November 13, 2025

As You are Writing out your Holiday Greeting Cards…

…consider sending a note of gratitude to your local public officials. As for legislators, sending a personal handwritten note thanking them for the formula tied to inflation would be a good start!

Congratulations to MASE Award Winners!

Our colleagues at MASE earned some well-deserved honors during the recent Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Conference. Cherie Johnson, Executive Director of the Goodhue County Education District, received the Harrie M. Selznick Distinguished Service Award. In addition, MASE received a Unit Award for Professional Development and another Unit Award for Communications.

Way to go, Cherie, and congratulations to the executive director and all members of MASE!

Minnesota Closes Fiscal Year with $941 Million Surplus

Minnesota ended the 2024–25 budget year with a $941 million surplus, driven by higher-than-expected tax revenues and unspent program funds. Revenues were $1.3 billion above projections, while expenses rose $364 million, mainly due to higher education costs and increased student enrollment.

Hopefully, the surplus provides lawmakers with added flexibility for upcoming budget decisions, offering options to fund projects, reduce debt, or cushion against future deficits. A clearer financial outlook will come with the November forecast in early December.

*While this is promising news, I offer some words of caution! The impacts of the federal government shutdown and the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill on Minnesota has yet to be clearly defined. The predicted shortfall of $6 billion remains.*

Leadership Matters!

“I no longer listen to what people say, I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies.” - Winston Churchill