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School Choice Is Front and Center as Capitol Reopens to the Public By MINNESOTA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
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Catholic Schools
atholics are back at the Capitol making their voices heard in-person now that the doors of “the people’s house” have reopened to the public. A 15-month closure amid the pandemic shifted most legislative business and public advocacy online. When the doors reopened on June 10, Minnesota Catholic Conference staff joined parents and others asking Governor Tim Walz to sign school choice legislation. The rally was led by Exodus Minnesota, an organization started by five black mothers who believe expanding school choice is essential to ensuring all students can access quality education. They are advocating for the creation of education savings accounts that would allocate educational funds to the child instead of to school systems, thereby enabling parents to decide how their education dollars are spent. After Gov. Walz had refused to meet with them following an invitation they hand delivered to his residence, the Exodus moms marched from their press conference and joined Gov. Walz at his press conference. Although he refused again to listen to
Schulze and Ausdemore Retire from Crucifixion School, La Crescent
Marsha Stenzel
Superintendent of Catholic Schools mstenzel@dowr.org
Photo Credit: Minnesota Catholic Conference Staff
their concerns, the presence of school choice supporters has become the enduring image of this month’s special session, and a reminder to lawmakers that the school choice movement is not going away. Not only are citizen advocates and lobbyists back inside the Capitol, but lawmakers have also returned to the chambers for a special session. The special session, called by Governor Tim Walz to extend his COVID-19 peacetime emergency powers by 30 days, is expected to continue until the legislature passes the state’s $52 billion biennial budget.
It is expected that public officials will come to an agreement by the July 1 deadline, but that, other than COVID relief, very few items on each party’s wish list will get accomplished because our Legislature is divided on partisan lines. Senate Republicans are focused on lowering or keeping taxes flat, and Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan, and House Democrats are focused on boosting public school spending. In the meantime, Minnesota Catholic Conference staff continue to advocate for several issues to be included in the final budget. Among those are: nonconforming drivers’ licenses and identification cards for immigrants, education savings accounts for students, nonpublic school aid, payday-lending reform, earned sick and safe time, driver’s license suspension reform, emergency services and shelter program funding, a strong safety net for our state’s poorest families, and an expansion of medical assistance program to include at least six months of coverage for postpartum women.
Submitted by LORI DATTA
�n Monday, May 24, Mrs. Pat Schulze and Mrs.
Janine Ausdemore (Mrs. A.) received the Bishop’s medal in recognition of their retirement from Crucifixion School in La Crescent. Friends and family, including Mrs. Schulze’s 99-year-old father, a WWII vet, were present to see them receive this award. Mrs. Schulze has been at Crucifixion School for 43 years. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in 1978 with an elementary education degree and a minor in special education. She has taught 4th and 5th grade at Crucifixion as well as social studies to grades 4, 5, and 6. Mrs. Schulze wanted only the best for her students. If they were having trouble, she met with them before school, during recess, and after school. She encouraged them to do their best and to be the best person they could be. Mrs. Schulze was not one set in her ways and unwilling to learn new things. She was the first one to tackle new ideas that will help her students learn. When the pandemic hit, most of the schools in the state had two weeks to prepare for on-line learning. Crucifixion had three days. Mrs. Schulze, who sometimes had issues with computers (she says they don’t like her), was right there learning new ways to teach her students virtually. She met with her class several times a day and kept them on track for the rest of the year.
July 2021 w The Courier w dowr.org
Pat Schulze (left picture) and Janine Ausdemore (right picture) take a "retirement ride" after teaching at Crucifixion School for 43 years and 15 years, respectively.
Catholic faith is what gets Mrs. Schulze through everything. She starts everyday with the “Morning Prayer” and encourages students to pray daily. Religion is incorporated in her lessons daily. Her faith keeps her going no matter what is going on in her life. Whether it is family issues, school issues, or computer issues, she never loses faith. She raised two sons with this faith and is now teaching her grandchildren this, too. Mrs. Ausdemore has been at Crucifixion School for 15 years. Prior to coming to Crucifixion, she taught in multiple Catholic schools. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood. Mrs. Ausdemore is enthusiastic about teaching her students religion. She incorporates the Catholic faith in all her lessons and finds unique ways of doing this. She teaches giving thanks by hosting a Thanksgiving Feast every year. Her kindergarten class prepares the meal, writes invitations, meets guests at the door, and puts on a small show for 100-
150 parents and grandparents. A lot of work which is done by her class goes into this event. Mrs. Ausdemore taught about life given by God by having her students care for and hatch baby chicks in the classroom. The kindergartners checked the eggs daily waiting for the eggs to hatch. Some eggs do not make it. Mrs. Ausdemore then explains the concept of death to her students. The chicks that do make it are given to a local farmer. The circle of life is taught in a way that young students understand. Mrs. Ausdemore taught the gift of laughter to her students. The kindergarten class puts on a circus at the end of the year. There are clowns, “animals,” circus acts, etc. The children have a great time performing for their parents and grandparents. Mrs. Ausdemore and Mrs. Schulze will be missed at Crucifixion School. Lori Datta teaches sixth grade at Crucifixion School in La Crescent.
