Barbara Muckenhirn

The Princeton Board of Education has tapped former director of teaching and learning Barbara Muckenhirn to replace Pete Olson, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

The agenda for the May 28 school board meeting states that the board will take action on a superintendent contract. A contract was not included with the agenda at the time of its posting, nor was a name of the successful principal candidate.

But under the board’s consent agenda, which include items that get approved without board discussion,  was a list of personnel moves slated to be approved Tuesday night. In that list of personnel moves,  Muckenhirn is listed as a new hire for the position of “Principal-HS.” The listing states that the position is effective July 1, 2013 at an administrative salary of  $102,066.45.

Muckenhirn left the Princeton School District in 2011 to become the  director of 21st Century Teaching and Learning in the Little Falls School District. She was the director of teaching and learning for the Princeton School District from July 2007 to June 2011.

Muckenhirn beat out Rockford High School Principal Ryan Jensen and Litchfield High School Adam Holm for the job. Jensen was a former assistant principal at Princeton High School. The three were interviewed last Monday, May 20.

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Weary lawmakers quit the State Capitol shortly after midnight on Monday (May 20) after setting a two-year, $38 billion state budget.

“I think it worked extraordinarily well for Minnesota,” Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton said of DFL control of state government.

Final pieces of the five-month session slipped into place in the waning hours with lawmakers passing a tax-the-rich style $2 billion tax increase bill and a $177 million bonding bill that slates $109 million to State Capitol restoration.

“I think it was propitious,” Rep. Jerry Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, said of the water that seeped into the State Capitol tunnel over the stormy weekend.

Hours earlier an $800 million bonding bill had crashed on the House floor, and Newton believes the seeping water served as a damp reminder of unfinished work on the Capitol building.

Dayton would have liked to have seen the House bonding bill signed into law.

“I don’t get all I want. Nobody does,” he said sagely.

The 2013 session was touched by history, and made it.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre had lawmakers examining gun control. But many Greater Minnesota Democrats, as well as Republicans, were wary of universal background checks, closing perceived gun-show loopholes, and legislative leaders scuttled the initiative late in the session .

But history took place at the State Capitol over a series of days in May that saw House and Senate, in some of the most powerful, emotional, and controversial debate in years, pass legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

“I think the enormity of this (marriage) bill cannot be overstated,” Dayton said at the time.

Five Republicans, including Sen. Branden Petersen of Andover and Representatives Pat Garofalo of Farmington and  Jenifer Loon of Eden Prairie,  joined Democrats in making Minnesota the 12th state, effective Aug. 1, in which same-sex couples can legally marry.

Six thousand people witnessed Dayton sign the marriage legislation into law on a sunny, hot afternoon outside the State Capitol.

“How will Minnesota react to this? — I don’t know,” House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, said.

“It is what it is,” he said of the divisive issue.

“Frankly, we’re more concerned about what is going to happen to Minnesota’s economy,” Daudt said.

But it wasn’t the marriage bill but legislation regarding possible child care and personal care attendant unionization that monopolized House and Senate floor debate.

Senate Republicans debated the bill 17 hours, while House Republicans, mindful of their Senate colleagues robust efforts, armed themselves with about 120 amendments and sporadically debated the legislation over several days.

Passage of the emotionally-charged bill had a few House Republicans shouting insults at House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, as cheers erupted from union activists in the House gallery.

Democrats are even-toned.

“All I did was vote to allow them (child care providers and personal care attendants) to hold a vote,” Rep. John Benson, DFL-Minnetonka, said. “And if the opposition is as strong as they (opponents) say it is, they’ll never have a union,” he said.

One issue of great importance to business, a proposed minimum wage increase, was set aside by legislative leaders.

House Democrats proposed increasing the state minimum wage about $2 higher than Senate Democrats did.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, expects lawmakers to take up the minimum wage next session.

He spoke of simply running out time this session.

