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Education Finance Committee
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
8:30 AM, 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Minutes



Present: Senator Mary K. Kunesh - Chair, Senator Heather Gustafson - Vice Chair, Senator Jason Rarick - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Doron Clark, Senator Steve A. Cwodzinski, Senator Robert D. Farnsworth, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Michael E. Kreun, Senator Andrew R. Lang, Senator Eric Lucero, Senator Erin K. Maye Quade, Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, Senator Bonnie S. Westlin

Absent: No Members Absent

Senator Mary K. Kunesh called the meeting to order at 8:34 am.

Call to Order


Walkthrough of the Senate Education Finance Omnibus Proposal Amendment will be posted when available.


Omnibus Testimony Testimony will be limited to two minutes. a. Willie Jett, Commissioner, MN Department of Education b. Shannon Mitchell, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, MN Association of Charter Schools c. Karen Klinzing, Executive Director, Hiawatha Academies d. Erica Hanson, Board Secretary, Duluth Edison Charter School (REMOTE) e. Shannon Peterson, Executive Director, Lakes International Language Academy f. Ann Weiss, Executive Director, MN Association of Independent Schools g. Scott Croonquist, Executive Director, Association of Metropolitan School Districts h. Sarah Quinn, Minneapolis Families for Public Schools (REMOTE) i. Anna Ehl (REMOTE) j. Aqueelah Roberson, Policy Director, Education Evolving k. Sarah Burt, Education Minnesota l. Peter Eckhoff, President, Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers (REMOTE) m. Matt Shaver, EdAllies.

The following individuals testified on Omnibus Testimony: Willie Jett, Commissioner, MN Department of Education Shannon Mitchell, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, MN Association of Charter Schools Karen Klinzing, Executive Director, Hiawatha Academies Erica Hanson, Board Secretary, Duluth Edison Charter School Shannon Peterson, Executive Director, Lakes International Language Academy Ann Weiss, Executive Director, MN Association of Independent Schools Scott Croonquist, Executive Director, Association of Metropolitan School Districts Sarah Quinn, Minneapolis Families for Public Schools Ann Ehl (Remote) Aqueelah Roberson, Policy Director, Education Evolving Sarah Burt, Education Minnesota Peter Eckhoff, Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers (Remote) Matt Shaver, EdAllies

S.F. 4677: Senator Seeberger: Restrictive procedures and seclusion requirements modifications and appropriation.



Senator Kunesh moved that S.F. 4677, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.

Adjournment


The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 am.


 
                                                                      
Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Chair
                                                                      
Tessa Yeager, Legislative Assistant