Minneapolis Schools’ Reckless Spending Catches Up With The District
The Minneapolis school district is falling apart right in front of our eyes. The district is on the verge of bankruptcy and a whopping $42 million in debt. By 2024-2025, schools are going to close and teachers are going to be laid off.
There are many factors that play into the district's situation. For example, they admit that they are operating as if they have 50,000 students when in fact they have 28,000. The district had a 17% dip in enrollment from 2017-2022 and is expected to lose another 23,000 students by 2027. On top of that, the Minneapolis school district was spending $3,900 more per student in 2021 than the 15 other largest districts in Minnesota. According to the state education department database, the district spends over $20,000 per student in general funds. $6,400 more than the average.
Democrats time and time again flood money into education as teachers and unions lobby to “fully fund” education. But what does that even mean? Research shows that there is no correlation between student spending and student achievement. Democrats continue to pump money into education and student scores continue to do down. The fact is our students are struggling and they need help.
Minnesota, on average, pays $13,600 per student annually, one of the highest in the country. Education takes up 40% of the state’s budget, the next highest expenditure the state pays is $4 billion less than what they put into education. How can a school district be struggling for funds?
Because once again the Democrats are ignoring the obvious signs that throwing money at a problem doesn’t just solve it. The DFL can claim that the problem is a money one, and ignore any other viewpoint or possible solution, but they’d be wrong. The proof is right in front of them!
The state dumps more money and more money into education and yet Democrats never stop demanding more money. That’s because there will never be enough money. School districts need oversight, good leadership, and good educators for our state’s youth. They are not there to be giant money pits.