Published: Thursday, February 18, 2010 4:44 PM CST

Recent letter-writers have discussed what it means to support Edina's students, teachers and schools. There is also something else we should support - reforming the state-mandated process for settling teacher contracts.

The Edina School District was recently charged a $230,000 penalty by the state of Minnesota for not meeting the state's timeline for teacher contracts. This state-mandated process is one-sided against the district, undermining the good-faith negotiation efforts of our teachers and administration. Statewide it results in settlements districts can't afford. And ultimately the penalty only hurts our kids.

Recently, I introduced a package of legislative reforms to reduce state education mandates and their costs.

Specifically regarding teacher contracts, this legislation would eliminate the state-mandated timeline and penalty, instead requiring binding arbitration to settle final contract differences prior to district budget deadlines. I am also proposing an idea for which the time I believe has come: empowering individual teachers to achieve fair market compensation by contracting directly with a school district.

We also need to reduce the strings attached to state funding. My bills would grant districts greater control and flexibility over their school calendar, and allow a school board to request exemption from a state mandate that is especially egregious in their district.

Much more can be done to reduce federal and state interference in our schools, but these proposals are a step in the right direction. Reforming state mandates is critical to restoring local control to school districts and an important part of supporting Edina's students, teachers and schools.

Rep. Keith Downey, R-41A

Edina

Appeared in the Edina Sun Current 2/18/2010