January 18, 2002 - Christine Jax, the commissioner of Children, Families, and Learning, spoke to the Minnesota Association of School Administrators about how they should not make certain cuts. The cuts would answer Ventura's required budget cuts.
January 15, 2002 - There is a deadline for teacher contracts on January 15th every two years. However, this year it was suspended and as a result, 251 school districts still do not have a contract.
January 10, 2002 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports on Governor Ventura's budget cut of 1% from the education portion for this coming year…and that he wants to take another 2%-3% the following year. While a smaller cut than other areas of the budget, many educators are concerned at the negative impact cuts will create in areas such as specialized aides, grants, and charter schools receiving less money to lease buildings.
January 9, 2002 - Minneapolis School District needs to cut $30 million. The budget cut will bring challenges: staff reduction, larger classes, bus service cutbacks, and wage freezes for all non-teaching staff.
January 8, 2002 - The 27 metro school districts that make up the Association of Metropolitan School Districts are together facing a budget cut. This correlates with the projected $2 billion shortfall in the state budget.
January 7, 2002 - Over 100 teachers were let go and budget had to be cut by $6 million.
January 7, 2002 - Since the events of September 11th, America's public schools have helped teach the nation some powerful lessons in charity, tolerance and patriotism. Students have raised money for the victims' families. They've embraced their Arab and Muslim classmates. And they're reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with renewed spirit. Many students also say they have a different outlook about the world and their place in it. As a part of our series on How We've Changed, Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire talked with a group of suburban high school students with a link to the tragedies who say their lives were forever changed...
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 14, 2001 -
December 6, 2001 - A recent report on the performance of Minneapolis public schools showed African Americans students are suspended three times as often as white students. School and community leaders say the rate is unacceptably high and points to cultural barriers in the classroom. They also say suspension is an ineffective punishment because students who often need extra academic help are kept out of school. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.