State Budget Problems Keep Squeezing Minn. Schools
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) -- To see how the state's financial problems have trickled down to local school districts, look no further than the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district in the Twin Cities suburbs.
Because the state helped balance its budget by temporarily holding back millions of dollars for schools, the district borrowed $15 million last year and plans to borrow even more this year.
Teachers report their class sizes are going up and they are paying more to outfit their classrooms. Even making copies and getting documents laminated has gotten more difficult.
For parents, fees for extracurricular activities are soaring. For middle school students there are fewer sports offered through the schools.
The leaders of extracurricular activities say booster clubs have become key to their groups' survival, not just a provider of the occasional extra.
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