School Superintendent Testifies Before Senate Committee

Dr. Anne Lundquist, Superintendent at Red Lake School District #38 addressed the Budget Division Legislative Committee on K-12 Education on Thursday March 26th, in St. Paul to testify in support of increased funding for transportation sparsity as outlined in Senate file 741.

The bill authored by Bemidji Senator Tom Saxhaug of Grand Rapids, titled "Transportation sparsity revenue allowance," modifies the calculation of transportation sparsity revenue to provide additional revenue to: districts that are greater than 3,000 square miles; and districts that do not qualify for elementary or secondary sparsity revenue and are greater than 525 square miles.

"Senate File 741, if fully funded could result in an additional $400,000 in transportation revenue annually for Red Lake School District," said Lundquist.

Dr. Jim Hess, Superintendent at Bemidji, and Mr. Chris Leinen, Director of Business Services at Bemidji, joined Lundquist in testimony. For more information or to follow the bill go to the following link: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/departments/scr/billsumm/summary_display_from_db.php?ls=89&id=2786

Highlights of Superintendent Lundquist's statements included the following:

• Red Lake School District #38 encompasses 1014.22 square miles.

• Four of the 19 total bus routes exceed one hour and 30 minutes in length.

• The longest route, at one hour and 55 minutes transports 15 students, due to the sparse population in that geographic area.

• 2013-14 transportation expenditures were just over $1,600,000; transportation revenue for the same period was just over $1,200,000 for a revenue shortage of about $400,000.

• The district is able to purchase one bus per year, resulting in approximately 20-year lifespan on most vehicles.

• Rural districts like Red Lake incur additional expense in repair and maintenance due to the large percentage of dirt and rock roads in the district boundaries.

Transportation costs inhibit the district's ability to engage students in additional opportunities to experience supplemental programs through higher education institutions and the arts because the nearest location of such (Bemidji) is between 70 and 140 miles round trip.