sure that the use Perpich intends is close enough to the intent with which the Crosswinds facility was built. We expect that hearing next week, but it is not on the schedule yet. It may be heard along with the Harambee bill (HF833) which also awaits a hearing in Capital Investments.

Please join us in attending the upcoming EMID board meeting at 5:30pm on Wednesday 3/20 at Harambee. We must make sure the board understands the incredible strength of the Perpich proposal in the legislature and does not simply hand the Crosswinds facility to South Washing County schools in April. A number of issues have been raised in the legislature which put South Washington’s claim to the building in doubt, and it should be a very interesting board meeting as the EMID board comes to grips with what has actually been happening in Saint Paul.

Some Crosswinds theater updates from CASTS

Dear EMID parents, families, and community, here are several theatre announcements of which to be aware.

Our Silent Auction is next month during conferences, April 8/9, Noon-8pm. CASTS needs to raise several thousand dollars to help the theatre department’s production of West Side Story be as spectacular as the EMID community expects. Please contact Dave Zaiman or Bev Sellie directly to let us know if you can volunteer to work at the silent auction for a few hours. Remember, this is an important event and we need parents involved to be successful.

Donations are also needed for the Silent Auction.

Get creative! Everybody knows somebody who may be able to donate something. It doesn’t need to be a business owner! What about places where you a regular customer, like your neighbor restaurant, or perhaps your dry cleaner or car repair shop. They are more likely to donate if asked by someone they know as a good customer. Did you know that your SA points can be used for gift cards? That’s a great way to make a donation!

We have some great autographed photos from local pro teams, as well as some other nice items. We could still use some donations of NEW items, theme baskets (spa day, or Movie night etc….), services, etc. Here are some examples:

3 hours of raking (great for our theatre students to group together and do!)
Restaurant Gift Cards
Tickets to sporting events
Golf or Soccer baskets
free baby sitting services
basket of yarn, patterns, and knitting needles
home improvement – themed items all in a bucket
books or posters
Music lessons
2 hours of individual homework help

In some cases, the company you are requesting a gift or donation from may require this official letter of request on Crosswinds letterhead.

All donations are tax deductible according to IRS regulations. Dave Zaiman can get the Tax ID and receipt to you or any vendor.

As part of the silent auction, we hope to have a “Blind” Gift Card Purchase. Families will be able to purchase an envelope containing a gift card valued at or above the value of the card or gift certificate. They are guaranteed to at least get a card for the amount they paid for the envelope. But to make it more exciting, there will be some cards with much higher values than what was paid! Example: You pay $20 for an envelope. Inside, there will be a gift card worth at least $20, but it could be worth $50 or $100. We need donated gift cards for this. See the note above about seeking donations.

Please drop off your donation at the Crosswinds Office with a note that it is for the Silent Auction – attention Dave Z. Please include your name and the approximate retail value of the item donated. This helps us determine starting bids. Also, if we have any questions about the item, we’d like to be able to reach you. The deadline for donations is Friday, April 5.

Also remember the upcoming Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 27th. We will need volunteers! Please let us know if you can help.

Hearing for Crosswinds on Friday at 12:30pm

Yesterday the Perpich-Crosswinds bill in the House (HF592) was passed out of the House Education Finance Committee and referred on to Government Operations. The hearing at the House Government Operations Committee will be at 12:30pm on Friday (3/15) in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN.

While spoken testimony will be limited to the presenters of the bill, written testimony is welcome from all. We will compile a packet of written testimony for the committee (and future committees). Please send your written testimony to testimony@emidfamilies.org by Noon Thursday (3/14, tomorrow!).

If you prefer to send emails to committee members, there addresses can be found on the Government Operations Committee page.

Also remember that we are still awaiting our first hearing in the Senate. We still need letters and calls to go to Sen. Torres Ray (651-296-4274) who is refusing to hear SF530 in her Senate Education Committee. Please ask for a prompt hearing in the Senate, time is running short!

Crosswinds and Harambee pass first test in the Minnesota House

Both HF833 (the Harambee bill) and HF592 (the Perpich-Crosswinds bill) were heard in the House Education Finance Committee this morning. After being introduced by Rep. Fischer, testimony for Harambee included Superintendent John Thein, and parents Will Bryan and Mike Boguszewski. The Harambee bill, which primarily seeks support for the transportation needs Roseville inherits with the school, saw only minimal questioning and was passed unanimously on to the House Capital Investment Committee.

The Perpich-Crosswinds bill encountered significantly choppier water, but emerged successful as well. Rep. Ryan Winkler introduced the bill and a couple of amendments. Sue Mackert presented Perpich’s case for the school, Mary Cecconi filled in some history and institutional memory from her time on the Stillwater school board, Bryan Bass described the school’s academics and achievements. The committee questioned these speakers, primarily Sue Mackert, for an extended period. Much of the concern was about the finances of the bill. Some of the questioning was also aimed at understanding what Perpich gains and possibly loses in taking on Crosswinds. A number of committee members seemed to be trying to understand exactly why this issue was before the legislature, what had gone wrong at EMID to land this on their plate? Rep. Mariani reminded members that the legislature’s own actions sun-setting integration aid laid some of the responsibility at their own feet.

After questioning, a number of EMID Families representatives testified for Crosswinds: parents Eric Celeste, Tami Bayne-Kuczmarski, and Dan Larson all testified briefly, and Sam Larson and Nate Celeste represented Crosswinds students. I say briefly because we were each given no more than two minutes! The family testimony helped convey the emotional impact of this decision to legislators. A few tears were shed.