Thissen called the delay a “shame.”

Another issue scheduled to resurface when lawmakers return to the State Capitol on Feb. 25 — at least in the mind of Bakk — is the sales-tax expansion contained in the tax bill.

“Sales-tax reform is really hard,” Bakk said, appearing with Dayton, Thissen, and other legislative at the State Capitol on Tuesday (May 21) morning.

Lawmakers will continue to explore the provision extending the state sales tax to warehousing, Bakk said. They’ll learn more about the extension, which does not go into effect until April, 2014, over upcoming months, he said.

The tax bill contains “glitches,” Bakk said. Specifically, he pointed to the expansion of the state sales tax to maintenance work on farm machinery.

“We got one little clinker in there,” he said.

But Democratic leaders, rather than shying away from the tax bill, embrace it.

Dayton called the $1 billion tax increase on the wealthy, upper two percent of tax filers a “progressive tax increase.” He heralded the $2 billion in tax increases as bolstering education, providing property tax relief and providing other boosts to the middle class.

“It’s what government should be doing,” Dayton said.

But Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, lead Republican on the House Tax Committee, appraised things differently.

“This session was a disaster for the taxpayers of Minnesota,” he said.

Davids styled the new fourth-tier income tax rate as “punishing success.”

Even smokers got hit with new taxes, Davids said.

But Rep. Sandra Masin, DFL-Eagan, looks at the $485 million in new spending in E-12 education and $250 million in higher education as meeting needs.

“I think we exceeded expectations in investments in education. In my area, that’s (education funding) really, really important,” she said.

One initiative Democrats look to developing over upcoming months is transportation.

Dayton and other Democrats speak of fostering public dialogue over the future of transportation, and making clear the benefits the public can expect if agreeable to transportation tax increases.

Transportation-funding advocates express frustration.

“Without new funding from the Legislature, hundreds of miles of critical road, bridge and transit projects will not be built, upgraded, or expanded,” said Mike Sheehan, co-chair of Progress in Motion, in a press release.

In general, Democrats and Republicans treated each other congenially this past session.

“It’s tough to be in the minority,” Daudt said.

“All in all, I think we ended here on a respectful note. And I think that’s important,” he said.

As Daudt stood on the House floor after close of session, Democrats walked by and shook hands.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

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The Democratic-led Legislature voted to tax the rich and smokers and to close corporate loopholes in raising about $2 billion in new taxes in its omnibus tax bill.

The Senate took its vote shortly before the Legislature adjourned until next year.

The tax bill closes the $627 million state budget deficit, fuels education funding and provides tax relief for homeowners and renters.

It creates a fourth-tier income tax rate at 9.85 percent — a change snagging about $1 billion — applicable to joint married filers earning more than $250,000 in taxable income, single-filers with taxable income of more than $150,000.

The income tax increase embraces the top two percent of taxpayers.

Republicans are not pleased.

“Thank goodness the increase in the candy tax and snack tax went away,” Rep. Nick Zerwas, R-Elk River, quipped.

“This bill hurts every Minnesotan,” he said.

The tax on a pack of cigarettes is increased by $1.60 per pack under the tax bill.

The increase is about more than raising money, Democrats argue.

House Tax Committee Chairwoman Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, presents her tax bill to the House. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

“I view it as a public health imperative,” House Tax Committee Chairwoman Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, said.

Senate Tax Committee Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, a former smoker, said he had never voted for a cigarette tax increase before.

“This is one of the hardest issues for me,” he said.

But Skoe found the health argument compelling.

All told, changes to tobacco taxes raise $430 million.

In addition to closing perceived corporate loopholes — a closure capturing $400 million — a 10 percent gift tax is imposed.

For the gift tax, a lifetime credit of $100,000 is provided, and a taxpayer can give up to $13,000 a year without counting towards their $1 million exemption.

