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Educators' donations given to soldier-teacher

Posted: 8:45 AM Jul 23, 2012
Reporter: AP

WINONA, Minn. (AP) -- A Winona teacher who was forced to pay for substitute teachers while he served in Afghanistan has received more than $13,000 donated by educators from around the country.

A collection for Matt Reuter was taken at the recent National Education Association convention after teachers learned Reuter was responsible, under an obscure state law, for $11,300 in pay to the substitutes. The amount was deducted from his back pay.

Reuter had the opportunity to lobby Gov. Mark Dayton about the law earlier this year and Dayton helped change it so veterans are no longer required to pay for their own substitute teachers.

KAGE radio reports Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher says the Obama administration is looking into similar laws across the country.