The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) recently named Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center) as one of the recipients of its “Outstanding Legislator of the Year” award for 2018. The other recipient of the 2018 award was Rep. Tim O’Driscoll.

MSBA officials honored Rosen for her work during the 2018 legislative session on behalf of Minnesota’s public school students. Rosen was recognized for her work in getting the omnibus retirement bill passed by the Legislature.

Rosen, chair of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, was chief author of the Senate’s version of the retirement bill. The bill reforms and stabilizes pension funds.

“Sen. Rosen exhibited tenacity in her efforts to get the retirement bill passed,” said MSBA Executive Director Kirk Schneidawind. “She expertly helped to improve the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) pension funds without doing harm to classrooms.”

Rosen secured bipartisan support for the retirement bill, which passed unanimously in the Minnesota House and Senate in May, before receiving Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature.

“A strong pension system supports public schools and will aid in attracting and retaining quality educators throughout Minnesota,” Schneidawind added. “Providing state funding for employer increases will allow school districts to be held harmless.”

MSBA — a leading advocate for public education — supports, promotes, and strengthens the work of public school boards. MSBA was founded in 1920 and is the eighth-oldest school board organization in the United States.