The tax bill does not include the sweeping sales tax reforms originally proposed by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, but it does expand the sales tax to non-consumer warehousing and storage, repair and maintenance of electronic equipment and commercial and industrial machinery,

The storage of boats, cars, and recreational vehicles not eligible to be deducted as business expenses are exempt from the warehouse sales tax expansion.

Further, the storage of farm products and refrigerated storage are also exempt.

But the expansion of the sales tax to the repair and maintenance of industrial machinery includes farm machinery.

And the warehousing provision, which will go into effect in 2014, applies to some farm storage.

The tax bill contains an Internet “Amazon” online sale tax provision for out-of-state retailers with affiliates in Minnesota selling on their behalf.

That captures $10 million.

In terms of tax relief, the bill exempts cities and counties from paying the sales tax for most purchases, a $172 million savings to local government.

Under the bill, some 300,000 homeowners will see their property tax refunds increase, and another 100,000 additional homeowners will receive a refund, Democrats say.

One provision Republicans focused on during floor debate dealt with the Vikings stadium.

A one-time flush of money into the stadium reserve account is achieved through a cigarette tax on floor stock. To further stabilize the state stadium funding, left shaky by feeble electronic pull-tab revenues, corporate tax-loophole-closur dollars could be channeled towards paying off the stadium.

Some Republicans were flabbergasted.

“Can you smoke in the new stadium?” Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, asked Lenczewski.

“Because smokers are going to be paying for it,” he said. The tax bill contains no alcohol tax increases.

A Mayo Destination Medical Center provision is included in the tax bill.

It anticipates the state investing a maximum of $327 million over 27 years after the clinic, City of Rochester, and Olmstead County make sufficient investments.

A Rochester Democrat choked up on the House floor while thanking Lenczewski for the language.

The tax bill extends Mall of America TIF districts to spur Phase Two mall expansion.

It provides a sales tax exemption for the proposed Baxter Biopharmaceutical facility in Brooklyn Park.

About 54,400 Minnesota resident tax returns, or about 2.1 percent of filers, will fall under the fourth-tier income tax rate.

Senate Tax Committee Chairman Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, talks to a Senate colleague on the Senate floor. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Ninety-eight percent of Minnesota taxpayers will see no income tax increase, according to the governor’s office.

A married couple with a taxable income of $617,000 would pay about $8,400 more in taxes under the fourth tier.

A single filer with a taxable income of $428,000, under the fourth tier, would pay an additional $5,500.

Minnesota’s 9.85 percent tax rate would be fifth highest in the country.

Republicans were critical of the bill not only for what was in it, but what wasn’t.

“What’s unfortunate, we did not make our veterans a priority in the bill,” Rep. Anna Wills, R-Apple Valley, said.

Wills had pursued a veterans-hiring tax credit.

“It’s not necessary, and not needed,” Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, said of the tax increases.

The tax bill passed the House on a party line 71-58 vote; it passed the Senate on a 36-30 vote.

Democratic senators Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka, Melisa Franzen of Edina, and Susan Kent of Woodbury voted with Republicans.

Debate in the Senate also had Republicans standing on the floor condemning the tax bill.

“These taxes are really about envy,” Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, said of the tax-the-rich approach.

“This bill will make us a high-tax island,” Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, said.

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, described the Democratic taxing philosophy as predatory.

“If they got a need — let’s tax them!” Hall said.

Sen. Sean Nienow, R-Cambridge, called the tobacco-tax increase as Democrats taking “politically correct” money.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

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University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler stopped by the corporate offices of ECM Publishers in Coon Rapids last week to say he was delighted with components of the Minnesota Legislature’s biennial budget for the University.

Kaler, meeting with the ECM Editorial Board, applauded last week’s Higher Education Conference Committee actions, which included a recommendation of a tuition freeze over two years.

