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Okay, enough about soccer. Back to what we're really working on up here.

We asked Jenny the Intrepid Intern to collect thoughts from senators about our proposed increase to public education funding. She talked to Senators Dayton, Bell, Killpack and Eastman. Listen to the MP3 here.

Yesterday'’s Tribune contained the following:

Although the final budget won't be approved for weeks, education officials are optimistic. The schools budget recommended by the Public Education budget committee totals more than $385 million in ongoing and one-time funds.

"This is as good as I've seen in five sessions," said Patti Harrington, state schools superintendent.

The budget recommendations include an 8.4 percent hike in the money schools would receive on a per-pupil basis, with more than half the increase in the form of salary boosts for teachers. Lawmakers recommend a $2,000 shift in the salary schedule, a one-time $1,000 bonus for all classroom teachers and $30 million for a professional excellence program that would bolster pay for certain teachers.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said significant education funding increases are more palatable to conservatives when they come in the form of targeted programs such as differential pay for teachers and technology in the classroom.

. . . The Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee now will consider the funding requests in light of state revenue numbers due next week.

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