Plenty of interest to serve on Dayton's bullying task force

More than 60 people so far have applied for a task force that will study bullying in Minnesota schools.

Task force members will study bullying laws and policies, take input from experts and make recommendations on how the state can address bullying in schools. Gov. Mark Dayton created the panel last month.

The panel will include three state commissioners, four legislators, and up to eight other people chosen by the governor. At least 61 people have applied for those spots, including former House speaker and retired superintendent Dave Jennings, Julie Hertzog, who directs the PACER Center's National Bullying Prevention Center, and Tammy Aaberg, a bully prevention advocate whose son, Justin, committed suicide last year. Applicants also include parents, school teachers, social workers, administrators and support staff — and two high school students.

Several applications detail either personal past experience with bullying, or the bullying the applicant's children are enduring.

The panel must complete its work by next August.

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