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler provided some what he
called “high-touch” points when visiting with the ECM Editorial Board
recently. State funding for the University was a major part of the
discussion. Editorial Board member Tom West of the Morrison County
Record is at left. (Photo by Howard Lestrud)

The conference committee’s recommendation was approved by both houses of the Legislature last weekend, just two days prior to adjournment.

Kaler took over the reins of the University
in July of 2011. He said the approval of the higher education funding bill marks the U’s first funding increase in eight years.

The tuition freeze was a high priority, Kaler said. The approved legislation provides the requested $14.2 million annually to freeze tuition for Minnesota resident undergraduates for two years (the 2014-15 biennium). The University’s tuition is currently $13,309 on the Twin Cities campus.

Kaler calls the University of Minnesota a jewel in the State of Minnesota. “We are very pleased the governor and the state have given us this support,” he said.

State legislators also voted to  invest $18 million annually to fund the Minnesota Discover, Research and InnoVation Economy (MnDRIVE) program, which is designed to  advance scientific research in four critical fields.

The four areas identified at the intersection of need are: 1) food; 2) water; 3) robotics and 4) neuromodulation. The last represents a growing area in the medical device industry that addresses brain disorders from Alzheimer’s disease to addiction.

Kaler is especially proud of the investment made for robotics. Minnesota has the highest per capital rate of participation in robotics for high school and pre-high school, Kaler said.

In order to receive 5 percent of its state budget allocation, the University under this new legislation must meet certain performance metrics. Those metrics focus on graduation rates, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees, administrative costs and invention disclosures.

Kaler, who received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota, said he is very proud of the school’s standing. He said the U receives 42,000 applicants and enrolls 5,600 of that total. The average ACT by a U applicant is 27.7, he said. The University’s honors college counts 400-plus and these students can go to any university in the nation.

“We are keeping students and their talents in Minnesota,” Kaler said. Sixty-two percent of first year students are from Minnesota, he said.

The University has recently been criticized for its overload in administration and for its efficiency. He said the U’s efficiency is improving in the areas of teaching, research and service.

Kaler commented on the student debt load upon graduation at an average of $27,000. Three-fourths of the University’s graduates will have debt, he said. By freezing tuition, 10 percent of the debt is reduced, Kaler said. He said the University is the lowest four-year net cost institution  at $75,000.

The University’s administrative and professional staff represents the 22nd largest in the nation, Kalersaid. The U recently grew by 9,000 students. A campus was recently opened in Rochester. “I run a $3.5 billion enterprise,” he pointed out.

Kaler said cuts have been made. For example, he said,  the University once had 71 call centers for Information Technology and has trimmed it to 18 and soon to be one.

“Operation costs are funded at the University from efficiencies,” Kaler said. He referred to a steam power plant in the Twin Cities that saves the U $58 million.

University research staffs are often funded by sponsored dollars, Kaler said. “We need our research mission to find facts in an unfiltered and unbiased way,” he said. The control is a peer-to-peer evaluation, he said.

Kaler was asked if online education has had an effect on the University’s education system. “Most of our students were born with a smart phone in their hands,” Kaler said but he believes brick and mortar institutions will be around for some time. “I don’t think we will go out of business,” he said.

The brand of the University is centered on medical first and athletics second, Kaler said. He emphasized the importance of doing well on both fronts. “We need to be more competitive,” he said. The U has an athletic budget of $80 million.

The University is proud of its partnership with the Mayo Clinic and with Fairview, Kaler said. Fairview plans include building a new ambulatory care center.

Howard Lestrud can be reached at howard.lestrud@ecm-inc.com

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Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, emotionally spoke against the unionization legislation. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

In a stormy climax, the Democratic-led House passed child care and personal care attendant unionization legislation on Monday, May 20.

The 68-66 vote brought cheers from union activists in the House gallery and catcalls from Republicans on the floor.

“Let them applaud,” a Republican shouted at House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, as the Thissen gaveled for quiet. “They own the place,” the Republican yelled.