One Woodbury Elementary parent, Joe Ryan, also testified briefly in favor of Perpich.

Then the opponents to Perpich took the mic. Superintendent Keith Jacobus of South Washington County (ISD833) spoke against the bill saying that it would hurt his district financially to continue to send students to Crosswinds. Most disappointing, though, was the final testimony of the morning: EMID and White Bear Lake board member Lori Swanson testified against Perpich. That the only representative of the EMID board who addressed the legislature was opposing the very action the board took in January was yet another demonstration of the dysfunction of the EMID board.

Nevertheless, Crosswinds and Perpich prevailed. On a voice vote with only a single “nay,” the committee passed the Perpich-Crosswinds bill along to the Government Operations Committee. We expect that the Government Operations Committee could hold a hearing on HF592 as soon as this week. We will keep you informed.

In addition to the spoken testimony offered at the hearing, which as I said was extremely limited, the members of the committee all received packets of written testimony. A thin packet of seven letters in opposition all came from Woodbury. On the other hand, the committee received 33 letters of substance and support from across our districts, from parents and teachers and community members. Some of this testimony can be found on our website. Even just in weight, the overwhelming support was clear. Anyone who took the time to even glance at the substance of the letters would be even more impressed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to the committee.

Sam Larson and Nate Celeste testifying to the House Education Finance Committee, 2013-03-12

Share written testimony with the House Education Finance Committee

There has been a slight room change for those planning to attend the Perpich-Crosswinds HF592 hearing next Tuesday, see below. But whether you can be present to support Crosswinds or not, you may want to submit written testimony to the committee about your experience of Crosswinds and your reasons for believing that Perpich governing Crosswinds is a good idea for Minnesota. Feel free to reference our talking points, if you need some ideas.

If you would like to share written testimony, it needs to be sent to the committee administrator, Shannon Patrick. Please get your written testimony to her by Monday, 3/11, at Noon so she can put it together into a packet for committee members.

Please include “Testimony for HF592” in your subject heading and send your testimony to shannon.patrick@house.mn.

Feel free to send a copy to info@emidfamilies.org and we will include it as a comment on the website so it can inspire others.

For those of you planning to attend the hearing, please note the slight room change. The Perpich-Crosswinds bill, HF592, will have its first hearing in the House Education Finance Committee on Tuesday (3/12) at 8:15am. This hearing will be in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN.

Crosswinds gets a hearing in the House

The Perpich-Crosswinds bill, HF592, will have its first hearing in the House Education Finance Committee on Tuesday (3/12) at 8:15am. This hearing will be in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN.

Leaders from Perpich and EMID Families are planning to testify, and anyone else is also welcome to send a letter of testimony to the committee or ask to testify in person. Even if you don’t testify, though, it can be very important to show support by being present at the hearing if you can be.

Meanwhile, the bill is stalled in the Senate, where Sen. Torres Ray has so far refused to schedule a hearing in the Senate Education Committee. Please check out the latest details on our website and contact Sen. Torres Ray asking that SF530 be given a prompt hearing.

Crosswinds bill SF530 needs hearing in MN Senate education committee

Our EMID-Perpich bill to rescue Crosswinds is stalled in the Minnesota Senate, and we don’t have a second to lose. Remember, this bill needs to be passed before April 1st or the school will go to South Washington County and the program will be killed. We need your help!

Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, has not scheduled a hearing of SF530. We have heard that she is unlikely to do so without significant pressure from her constituents. Please look at her District 63 map below and send a plea to anyone you know who lives in the area of south Minneapolis she represents. Ask them to please call her office at 651-296-4274, let her staff know they are a constituent of the Senator’s, and ask that she promptly schedule a hearing for SF530 so that Perpich’s proposal may be considered.

Clicking on the map will provide a PDF version you can zoom in on or print.

EMID Families meeting Sunday

Everyone is welcome to join EMID Families for an organizing meeting on Sunday (2/24), 1pm, in the Washington County Library’s “R.H. Stafford Branch” (8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury, MN 55125). We will be meeting to discuss progress on Crosswinds legislation and strategies for upcoming hearings for Perpich before legislative committees.

To find the meeting room, head straight back from the library entrance, all the way to adult fiction, then look on the right. There is a small coffee shop indoors in the ‘central park’ facility before you get to the library entrance, and beverages and light snack foods are allowed in the meeting room.

If you are on Facebook, you can visit our Facebook event to let us know you’ll be coming. But an RSVP is not required, feel free to just show join us Sunday.

EMID Board meets Wednesday 2/20

The EMID Board will get an update on the progress of legislation to allow Perpich to take over Crosswinds at its next board meeting, this Wednesday (2/20), 5:30pm at Harambee.

The board packet agenda also includes a discussion of Stillwater withdrawing from the EMID collaborative, an update on Harmabee’s transition to Roseville, and resolutions placing EMID teachers on “unrequested leave of absence” in order to allow them to seek other employment in member districts.

While this board meeting will likely have fewer fireworks than recent meetings, it is important to realize that the board has, as recently as two months ago, changed its agenda dramatically during the meeting itself. Until the Crosswinds situation, in particular, has completely resolved, it is important for as many families as possible to attend board meetings and witness their actions.

We will also use the meeting as a chance to help you write letters to your legislators and letters to the editor to local papers about Crosswinds. So please, do consider joining us for the EMID board meeting on Wednesday.