2006 News

Ely school board levies full amount

2/22/2007 12:32:48 PM

Steve Foss, Timberjay Newspapers (Tower/Soudan, Cook/Orr, Ely)
After pointed discussion and an examination of the Ely school district’s projected budget, Ely school board members on Tuesday unanimously certified the full excess tax levy approved by voters in November.

School district dumps Q Comp teacher pay plan

1/4/2007 7:34:04 AM

Minnesota Public Radio
North St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) - For the first time, teachers in a Minnesota school district have voted to pull out of an alternative pay program championed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Teachers jettison Q Comp pay plan

12/28/2006 7:13:59 AM

Megan Boldt, Pioneer Press
Objections concern system in the future

Ballot mix-up found in levy vote

12/28/2006 7:11:57 AM

Mary Bauer, Pioneer Press
64 voters in White Bear district were given Mounds View ballots, possibly affecting close outcome

Special education costs eat up district's fund balance

12/28/2006 8:48:48 AM

Kristin Holtz, Litchfield Independent Review
Special education costs and declining enrollment led to a $467,649 drop in the Litchfield School District general fund, auditors reported Tuesday night.

Pawlenty warm to tuition freeze

1/4/2007 7:28:26 AM

Brian Bakst, Associated Press (MPR)
St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) While applauding proposals from public universities to keep tuition increases in the 4-percent neighborhood in coming years, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Thursday he'd back a tuition freeze if the Legislature passes one.

Science, certainly, but leave space for the liberal arts

2/6/2007 10:17:08 AM

Craig Westover, Pioneer Press
TICK, TOCK AND TEARS

Higher ed counting on a big boost from Legislature

1/4/2007 8:48:39 AM

Art Hughes, MPR Morning Edition
Some legislative leaders say the upcoming session could be a turning point to stem the trend of increasing college tuition in Minnesota.

Cut and still down

4/13/2007 12:00:19 PM

Star Tribune
State spending on early education and child care was whacked after the 2001 recession, and has not recovered.

Building blocks for social change

1/4/2007 8:40:23 AM

Sea Stachura, MPRadio Morning Edition
A new organization in Minneapolis is trying to do something about race-based violence and bullying in schools.

Teens look to college students for advice

12/27/2006 7:25:44 AM

Bao Ong, Pioneer Press
State deploys peers for work, school help

Capitol consensus: More money for schools

12/28/2006 10:05:32 AM

Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio All Things Considered
There's one thing everyone at the Capitol seems to agree on for the 2007 legislative session -- Minnesota's public schools will get more money. Many lawmakers campaigned on the issue, and Governor Pawlenty said there will be a funding boost for K-12 education. But it may not be enough for some parents and education groups, who are calling for an overhaul of the way Minnesota funds schools.

Early childhood education could get major funding boost

1/4/2007 8:50:13 AM

Laura McCallum, MPR Morning Edition
Advocates of early childhood education are optimistic that the upcoming legislative session will include a major funding boost for programs that prepare children for school.

Mixed reactions to new teacher pay structure

12/22/2006 7:20:52 AM

Leah Shaffer, Eden Prairie News
Last spring, Eden Prairie was one of the 25 districts in the state to take advantage of a program to change how teachers are paid.

School Board meets with lawmakers

12/28/2006 11:38:11 AM

Michelle Ruckdaschel, Bemidji Pioneer
The Bemidji School Board met with state legislators Thursday night to discuss the school district’s legislative priorities, ranging from the state’s formula to fund school transportation to all-day, every-day kindergarten.

St. Louis Park schools earn EPA award

12/28/2006 7:25:56 AM

Seth Rowe, MN Sun Newspapers
St. Louis Park Public Schools' energy savings program put the district among the elite in such efforts.

District 284 levy increases 3.78 percent over 2006

12/28/2006 7:32:16 AM

Sally Thompson, MN Sun Newspapers
During their Dec. 11 meeting, members of the Wayzata Board of Education approved a $38,460,358.62 tax levy for 2007.

Open enrollment open again

12/28/2006 7:44:10 AM

Keith Anderson, Waconia Patriot
This past Monday night the local school board officially approved open enrollment for the 2007-08 school year.

Brooklyn Center School District looks for additional revenue sources

12/28/2006 7:27:48 AM

Natalie Spray, MN Sun Newspapers
Preliminary estimates for settling last school year's budget put the Brooklyn Center School District further into deficit, prompting administration to look for additional revenue.

North Minneapolis mentor is a "mother on a mission"

12/27/2006 7:08:44 AM

Art Hughes, Minnesota Public Radio Morning Edition
A north Minneapolis mother, determined to see her talented athlete son succeed academically, has become a beacon for dozens of other student athletes.

NY Mills School Board sets '07 levy

12/28/2006 11:23:28 AM

Kevin Cederstrom, New York Mills Herald
The New York Mills School Board set the final levy at $896,923 for 2007. This amount is less than the preliminary levy of $935,000 certified at the September board meeting. The board did not set the levy at the maximum amount due to state aid adjustments.

