***SPPS IN THE NEWS:
Local delights in the lunchroom
School lunch managers around the state are working to get more locally grown items onto their noontime menus.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/business/58273712.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

***OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NEWS:
Dakota County / Tough times make tough bargaining for teachers
As a new school year begins, teachers unions and school districts across Dakota County are moving forward with contract negotiations in earnest. The two-year teacher contracts, which are scheduled to coincide with the legislative biennium, officially expired June 30, though they remain in effect until new contracts are approved.
9/10/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13272629.html

Stillwater school cuts expected to be restored
The Stillwater school board is expected to vote tonight to restore cuts made last spring.
9/10/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_13304443.html

Schools talk: Ugly windup, fine delivery
Now, let's travel elsewhere in D.C., where students just got shortchanged.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/58260702.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Wis. names top 5 teachers
MADISON, Wis.—State education officials have named five teachers of the year.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13306364.html

***MISC. NEWS:
MnSCU defends merit bonuses for school president
ST. PAUL, Minn.—The trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and University system are defending their policy of paying school presidents thousands of dollars each in performance bonuses.
9/10/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13299637.html

Needy mothers, kids get a new menu from WIC
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, long has been intended to help pregnant women and women with children up to age 5 avoid malnutrition — specifically anemia, pregnancy complications and health risks associated with being underweight or overweight.
9/10/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13302978.html

St. Paul City Council aims new weapon at underage drinking: a host ordinance
In addition to approving a 6.8 percent increase in St. Paul's property tax levy for next year, the city council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance making hosting a party a criminal offense if underage drinking is involved.
9/10/2009
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13303984.html

City ponders plan to punish adults who let kids drink
Adults who have parties where liquor is available and don't stop minors from drinking could be committing a crime under a proposed ordinance.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/58319857.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Enough from grown-ups! I want to hear from the kids
Let's breathe a collective sigh of relief that no lasting damage was done by President Obama's pep talk to schoolchildren this week, in which he urged them to work hard and dream big. And let's hope he doesn't try to pull another provocative stunt, like suggesting our kids open doors for elderly people.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/58272822.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Stillwater school cuts expected to be restored
The Stillwater school board is expected to vote tonight to restore cuts made last spring.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.twincities.com/ci_13304443.html

Vandalism leads Daytons to sue son's ex-classmates
The family says it exhausted all options before filing suit against the students. They are seeking more than $50,000 each in damages from the boy's former classmates at Breck School.
9/10/2009
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/58285342.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DUs