Reading, Writing and Revenue: Bemidji school district woes

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June 6, 2002
Tom Robertson - Reporter, Tom Kusler - Interviewee, Rollie Morud - Interviewee, Mary Auger - Interviewee, Jesse Ventura - Speaker, Chris Leinen - Interviewee, Doug Fuller - Interviewee
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MPR presents a series of reports "Reading, Writing and Revenue," which looks at Minnesota schools' funding crunch. MPR’s Tom Robertson profiles the Bemidji school district as it struggles with enrollment and public support.

The school fiscal crisis is compounded in many places by declining enrollment, especially in rural Minnesota. The Bemidji school district has fired about 80 teachers, closed two schools and slashed programs to balance its budget in the last two years. Officials there say the financial turmoil has confused local taxpayers and eroded public trust.

This is the fourth of a five-part series.

Click links below for other parts of series:

part 1: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/03/reading-writing-and-revenue-whats-the-problem-an-overview-of-school-funding-crisis

part 2: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/04/reading-writing-and-revenue-district-profile-minneapolis

part 3: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/05/reading-writing-and-revenue-how-osseo-is-balancing-its-books

part 5: https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2002/06/07/reading-writing-and-revenue-push-to-change-school-funding-system

Awarded:

2002 NBNA Eric Sevareid Award, Award of Merit in Documentary/Special - Large Market Radio category

2002 EWA National Award for Education Reporting, second place in Radio category

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