December 17, 2001 - THE OSSEO SCHOOL BOARD MEETS AGAIN THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT MORE BUDGET CUTTING OPTIONS, INCLUDING ALTERNATIVES TO A CONTROVERSIAL FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK THAT HAS MANY PARENTS AND TEACHERS UPSET....INCLUDING THE GOVENOR, WHO'S DAUGHTER GOES TO SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. OSSEO AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FACING BUDGET DEFICITS, INCLUDING THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS....WHICH FACE A 30 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL. MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE HIRED A FORMER SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE TO HELP THEM. DAVE JENNINGS WAS HIRED LAST WEEK AS THE DISTRICT'S NEW CHEIF OPERATING OFFICER. IN ADDITION TO HIS LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND, HE'S ALSO THE FORMER CEO OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. JENNINGS SAYS HE TOOK THE JOB BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW HIM TO WORK WITH DISTRICT SUPERINTENDANT, CAROL JOHNSON.
December 18, 2001 - Bemidji is down 400 students in the past 5 years. That means that there is a decrease in state revenue. There will be budget cuts even if they ask for more money.
December 19, 2001 - The University of Minnesota has filed a motion it says significantly strengthens its fraud case against former basketball coach Clem Haskins. The University is trying to retrieve at least part of the one-point-five (m) million dollars it paid Haskins to buyout his contract. In documents filed yesterday, the University alleges that academic cheating in the men's basketball department began shortly after Haskins became coach in 1986. That's about seven years before former employee Jan Gangelhoff started writing papers for players. University attorney Lorie Gildae (Gil-DAY) says the new evidence documented in the motion falls into two categories:
December 19, 2001 - Osseo School District officials are backing away from plans for a four-day school week. They say when it comes up for a vote again next month, there probably won't be the votes to support the measure. Meanwhile, the Osseo School Board is still looking for ways to cut the budget to make up for what they're saying is a budget shortfall of 9 Million dollars. Last night Helms reports.
December 19, 2001 - The St. Paul school board has given Superintendent Pat Harvey a new three-year contract and a bigger salary. Some city residents say the pay raise is inappropriate when the school district is facing a budget deficit. But board members say Harvey's total compensation package will be about the same as when she started the job. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
December 27, 2001 - FOR USE THURS 12/27 ME The University of Minnesota Extension Service plans almost five million dollars of budget cuts over the next three years. Money from state and federal sources did not increase enough this year to support the current organization, and officials expect to phase out dozens of jobs around the state. The current financial reserves of the service have dwindled to less than one month's operating expenses. In the midst of forced belt-tightening it's a surprise to hear Extension officials using words like "excited" and "optimistic." But they say they're using the budget crunch to streamline and update the service, making some of the biggest changes in decades. Details from Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich.
December 27, 2001 - Like all American families, Hmong immigrants place hopes for the future on their youth, but school truancy remains a problem for some Asian American kids. MPR’s Kaomi Goetz looks into the issue and how some are addressing it.
December 28, 2001 - The latest batch of economic data shows a big rebound in consumer confidence AND a surge in new home sales. The jump in consumer confidence surprised analysts who were expecting a slight dip. The index is closely watched because consumer confidence drives consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's economic activity. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department says new-home sales rose 6.4 percent in November. That's the largest increase in almost a year. Economist Louis Johnston with the College of St. Benedict and St. Johns University says a surprising number of homeowners are taking advantage of the Federal Reserve's 11th interest rate cut.
December 28, 2001 - FOR USE FRI 12/28 ME While several school districts around the state are spending a lot of energy right now tightening belts, charter schools are unphased. They're already working with modest budgets. In the last year a handful of charter schools have been shut down because of criticism over how they spend their money. But administrators at a Rochester charter school say their school should be a role model to others. Mainstreet Radio's Laurel Druley has this report.
December 31, 2001 - Harper Lee's novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" is considered a timeless classic by some. Its message of inclusion and tolerance has touched countless readers. Now teachers and students at the Fergus Falls middle school are finding the book is not only great reading but a tool for bringing the community together. And as Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports they got some unexpected support.