[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6342523,"mediaKeyId","2254556-848f3c5f93cccc64427dc6370a3021de","parentId",2254556,"title","Committee approves amendment to allow districts to donate surplus books; SF 392 laid over","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5520000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254556-848f3c5f93cccc64427dc6370a3021de&start=5520&end=5520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254556-848f3c5f93cccc64427dc6370a3021de/thumbnail_5520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342523/Minnesota/Committee-approves-amendment-to-allow-districts-to-donate-surplus-books-SF-392-laid-over","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342523-0ad902a457f9ab0c5e575f41c8308309/orig.mp4?Expires=1770885222&Signature=aHp~-8YUZJcH5eQcyY7jHO5uOb-kTh5caAwgZSF0Mtg6nxvZw7D8Tfcl6k6PD36WYd49Gu6lx5MtsTqA4g~ueLZhMewQ9k5lym64jGVk~VCGKfTVTTuB75pZdF-tFr-Pk7ajHWeq68Uo6etv0LOhLo3XqmmDKzqRuD1apWP7pkU2GmbNtSt9jOH3TTrW8sMtTYxk3U-tRaTK3k61PMnMI2JhlLOU4apcrJsxk~a9TpVHUhNE-lRP03AiO~JXfYRELYHb7zBT0YO9vKFa8AUwKcziWd8a20vI86VgqPDKc7S83wfWxvPO6b585JLzj36AKvbfsiEsAyKDkHOOACJSEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Senate Media Services","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Abler introduced Senate File 392 on Monday, a bill intended to expand options for disposing of surplus instructional and library materials. Holly Gebner, library media teaching and learning specialist for Anoka‑Hennepin Schools, described the district’s current process: library staff consult teachers to reuse materials in the building, surplus items otherwise go to a central warehouse and then to a contracted vendor or public surplus auction under Minnesota Statute 471.345.

An amendment (A1) was offered to permit school districts to donate obsolete or surplus textbooks and library books to charitable organizations and to make surplus items available to families of students who reside in the district. Senator Abler and the amendment sponsor described the change as a practical measure to increase access to books and support early literacy, particularly for families with limited resources.

Why it matters: Testimony noted that many districts retain multiple copies of titles purchased for classroom competitions or curricula that fall out of use and that current disposal rules can make it difficult to transfer those items directly to families or charitable partners. Holly Gebner said the ability to donate would mirror practices used by some county libraries and would help keep books in circulation rather than requiring sale or disposal.

Committee action and immediate outcome: Senator Cooney (who presented the amendment) moved the A1 amendment; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote. Senator Abler and other members described the amendment as friendly and said it broadens and improves the bill. The committee laid the amended bill over for further consideration; no floor vote occurred during the hearing.

Implementation notes: Witnesses described no significant district expense tied to the change; rather, they said it would simplify existing surplus handling and support literacy initiatives. Several members suggested further wordsmithing to increase flexibility and to coordinate with county libraries and nonprofit partners.

