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Education Finance Committee
Tuesday, April 14, 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 8:35 am. Senator Gustafson took the gavel at 8:36 am. Senator Kunesh took the gavel back at 10:00 am.

Call to Order


S.F. 5025: Senator Kupec: Independent School District No. 152, Moorhead Area Public Schools authorize certain fund transfers.

The following individuals testified on S.F.5025: Brandon Lunak, Superintendent, Moorhead Public Schools Laura Oksnevad, Minnesota School Board Association

Senator Gustafson moved that S.F. 5025, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.

Principal Survey Presentation a. Senator Liz Boldon, Chief Author SF1844 b. Patrice Relerford, Vice President of Collective Impact and Giving, Minneapolis Foundation c. Katie Pekel, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice Chancellor, University of Minnesota Rochester d. Sara Kemper, Research Associate, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, University of Minnesota e. Mike LeMier, Principal, Century Elementary School f. Julian Stanke, Principal, Birch Lake Elementary.

The following individuals testified on Principal Survey Presentation: Senator Liz Boldon, Chief Author SF1844 Patrice Relerford, Vice President of Collective Impact and Giving, Minneapolis Foundation Katie Pekel, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice Chancellor, University of Minnesota Rochester Sara Kemper, Research Associate, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, University of Minnesota Mike LeMier, Principal, Century Elementary School Julian Stanke, Principal, Birch Lake Elementary

Seclusion Working Group Report a. Andrew George, Analyst, Legislative Coordinating Commission.

The following individual presented the Seclusion Working Group Report: Andrew George, Analyst, Legislative Coordinating Commission Senator Judy Seeberger, Chief Author SF4677

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

The following individuals testified on S.F.4677: Nicole Woodward, Executive Director, Executive Director, St. Croix River Education District Kate Hulse, Director of Social/Emotional Learning & Support, Intermediate School District 917 Daron Korte, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education Jessica Heiser, Minnesota Disability Law Center Erin Sandsmark, Executive Director, Solutions Not Suspensions Laura Jean, PACER Center Khulia Pringle, Executive Director STAND UP Minnesota Parents United Matt Shaver, Senior Policy Director, EdAllies Fatima Molas Kristin Jameson, Parent (REMOTE) Maren Christenson, Multicultural Autism Action Network Fardowsa Mohamed, Parent Molly Hoffard, Parent and former Paraprofessional (Remote) Sabrina Tapia, Advocacy Program Manager, LatinoLeadMN Garret Zayic, Parent Amanda Schermerhorn (REMOTE)

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 10:45 am.


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