It’s expected Governor Tim Walz will soon sign a “snow days” bill that says school districts, for this year only, do *not* have to make up for classroom days canceled because of the severe winter. Sponsor, Stillwater Democrat Shelly Christensen says, “The most important thing that we need to do for our kids in school is to keep them safe, and when school is canceled for safety reasons we’re going to have to give some leeway to school districts.”
Mazeppa Republican Steve Drazkowski responds there’s no “safety issue” when missed days are made up at the end of the school year in May or June. He says, “This is bill is not delivering the promise to Minnesota’s kids. We are shortchanging them on the education that they’re supposed to be given through our school districts in this state.”
Drazkowski says teachers didn’t work on “snow days,” but will be paid by taxpayers for them anyway and won’t have to make up the classroom time. The Education Minnesota teachers union declined MNN’s request for a response.