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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

Dayton and Johnson differ on direction for schools

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Gov. Mark Dayton said today that he would continue to increase funding for K-12 schools every year that he’s in office.

Dayton made the comments after speaking to a group of school district administrators in Falcon Heights.

He also told the Association of Metropolitan School Districts that he’s also proven that he’s "more an ally than an antagonist” to schools. Dayton helped push through an increase in the state’s per-pupil funding formula and paid for schools to offer all-day kindergarten across the state.

Dayton also said he wants to better prepare the state’s middle and high school students for the workforce needs of businesses. He said he was bothered by the fact that the number of  guidance counselors and vocational classes have been cut back over the last decade.

“We have kids that really don’t recognize that being a welder or a machinist or a machine technician is something that is going to be very much in demand and a well paying job,” Dayton said.

Dayton’s Republican opponent, Jeff Johnson, also spoke to the group. He told the audience that special interest ads suggesting he cut funding for schools are not true. Johnson did vote for a bill that slowed the rate of growth in projected school spending during his time as a legislator. The bill helped close a budget deficit.

Johnson also said he would work to eliminate some of the requirements the state imposes on local school districts – something he says would help free up more money for local school officials.

He criticized Dayton for vetoing a bill that would allow school districts to hire and fire teachers based on seniority.

“I believe that he’s letting the teachers' union, or at least the leaders of the teachers' union, set education policy right now,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he’d be open to giving tax credits to parents who choose to enroll their children in private schools. He said that would give children in struggling schools more options.

Johnson did not commit to spending more money for schools, although he said it was his goal.

“I won’t make that specific promise, but I would be shocked if we don’t increase every biennium because that’s what we do in Minnesota,” Johnson said. “But no promises on any area of spending specifically.”

 The Associated Press contributed to this report.