Educators say November ballot measure critical to protecting St. Paul Public Schools, students

The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) applauds the school board’s decision to ask local voters to increase school funding by approximately $37.2 million per year over the next 10 years.
"The levy referendum would provide Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) with much-needed revenue to stabilize district finances, retain and attract high-quality educators, and preserve essential programs that support student success," says SPFE. A recent SPPS survey shows community support, with nearly 75% of residents backing these three priorities.
SPPS is currently grappling with a $51.1 million budget deficit for the upcoming school year. To address this, the district dipped into reserves, cut staff and programs, and raised additional revenue to close this gap for this upcoming year. 
“Our community understands the reality: our schools are severely underfunded,” said SPFE President Leah VanDassor. “We simply can’t continue to reduce staff and essential programs without harming students’ opportunities and our ability to keep great educators in our district. This levy is our chance to protect what makes our schools strong.”
St. Paul is not alone. School districts across Minnesota face a triple threat of financial strain – decades of state funding that hasn’t kept pace with inflation, the loss of federal COVID relief dollars, and deep federal funding cuts to programs that support our most vulnerable students, according to SPFE.
“St. Paul has always stepped up to support its community – and now we need our neighbors to do it again for our public schools,” VanDassor said. “By approving this levy, voters can show once again what it means to stand up for one another.”
Learn more about the proposed referendum by clicking here.