Austin Public Schools leaders got a chance to send their needs to the Legislature Thursday morning.

The school board and school officials met with state Sen. Dan Sparks and Rep. Jeanne Poppe, both DFL-Austin, during a special meeting in the District Office Conference Room to discuss what the district would like to see addressed during the legislative session this year, which starts March 8.

“We try to create a very open process with our local legislators so they understand what our needs are and then we can understand the process that they need to go through to help support, because they really truly want to help us,” Superintendent David Krenz said.

The district addressed issues such as reading corp volunteers, testing protocols, teacher licensure, deferred maintenance and facility needs, early childhood initiatives, special education mandates and funding, and more.

“A lot of topics that are near and dear to the hearts of the school board members, Superintendent Krenz and other staff,” Poppe said. “So everything from teacher licensure to integration funding, making sure the facilities are funded and how do we continue to do that. Student testing, you know, how does that impact whether or not there’s an actual showing of growth and improvement by the students, or is it just because it meets the criteria for the state and federal government.”

Director of Special Services Sheryl Willrodt made note of teacher licensure regulations, which make it difficult to hire teachers when there is a need.

“We’re in a very critical stage in special education for finding staff,” Willrodt said. “I can tell you in my 10 years in special education administration — 10 years ago it was hard to find staff, in the last two or three years we’re really at a crises level. For many of our positions we don’t even get a single applicant, or maybe one.”

“I truly believe part of the issue is we make it so hard for these teachers to get a license,” she added. “ … So that’s an area I would really appreciate the legislature taking a look at.”

Another topic discussed was testing protocols. Director of Research Corey Haugen hoped the state would look at a more informative assessment instead of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments.

“Something that actually gives you information directly linked to state standards — which is what our goal is: to review student achievement on those standards — and that provides us rich, in-depth information for classroom teachers to move forward with their instruction,” he said. “State MCA’s currently do not do that at all.”

Director of Community Education Amy Baskin voiced a concern about universal pre-kindergarten and the danger of taking away choice from families.

“With this universal pre-K, the biggest issue is the lack of choice for families, the adaptability to design programming based on student needs,” she said.

Poppe said the annual meeting is always good because it provides Sparks and herself with information that helps them know what to discuss during the legislature. Sparks agreed.

“I think it’s very important we get to see from the teachers and the administrators, school board members who have to deal with this stuff first hand,” he said. “So I think it’s one of the best, most rewarding meetings that we do, and obviously we took good notes and well be taking that message back to St. Paul.”