April 9, 1997 - D-F-L leaders in the Minnesota House have unveiled their plan for improving public education in Minnesota...but education tax credits are not included. House Speaker Phil Carruthers and members of the House Education Committee say they're committed to working with Governor Carlson on education reform. But their plan omits the specific provision Carlson says he's prepared to fight for. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... House D-F-Lers say their "Excellence for All" proposal would create greater standards of accountability for schools and students. They reject the Republican Governor's proposed tax credits in favor of spending more on pu
April 11, 1997 - A key Senate committee today (Friday) killed Governor Carlson's latest school vouchers proposal. The Governor has promised to veto all other school spending until he gets a vouchers plan, and lawmakers are steeling themselves for a showdown at the end of the legislative session, next month. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: The Senate K-12 Committee didn't surprise anybody when it voted down the Governor's vouchers plan; their counterparts in the House already killed the bill last week. The Governor wants a law to let students spend state dollars on private education, something he believes would reform the whole school system by making it more "customer-oriented." The Governor has been fighting the Legislatu
April 15, 1997 - The Saint Paul school board and teachers union host a reception this afternoon to honor the district's 28 teachers who've earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Saint Paul leads the nation in board certified teachers. With a growing trend toward increased standards in education, many experienced teachers are going through the rigorous evaluation to gain professional recognition and possibly more money. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards began in 1987 as a way to increase teacher professionalism, upgrade learning environments and improve teacher training. Educators, government officials and business lead
April 17, 1997 - Midday focuses on education with guests Larry Pogemiller, DFL state senator, and Sandra Peterson, president of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers. Pogemiller and Peterson discuss common schools proposal, education standards, school choice, various programs, and answer listener call-in questions.
April 18, 1997 - The Senate Taxes Committee has finished work on a sweeping tax reform package. The reforms will lower most property tax rates, but they also set up a controversial new tax on businesses. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: The Taxes Committee has delivered what its chairman, Tower DFLer Doug Johnson, has been promising since January: major property tax reform. The legislation cuts everybody's rates somewhat, but the biggest cuts go to businesses, which also pay the highest rates. Chairman Johnson says the bill reduces the state's dependence on what he calls "unfair" property taxes: ((Escalating property taxes are stifling economic growth, and we all hear from our constituents, people who don't even want to remodel their house because their assessor will come and raise their rates.
April 21, 1997 - President Clinton wants all children reading by third grade. His two-point-75 billion dollar "America Reads" proposal would place one-million tutors, including thousands of college students, in elementary classrooms throughout the nation. Minnesota colleges are making plans to get their students involved in the project. These volunteer tutors face a tough assignment helping children reach their proper reading level. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... 5604 (Sound of readers) In the library at Richard R. Green Central Park Elementary school
April 21, 1997 - Bonnie Wallace says the way things worked on the Fond du Lac reservation when she was a teenager there 30 years ago is the Bureau of Indian Affairs told boys they'd be auto mechanics and the girls would be hair dressers. Today on our Voices of Minnesota interview we hear Bonnie Wallace talk about education for American Indians. Wallace left the reservation as a young adult. Now, she's back as chair of the board for the tribal college. She talked recently with Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson about attitudes toward American Indians when she was growing up.
April 22, 1997 - The Legislature is getting closer to figuring out your tax bill for next year. The Senate finished work on its tax reform package today (Tues), which cuts property taxes by almost 2 Billion dollars over three years. At the same time, the House Taxes Committee has unveiled its own tax reform package, which makes more modest cuts. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Senate Taxes Chairman Doug Johnson has been fighting for a week to keep his huge tax reforms together -- and so far, he's succeeding. His combination of deep cuts in property taxes for business and apartment buildings and generous property tax refunds for homeowners withstood a barrage of amendments from Senators trying to change the mix -- including a fierce battle on Monday over the new "business activity tax" which pay
April 22, 1997 - Some Minneapolis school district residents say they think the school board should resign for failing to improve student test scores. African American parents and community leaders today criticized board members and district administrators for the recent poor performance in statewide tests, especially among minority students. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The Minneapolis school board was scheduled to discuss plans for improving student achievement in the coming school year. But members of the African American community came to get answer about this year. Results of this year's basic skills tests in Minneapolis show about one third of all studen
April 23, 1997 - Pronouncer = STAUSS = rhymes with house The mayor of East Grand Forks now says it could be a month before city residents can go back hom. He says sewage in the flood waters has contaminated their homes. That was tough news to more than two thousand flood victims who have come to stay temporarily in Bemidji. East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss (stouse) travelled to several northwestern Minnesota towns where flood victims have congregated, as Minnesota Public Radio's Christina Koenig (KAY-nig) reports. Several hundred of the flood victims gathered Bemidji State University's Hockey arena to hear the mayor. Lynn Stauss told his fellow flood victims