Education

Sun Patriot

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ISD 111 board chair represents state board in D.C. trip

Watertown-Mayer School Board Chair Hunter Feldt traveled to Washington, D.C., in late September to represent the Minnesota School Boards Association at the Consortium of State School Boards Associations’ Federal Advocacy Conference. The trip included meetings with Minnesota’s congressional delegation. Feldt and fellow school board members from across the state urged lawmakers to address federal issues affecting public schools, students, families and staff. “One of my biggest points of pride was talking about Watertown-Mayer,” Feldt said. “I wanted to make sure our legislators understand how federal decisions show up in our classrooms every single day.” The conversations focused on three issues affecting Watertown-Mayer: internet access, special education funding and student mental health. Internet access through E-Rate Advocates discussed how cuts to the federal E-Rate program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, would affect local schools. E-Rate helps districts provide students and staff with reliable, affordable and safe internet access. Special education funding When Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, it pledged to cover 40 percent of the additional cost of special education. Fifty years later, that commitment has never been met. Federal funding covers about 12 pct. of those costs in Watertown-Mayer, leaving the district to cover the difference

Minnesota · 8d