The vote could set in motion a process by which union activists, supplied with lists from the state, would collect signatures from child care providers and personal care attendants receiving state subsides. An election, by mail ballot, would take place if at least 30 percent of providers eligible to vote indicated a wish to join a union.

Darleen Henry of Rosemount, a personal care provider since her mother suffered a stroke about two years ago, was outside the House chamber with other activists after the vote.

“I feel like I have someone who’s there for me, someone behind my back,” Henry said of a union. “I know we don’t have a union yet, but I feel it’s at least a possibility now.”

Henry views the union as a means of getting additional training.

Another activist outside the House chamber was Becky Swanson, a Lakeville child care provider. Swanson spoke of filing suit in federal court to stop the vote.

“We’ll fight this for eight years,” Swanson said.

One of the plaintiffs in the successful suit against Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, when the governor attempted to call an unionization election by executive order, Swanson isn’t surprised a unionization effort is taking place in Minnesota.

“Minnesota is union-friendly state,” she said. She has nothing against unions, Swanson said, but child care providers are private businesses.

Debate on the House floor was emotional. Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, said she and her husband have owned rental property and have rented to people receiving government assistance.

“Are we next?” Scott asked of possible unionization. “Are landlords next?”

Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, dismissed the idea the legislation was about bettering the lives of providers and improving the quality of child care.

“It’s money. It’s all about money,” Anderson said of unions collecting dues.

House Deputy Minority Leader Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, appealed to Democrats to take a tough vote and vote “no.”

“Search your heart and your conscious,” said Loon, who recently voted to pass same-sex marriage legislation. “Be courageous,” she urged.

A handful of House Democrats, including Rep. Tim Faust, DFL-Hinckley, voted with Republicans against the bill. But it wasn’t enough.

Rep. Michael Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park, House bill author, said the legislation does not tell parents or providers how to raise children, nor does it form a union. It’s about getting right to vote, Nelson said.

“This bill is about ensuring the basic rights of undervalued workers to choose for themselves if they want to collectively bargain for better wages,” Nelson said in a prepared statement. “These workers, who are predominately women, now have an opportunity to bargain for improvements in their lives and the lives of the children, seniors and people with disabilities they serve,” Nelson said.

The unionization legislation passed the Democratic-led Senate on a 35-32 vote after an epic 17-hour, all-night floor session.

Area Democratic Sens. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka, Greg Clausen of Apple Valley, Melisa Franzen of Edina and Bev Scalze of Little Canada sided with Republicans in voting against the bill.

Speaking after the House floor session, Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, said bill opponents were carefully monitoring the legislative debate for possible inclusion into a lawsuit.

Mack felt they would have a good case. Mack, who has a young son and is pregnant, spoke on the House floor about her family’s concerns with day care. Her heart breaks, she said, for the mothers receiving Child Care Assistance Program funding, a state subsidy.

Like other Republicans, Mack believes day care providers, in attempting to escape the union, will simply refuse to accept children receiving state subsides.

“They (CCAP mothers) will be rejected time after time after time,” she said.

All told, Minnesota had 351,000 wage and salary workers in unions in 2012 with another 17,000 represented by a union on their main job or covered by an employee association or contract, though not union members themselves, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Union membership is heavily skewed towards the public sector. Nationally about 36 percent of public sector employees belonged to unions, against only about 6.6 percent of workers in the private sector, according to the Bureau.

About 57 percent of Minnesota public sector jobs were unionized in 2012, according to unionstats.com, an Internet data resource providing private and public sector labor union membership and density estimates. Only about 8 percent of Minnesota private sector jobs were unionized, according to the site.

The union legislation now goes to the governor’s desk.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

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Grand Rapids (9-3) and Hibbing (7-3) are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeded teams in the other half of the brackets. In the 7AA South, the top two seeds are Elk River (20-1) and Chisago Lakes (11-4).

