We hope Minnesota doesn't end up in Florida's shoes, but the odds don't look promising. Minnesota, Governor Tim Pawlenty just signed an education bill that included an additional $86 million to be used by school districts for merit pay. However, districts and schools are free to not sign up for the program. The state teachers' unions have been urging "caution." The Minneapolis Star-Tribune story reports that teachers remain suspicious that the extra dollars won't be distributed fairly, despite the fact that no teacher will face a pay cut.