Ending: Committee members expressed bipartisan support for making surplus and weeded books available to students and families, and said they expected to return to the bill for further action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education Policy Committee - 2/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers advanced an amendment to Senate File 392 to permit school districts to donate surplus or weeded books to charities and to make surplus books available to students’ families; committee members said the change would help move unwanted inventory into students’ hands and support literacy programs.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342528,"Minnesota senators hear evidence for limiting classroom cell phone use; SF 508 laid over",5283,537000,5820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254556-848f3c5f93cccc64427dc6370a3021de&start=537&end=5820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254556-848f3c5f93cccc64427dc6370a3021de/thumbnail_537000.jpg","/articles/6342528/Minnesota/Minnesota-senators-hear-evidence-for-limiting-classroom-cell-phone-use-SF-508-laid-over","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342528-007e81fa309048c6b4749ce9e3a0c2ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770885222&Signature=WzaqGuCz-N4tK5AemqE9SIDK-qvkcNKX4pY4G6xZyhw3wzdBD1vZ8Wjt9y1mjRdXDMsHWHQ10NRw6fktQ-7eRxeALU8HqNcJocrQjB959t-EmHP1JXRykTF-9Lb0tYaigA7ESXCgJ3YeE3dW048HSh5s4KrRz22KMjAjHePJqAQxbj2p2Z9Y3uQnIHZNTby~CYa5nEa6gZneBYJFyWyqLfVlhFifR7BEiflgu~Vag9rPrrNBh~RTcO3gwUt4D-17LovDJsUqTLwpZPd5Su5goS7o44oSWEeTyp8cKwv3nKFZqcQSmtW9dTNXly1d--pS7gM4bl0zBST3EiSxvI5bGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Mann presented Senate File 508 on Monday, telling the Senate Education Policy Committee she and staff held roundtables across Minnesota to study school cell-phone policies and their effects. The bill would restrict cell-phone use for grades K–8 and limit in-classroom use for grades 9–12 while leaving enforcement details to local school districts and providing funding for education and digital‑literacy efforts.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Mann, said districts reported problems including students taking unauthorized photos of tests, sharing intimate images without consent and widespread classroom distraction. “Students are having a difficult time concentrating, difficult time participating, and the constant notifications going off distract the entire class,” Mann said during her opening remarks.

Why it matters: Several superintendents, principals and associations told the committee they had seen measurable benefits after limiting phones. Laurie Putnam, superintendent of Saint Cloud Area Public Schools, said the district’s middle‑school “away for the day” policy produced a roughly 50% reduction in phone‑related discipline referrals compared with the prepolicy period. Putnam also described a drop in social‑media–driven conflicts and said teachers spent less time policing devices and more time teaching.

Educators described different approaches used by districts. Saint Cloud uses an “away for learning” schedule at the high‑school level that allows phones at lunch and passing time but requires them be stored during class; elementary and middle schools use a full‑day removal or locker storage approach. Putnam said the district saw continued high incident counts among juniors and ninth graders, and that administrators believe pandemic schooling patterns and transitions help explain differences by grade.

Supporters including teacher Alex Hasselton, Dr. Anna Tierney (licensed psychologist and parent), and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (Bob Driver) described improved classroom engagement and reduced bullying in districts that enforce restrictions. “Educators will ultimately be enforcing this as well. We too should have voice in the discretion of use,” Alex Hasselton said, arguing that clearer administrator backup reduces classroom power struggles and teacher burnout.

Concerns and local control: Several witnesses and district leaders urged caution about a one‑size‑fits‑all state mandate. Corey Johnson, chairperson of the Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan School Board (District 196), noted that Minnesota Statute 121A.73 already requires school districts to adopt cell‑phone policies and urged maintaining local flexibility to accommodate community and student needs, including students who rely on phones for safety or translation. Multiple superintendents and association representatives said districts have used toolkits and DOE guidance to craft policies tailored to local needs.

Process and next steps: Committee members questioned several implementation issues, including staff time, parent communications, special‑education exceptions, and whether principals’ discretion could cause inconsistent application. Senator Mann emphasized the bill was not an outright ban but would provide districts and principals additional statutory backup to adopt restrictive policies and fund accompanying education efforts.

Outcome: The committee laid Senate File 508 over for further consideration; no final vote on the bill itself occurred at the hearing.

Ending: Committee members said they planned to review the policies districts will present to the committee on March 14, when statutes require districts to submit their local phone policies for review.","Lawmakers and educators told the Senate Education Policy Committee that restricting student phone use can reduce distractions, cyberbullying and classroom conflicts; testimony and district data shaped debate on Senate File 508, which the committee laid over for further consideration.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee approves amendment to allow districts to donate surplus books; SF 392 laid over

Minnesota senators hear evidence for limiting classroom cell phone use; SF 508 laid over