December 6, 2000 - The 14-thousand students in the Robbinsdale school district will go back to classes tomorrow (Thursday), but they won't be riding in school buses. Classes were cancelled today in the suburban district after bus drivers and custodians went out on strike. Union leaders say they're prepared to walk the picket line as long as necessary. District officials say they're making the adjustments needed to keep schools open. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
December 6, 2000 - Researchers at the University of Minnesota will issue a new report later today on how to assess the performance of public schools. The researchers say the report provides a way for parents and policy-makers to judge schools, and hold them accountable. Joining us on the line is Joe Nathan, director of the Center for School Change at the Humphrey Institute, and co-author of the report. Joe Nathan is the director of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota.
December 7, 2000 - Robbinsdale Superintendent talks about how to get through the bus driver picket lines.
December 7, 2000 - The University of Minnesota Women's Volleyball team is in Honolulu, Hawai'i preparing for tonight's game against Cal State-Santa Barbara. The Gophers are competing in the N-C double-A regional semifinals. That's the eqivalent of basketball's sweet sixteen. It's the fourth time in school history they've made it this far, but they've never advanced to the final eight. Pam Schmid covers Gopher volleyball for the Star Tribune. She talked about the team with Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal.
December 12, 2000 - Striking bus drivers and custodians in the Robbinsdale school district have overwhelmingly approved a new two-year contract agreement. Negotiators for the union and school district resumed talks with a state mediator last (Monday) night and reached the settlement early this morning. School district officials say some custodians are expected back on the job as early as tonight and the buses will be rolling again as usual tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
December 12, 2000 - Stan Mack, Robbinsdale School District Superintendent INTRO: Striking workers at the Robbinsdale School district could be back on the job as soon as tonight. The union representing custodians and school bus drivers, and the school district have reached a tentative agreement. The rank and file could vote on the deal this afternoon. It gives the workers a 12-point-7 percent pay raise over 2 years. Joining us on the line is Stan Mack, Robbinsdale Superintendent. -- What does the agreement say? -- What brought the two sides together? -- What can parents xpect this morning? -- What's the timetable for approving the deal? -- When will workers be back on the job?
December 12, 2000 -
December 18, 2000 - As colleges and universities wind up for the winter break, many students are filling out evaluations, rating their instructors. This fall, students at two northern campuses, one in Duluth, and one on Superior, asked to see the results of those surveys. Students say they pay thousands in tuition, and ought to know what their fellow students think of professors before they sign up for classes. But Minnesota and Wisonsin laws are different, so students in Superior will see the evaluation results, while students in Duluth won't. UMD students responded by organizing their own instructor evaluations. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports.
December 18, 2000 - Much of the web has nothing to do with buying and selling. Most are about how to better yourself.
December 18, 2000 - U-S News and World Report has named a University Of Minnesota Reseacher one of the nation's ten leading innovators in science and technology. Dr. Catherine Verfaillie heads the University's new Stem Cell Research Institute. Stem Cells are the so-called "mother cells" that have the ability to divide for indefinite periods and give rise to specialized cells in the body. Verfaillie came to Minnesota in 1987 after studying medicine in her native Belgium. I asked her how she became interested in stem cell research: