Legislative Action Committee
The Edina School Board developed a non-partisan Legislative Action Committee (LAC) in Fall 2018 focused on issues impacting education in Minnesota and Edina Public Schools, specifically.
The LAC has set the following goals:
- To develop and propose legislative positions to the School Board, designed to advance Edina Public School’s mission;
- To inform and publicize approved legislative positions and proposed actions to the Board and community;
- To coordinate advocacy efforts throughout the District; and
- To advocate to state and federal legislators for positions identified by the LAC and approved by the Board.
Pictured left to right – Row 1: Regina Loria-Procel, Sebastian Kushins; Row 2: Jody Remsing, Anuska Narielwala, Mihi Amara, Angela Langsweirdt, Mina Bhargava; Row 3: Cheryl Barry, Abdurahman Mohamed, Maggie Salmen, Layla Scoll, Suhana Suthaharan, Nasteha Abdiaziz; Row 4: Dan Arom, Dr. Stacie Stanley, Helen Chu, Hannah Hein, Polly Bowles, Aditi Jha. Not Pictured: Alvi Buzar Barua, Michael Hart, George Rerat, Carol Syvertsen.
2024-25 LAC Members
The 2024-2025 LAC includes administration representation in collaboration with Board Member representation, plus students and members of the community:
Dan Arom
Chair, Board Member
Cheryl Barry
Board Member
Dr. Stacie Stanley
Superintendent
Jody Remsing
Director of Student Support Services
Polly Bowles
LAC Department Specialist
Michael Hart
Community Member
Carol Syvertsen
Community Member
Mina Bhargava
12th grade EHS student
Angela Langsweirdt
12th grade EHS student
Regina Loria-Procel
12th grade EHS student
George Rerat
12th grade EHS student
Maggie Salmen
12th grade EHS student
Mihi Amara
11th grade EHS student
Alvi Buzar Barua
11th grade EHS student
Helen Chu
11th grade EHS student
Hannah Hein
11th grade EHS student
Anushka Narielwala
11th grade EHS student
Nasteha Abdiaziz
10th grade EHS student
Aditi Jha
10th grade EHS student
Abdurahman Mohamed
10th grade EHS student
Suhana Suthaharan
10th grade EHS student
Sebastian Kushins
9th grade EHS student
Layla Scoll
9th grade EHS student
The LAC Lead Team works in partnership to support legislative advocacy through legislative priority development and Board approval, presentations to legislators, participation in committee meetings, and overall communication support efforts of LAC activities and events.
Meetings and Events
2024 Legislative Platform
The 2024 Legislative Platform was adopted by the school board on January 8, 2024.
Note: The board is currently determining the district’s legislative priorities for 2025. A new platform is expected to be released shortly after Jan. 6, 2025.
1. Increase mental health support for students and staff
- Provide funding to hire additional support staff and develop programming resources to address the mental health needs of students and staff; and
- Increase statewide capacity to provide intensive mental health services for children and youth experiencing mental health crises.
2. Strengthen and support special education programs
- Increase efficiencies to reduce special education paperwork requirements to allow teachers to spend more time with students;
- Enact efforts to find solutions that address the growing shortage of special education para support throughout Minnesota districts; and
- Fully fund the IDEA Act (federal).
3. Stabilize education funding
- Increase basic formula allowance for FY25 by an additional 2% to create a permanent funding stream related to inflation (4% total in FY25) and to offset funding pressures related to new programs adopted in the 2023 legislative session; and
- Increase Local Optional Revenue to $920 per pupil to recover ground lost to inflation and link it to the basic formula.
4. Ensure safe, modern school facilities
- Increase the Safe Schools levy and state aid to allow school districts and intermediate school districts to address and fund 21st century brick and mortar, plus cyber security needs.
5. Increase and diversity workforce
- Remove barriers and provide incentives to address the shortage of substitute teachers, school bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and other staff;
- Continue to expand programs and incentives to attract, develop, and retain teachers of color; and
- Maintain multiple pathways to licensure in the tiered licensing system.
6. Prioritize student-centered learning through enhanced local-decision making
- Honor local control and inherent managerial rights for elected school boards best positioned to work with students, staff, parents, and community to address local needs and challenges.
News & Updates
- Edina Sun Current
- Edina Zephyrus
- Edina Sun Current
Contact Us
Legislative Action Committee
legislative.action@edinaschools.org
Legislator Contacts
Each legislator shared their contact information inviting questions or feedback.
Senator Ron Latz
Email Form
(651) 297-8065
Senator Alice Mann
Email Form
(651) 296-6238
Rep. Cheryl Youakim
rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov
(651) 296-9889