Contacting Your Representatives

The Minnesota Legislature passed bonding and finance bills that included the language necessary to convey our schools with their commitment to integration intact at the end of the 2014 session. The Governor has signed these bills. Please thank your representative for their support!

Who to write?

Please thank your own State Representative, and your own State Senator. To find out who your representatives in the Minnesota House and Senate are, visit the state’s Who Represents Me page, enter your home address, and follow the links for MN House and MN Senate that it gives you.

<!–Right now the bill is being held up by Sen. Patricia Torres Ray who is not allowing it to have a hearing in the Senate Education Committee, which she chairs. Send your letter to Sen. Torres Ray as a constituent of the Education Committee.

Senator Patricia Torres Ray
Chair, Senate Education Committee
Capitol, Room 309
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
online contact form
–>

What were we asking for?

The EMID board unanimously called on the Minnesota legislature to convey the Crosswinds program to the Perpich Center for Arts Education and the Harambee school to the Roseville Area school district. EMID Families fully supported this request for conveyance.

What we said?

Below are some talking points that we used to prepare letters or conversations. You may also find inspiration in this packet of written testimony (PDF) from families to the House in 2013. Share your personal story so your legislators know how Crosswinds has impacted your life.

  1. Ask your state representative to support HF2290 for Harambee and ask you state senator to support SF1968 for Harambee. Tell them you support the conveyance of Harambee Environmental Science/ Community Cultures School to ISD 623 Roseville Public Schools for the continued purpose of serving as a multi-district integration school effective July 1, 2014.
  2. Ask your state representative and senator to co-sponsor a bill for Crosswinds. Tell them support the conveyance of Crosswinds Arts and Science Magnet School to Perpich Center for Arts Education for the continued purpose of serving as a multi-district integration school effective July 1, 2014.
    • Crosswinds is a model school that has demonstrated success in providing an integrated learning environment and addressing the achievement gap.
      • The curriculum has a strong focus on arts and science and has been internationally recognized for excellence.
      • The small size and unique approach to learning present at Crosswinds allow it be an efficient and innovative school.
      • Crosswinds has the potential to serve as a lab school and foster innovation in education throughout the state.
    • Embracing Crosswinds as one of its program is in alignment with Perpich Center mission of providing arts education for all students in the state of Minnesota.
      • Perpich Arts High School boasts similar approaches to education and learning environments to Crosswinds.
      • The staff and leadership at Perpich have the unique skills and knowledge needed to operate an integrated school focused in the arts and sciences.
    • Crosswinds’ building was designed purposefully to foster interdisciplinary learning environment with a focus on the arts. It was built with state dollars and should continue to serve the state as a model.
  3. And ask them to continue the state support of transportation funding for students attending these integration schools.

What else can you do?

Another great thing you could do is send a version of your letter to your local newspaper as a letter to the editor. The more positive coverage we can generate, the better.

You can also write to the Governor and our Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner.

Governor Mark Dayton
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/

Dr. Brenda Cassellius
Office of the Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville MN 55113
mde.commissioner@state.mn.us

Thank you!

Thank you for your work on this and your dedication to our school.

If you have any questions about this, need help in preparing a letter or arranging a meeting, or would like someone to attend a meeting with you please contact Zander Sellie, 651-815-5382, Eric Celeste, 651-323-2009, or Sue Mackert, PCAE Executive Director, 763-279-4160.