No Time To Waste | Video

Kristin Clouston | 11/8/2012

Kirsten Baesler won`t be sworn in as the Superintendent of Public Instruction until January. She says with the legislative session beginning at about the same time, she doesn`t have a minute to waste.

Baesler explained a top priority is getting more money for schools. The state pays school districts around $3,400 per student each year.

"Right now Mandan, for example, has about 400 new students and we are not getting paid for those 400 students. We are getting paid on last year`s enrollment. So we have the responsibility for a full year of educating them, but we don`t get paid for them until next year. We`re trying to find a way to implement into our funding formula a manner in which we can help those school districts that are seeing rapid enrollment so we can get the money sooner."

She plans to team up with the state university system as it helps prepare students for higher education.

"I want to make sure we`re doing whatever we can right away for this group of kids so they`re successful and won`t have to have remedial classes when they go to college and of course for our more advanced or accelerated students, that they`ll have the opportunity for some more dual credit and advanced placement courses."

Baesler also says she will work to make sure our schools are a safe and healthy place for children.

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