Board approves levy, policies

12/28/2006 11:43:11 AM

Kremena Spengler, New Ulm Journal
NEW ULM — During a light, non-controversial agenda that generated practically no debate, the Board of Education approved the 2006 local tax levy payable in 2007; adopted changes to policies on employee background checks and on graduation requirements; and appointed head football and baseball coaches.

Course revisions, additions respond to demands of state and needs of students

12/28/2006 7:38:33 AM

Farmington Independent
Every year, the Farmington Area School Board considers and approves additions and revisions to the course offerings at Farmington High School and Farmington Middle School West.

MACCRAY approves installment payments to Central Minnesota Christian School

12/22/2006 10:55:08 AM

Tom Cherveny, West Central Tribune
CLARA CITY — The MACCRAY School Board agreed Monday on an installment schedule to reimburse the Central Minnesota Christian School in Prinsburg for transportation services.

District 16 School Board approves $14.5 million property tax levy

12/27/2006 9:10:30 AM

Elyse Kaner, ABC Newspapers
Spring Lake Park District 16 School Board last week unanimously adopted its 2006 final property tax levy in the amount of $14.5 million.

District 15 elementary building bond election Feb. 20

12/27/2006 9:08:37 AM

Tammy Sakry, ABC Newspapers
The polls will open again in St. Francis Independent School District 15 Feb. 20, 2007.

School’s at-risk student performance ‘way up’

12/22/2006 10:41:52 AM

Nick Hanson, Mankato Free Press
MANKATO— Major curriculum, teaching and staff development overhauls at Mankato’s Kennedy Elementary are paying off in a big way.

Report card for Robbinsdale Area Schools

12/22/2006 6:54:51 AM

MN Sun Newspapers
Residents of Robbinsdale Area Schools will soon receive a copy of the District Report Card, developed by the System Accountability Committee in accordance with Minnesota statute.

ACGC asks state for more time to resolve its budget problems

12/22/2006 10:56:32 AM

Carolyn Lange, West Central Tribune
GROVE CITY — The Minnesota Department of Education will be asked to give the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District more time to resolve its budget problems.

District eyes sports complex for FHS site

12/28/2006 7:36:33 AM

Jeff Mores, Farmington Independent
The city of Farmington has done quite a bit of research into building a community center.

Despite tears, Library Board to close 3 branches

12/21/2006 8:19:52 AM

Joy Powell, Star Tribune
About 50 library supporters showed up Wednesday night to maketheir casefor keeping the Minneapolis branches open. But the branches will close on Dec. 29.

New junior and senior high budget proposals presented at Hopkins workshop

12/22/2006 7:10:33 AM

Marc Ingberm, MN Sun Newspapers
Looking to move the district out of statutory operating debt and establish a general fund reserve, the Hopkins School Board is planning major cuts to the 2007-08 budget.

Will there be a fourth R for Minneapolis educators?

12/21/2006 7:09:12 AM

Steve Brandt, Star Tribune
Teacher reassignments are looming unless the Minneapolis school district and the teachers union agree on extending a moratorium.

Prime time for Coon Rapids Middle School

12/27/2006 7:29:49 AM

Peter Bodley, Coon Rapids Herald
Coon Rapids Middle School’s success in closing the student achievement gap has drawn the attention of a national television network.

Assault on math illiteracy...Pair of Perham teachers may have found correct equation to improve math education

12/28/2006 11:20:21 AM

Louis Hoglund, Perham Enterprise Bulletin
It will take teamwork to reverse the trend of dismal high school math test scores.

School closing considered

12/22/2006 7:12:10 AM

Wendy Reuer, Woodbury Bulletin
Seated before a host of red sweaters, sweatshirts and other apparel representing Cowern Elementary School parents, students and staff, School Board 622 board members were told closing another elementary school might be an option to ease the district’s financial restraints.

Mahtomedi schools to increase levy

12/22/2006 7:45:13 AM

Kristine Goodrich, White Bear Press
When Mahtomedi voters approved a levy of up to $1,100 per pupil unit in 2004, they were told the levy wouldn't reach that amount until 10 years later.

834 board holds hearing for levy

12/22/2006 7:01:37 AM

Mark Brouwer, Woodbury Bulletin
Given this fall’s furor over voter-approved school levies, one might forget about the larger property tax levy that composes fully a quarter of the Stillwater Area Schools’ budget.

Longer school year might have passing chance in '07

12/21/2006 6:32:55 AM

Norman Daper, Star Tribune
Just in time for Christmas break comes a Scrooge-like idea from Minnesota's school superintendents: They want students to spend more days in school.

District to cut $2.5 million

12/22/2006 7:39:23 AM

Kristine Goodrich, White Bear Lake Press
WBL will try levy again next year