SPPS IN THE NEWS:
St. Paul schools sets maximum levy hike at 4.5 percent for next year
St. Paul Public Schools' property tax levy will increase at most 4.5 percent next year, school board members decided Thursday.
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13360334.html
St. Paul school board OKs property tax levy plan
Under the proposed tax levy plan of the St. Paul public schools, owners of a median-valued home would see their annual school tax bill fall by $1 next year.
9/18/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/59690702.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NEWS:
House Bill Would Free Up Cash for Early Education
Early-childhood-education programs and school facilities would get major new federal aid under a bill approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives that would cover the cost of that spending by revamping the way the federal student-lending program operates.
9/18/2009
Edweek.org
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/18/04loans.html?tkn=UMWFE6Ir0Zd048B3RBfdaSOFPTy5rgQ8qJZp
The Readiness Agenda
Texas Aligns High School, Entry-Level College Standards
9/18/2009
Edweek.org
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/23/04texas_ep.h29.html?tkn=UOYFRwSiWSq0g2o8umhzHXMSXgr9HBEVVDuR
Twin Cities school cuts mean classroom crowds
Staff reductions are taking a toll on Twin Cities schools. And teachers left with expanding class sizes worry their students aren't getting the education they deserve.
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_13363438.html
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan / School concessions use canned water in effort to increase recycling
As part of its efforts to increase recycling, the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan school district is replacing plastic water bottles with canned water at field concession stands
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_13362533.html
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan / School concessions use canned water in effort to increase recycling
As part of its efforts to increase recycling, the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan school district is replacing plastic water bottles with canned water at field concession stands.
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13362533?.html
Big school districts increasingly turning to their rainy-day funds
A survey of 32 school districts finds a net reduction of $45.7 million in their rainy-day funds this year.
9/18/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/59689897.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
MISC. NEWS:
Survey outlines effects of Pawlenty's shifts on Minn. schools
St. Paul, Minn. - A survey of more than 30 metro-area schools districts outlines the costs they'll incur as a result of the governor's payment shifts this summer.
9/18/2009
Minnesota Public Radio
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/17/schools-survey-budget/
House Passes Bill to Expand College Aid
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation that expands federal aid to college students while ending federal subsidies to private lenders.
9/18/2009
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/education/18educ.html?_r=1&ref=education
57 school districts statewide asking for tax levies on November ballot
Fifty-seven Minnesota school districts will ask voters in November to pass a tax levy for extra classroom dollars.
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_13361681.html
House votes to transform student loans, expand grants
The Democratic-led House approved a bill Thursday that would overhaul college lending and spend tens of billions of dollars on student grants, community colleges, school construction and early childhood education.
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13362565.html
Rosemount / Teens offered driver's training
Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount is holding a driver education program to teach teens proper driving skills from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
9/18/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13362534.html
House college aid bill would boost Pell Grants, kill subsidized student loans
The House voted Thursday in favor of the biggest overhaul of college aid programs since their creation in the 1960s - a bill to oust private lenders from the student loan business and put the government in charge.
9/18/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/59619417.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
House Roll Call: How they voted on college aid
The 253-171 roll call Thursday by which the House passed a bill to overhaul college aid programs.
9/18/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/59672202.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
State issues stricter guidelines for kids under 5 with signs of flu
Officials say younger children should stay home for seven days as infection spreads easier among that group.
9/18/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/59650722.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs