Minnesota Catholic Conference has called upon Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and the state’s lawmakers to work across the aisle on school safety.  

“We call on @GovTimWalz to call a #mnleg special session and work with @mnsrc and @mnhouseDFL to pass school safety legislation that protects all students from gun violence,” MCC wrote in a May 25 tweet. 

We call on @GovTimWalz to call a #mnleg special session and work with @mnsrc and @mnhouseDFL to pass school safety legislation that protects all students from gun violence.

— MNCatholicConference (@MNCatholicConf) May 25, 2022

The appeal came the day following a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two adults. 

“There will not be #mnleg alignment on common-sense gun regulation, but this is something we can do immediately (to) protect our students. Gov. Walz and Sen. Miller have communicated to us their support in principle for this bill, and it is time to get it done,” MCC continued in its Twitter thread. 

There will not be #mnleg alignment on common-sense gun regulation, but this is something we can do immediately protect our students. Gov. Walz and Sen. Miller have communicated to us their support in principle for this bill, and it is time to get it done. https://t.co/x1gev7it3e

— MNCatholicConference (@MNCatholicConf) May 25, 2022

The Minnesota State Legislature adjourned May 20 leaving incomplete key work, including passing spending and tax bills, and determining how to address the state’s record $9.25 billion budget surplus. Walz is expected to call lawmakers back for a special session this summer, but some lawmakers are saying they would rather wait until the next session to resume the work.  

MCC supports H.F. 4005/S.F. 3380, which, according to Nonpublic Education Partners, would provide funding to public and nonpublic schools to fund safety measures such as peace officers in schools, drug abuse prevention programs and security enhancements.  

In 2019, the Minnesota legislature appropriated $36 per student in one-time funding to public schools for their Safe Schools Program. Nonpublic Education Partners aims to make the funding permanent, expand it to nonpublic schools, and to raise per-pupil funding from $36 to at least $44 per pupil, or a total per school of $22,000 in 2023 (which would rise to $32,000 in 2024), whichever is greater. 

“What we are advocating for is a permanent state funding stream with a per-pupil allocation that includes nonpublic schools,” Jason Adkins, MCC executive director and general counsel, told The Catholic Spirit. “With intractable division on gun safety laws, this is something for which legislators should be able to find common ground now. Certainly, the money is there. The bills introduced (H.F. 4005/S.F. 3380) are a starting point, and hopefully our elected leaders will focus spending the surplus on creating safer learning environments, as schools are repeated targets of violence.” 

MCC advocates for policy on behalf of the Catholic Church in Minnesota.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a statement May 26 reiterating the call by Catholic bishops of the state for a special session to pass Safe Schools legislation. No legislation can stop the manifestation of evil, the archbishop said, but the Safe Schools effort is an important, common-sense first step to helping schools increase security staff, enhance building security and strengthen violence prevention programs and mental health initiatives.

“When we Catholic bishops met with lawmakers and the governor earlier this year, we were told there was bipartisan support for a legislative proposal on this topic: H.F. 4005/S.F. 3380,” the archbishop said.

“Passing this legislation now will allow public and non-public schools to take time this summer break to evaluate security measures and services to keep our kids safe and then begin the implementation process,” Archbishop Hebda said. “If anything, the $44 per student funding allocation in the bill is too modest, and should be a starting point to ensure school security measures are adequately funded. Please contact Governor Walz and House and Senate leadership to call for special session for this Safe Schools legislation,” the archbishop said.

“At the same time, please join me in seeking the intercession of Mary, who is both Our Lady of Sorrows and Queen of Peace, as we pray not only for the innocent children and school staff who were murdered Tuesday but also for peace for their families and their community,” Archbishop Hebda said.

Nonpublic Education Partners is a coalition of organizations, including MCC, that collaborated in support of nonpublic students in Minnesota during the legislative session. Other Catholic organizations in the ecumenical partnership include Aim Higher Foundation, Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota and Catholic Schools Center for Excellence. 

“Safe schools legislation provides funding for security personnel, building enhancement, violence prevention programs, and mental health initiatives. Two recent shootings by 18-year-olds reflect the need for this type of comprehensive legislation focused on young people,” MCC said in its tweet thread, referring to the ages of the alleged killer in Uvalde as well as a shooter in Buffalo, New York, who killed 10 people May 14. Both of the shooters were 18. 

“If anything, the funding proposal in #mnleg H.F. 4005/S.F. 3380 is too modest,” MCC said in its tweet.