• Seeding was also completed for the 7AA North Individuals which get underway on May 23 (9 a.m.) at Duluth East. Princeton senior Isaiah Mayerchak was seeded No. 2 in Singles, getting a first-round bye and awaiting the winner between No. 7 Bolen of Denfeld and No. 10 Beaulieu of East. Tiger 8th grader Thomas Mayerchak is in the same half of the brackets as the No. 6 seed opening against No. 11 Specht of Hibbing.

In 7AA North Doubles, Princeton’s Andrew Feero & Tyler Leverty are seeded No. 8, opening against Cloquet’s Lind & Tomhare. Teammates Schuyler Volkmuth & Kennan Hansen are the 10th seeds, getting No. 7 Andrews & Stukel of Denfeld in the opener.

Tiger Softball opens at Andover

Princeton (1-17) was seeded 12th for this week’s Section 7AAA Softball playoffs, sending the Tigers to No. 5 Andover (9-6) for the 4:30 p.m. play-in game on Wednesday, May 22. The victor will then face to No. 4 St. Francis (10-6) on Saturday, May 25 at Duluth’s Wheeler Park (10 a.m.). Games continue at Wheeler Park until four teams are whittled down for the May 29-30 section tourney at Chisago Lakes.

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The Democratic-led Legislature approved its omnibus E-12 education finance and policy bill Sunday (May 19) that slates an additional $485 million to education.

“This is a very bold and ambitious plan,” House Education Finance Committee Chairman Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, said.

House Education Finance Committee Chairman Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, styled the education finance bill as creating the world’s greatest workforce in Minnesota. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Included in the $15.6 billion bill is funding for voluntary all-day, every-day kindergarten and $40 million in early learning scholarships.

These scholarships could provide up to $5,000 per year for needy families to send youngsters to top notch early learning or child care facilities.

The bill provides $234 million for a three percent basic funding formula increase over two years, and slates $38 million in extra special education funding.

The House proposal for a temporary income tax surcharge on the wealthy to immediately pay back the school shift was scuttled.

Under the banner of creating the world’s best workforce, the bill requires school districts to develop plans to meet readiness goals — third-grade literacy for all students, for instance — and allows the education commissioner to use up to two percent of funding to craft remedial plans for school districts failing to show adequate progress.

“Powerful accountability,” House Education Policy Committee Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, said.

The bill provides $2 million tocreate additional Regional Centers of Excellence.

It scraps the GRAD tests students currently must passto earn a high school diploma, turning instead to an alternative assessment model including the use of college placement tests.

The so-called “high-stakes” GRAD test was called antiquated and punitive by a recent assessment work group and by education officials in committee testimony.

Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, expressed grave doubts about the direction of the Democratic E-12 finance bill. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Republicans argue Democrats are dumbing down high school diplomas.

“I will continue to have grave concerns about this new direction,” Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, said.

“I just think that’s shameful that Minnesota is moving in that direction,” she said.

But Rep. Kathy Brynaert, DFL-Mankato, lauded the proposed change.

“It’s a much higher standard, and a much higher level of accountability,” Brynaert said.

“You will not see social promotions under this assessment systems,” she said.

One of the sharpest critics of the omnibus E-12 bill wasn’t a Republican but a Democrat.

Rep, Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, said the early learning scholarship provision was “deeply flawed.”

Winkler blamed Department of Education officials for insisting on certain scholarship language.

“Unfortunately, the bureaucrats won,” he said.

Other features of the bill includes the allocation of $1 million to the Department of Education to implement anti-bullying policies.

The bill allows school districts officials to increase their safe school levy by $4 per student and expand its usage to buying laminated glassand hiring mental health professionals who aren’t school district employees.

The bill increases the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 17 years old.

It prohibits school boards from firing coaches based solely on parental complaints.

Sen. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, calledthe “world’s best workforce” theme as “largely a set of platitudes.”

He criticized the bill for lacking accountability, lacking courage in addressing the learning gap.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

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