SPPS Today - Afternoon Edition: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 ***SPPS IN THE NEWS: No stories today ***OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NEWS: Arizona Still Grappling With Balance on Mandated ELL Instruction Arizona education officials are giving school districts some room to diverge from a mandate that all English-language learners be taught specific English skills in classrooms separate from other students for four hours a day. 9/3/2008 Edweek.org http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/03/02arizona.h28.html?tmp=1978350827 No Major Damage Reported for New Orleans Schools A day after Hurricane Gustav pummeled Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, New Orleans educators were cautiously optimistic today as they waited to hear how their school buildings had fared in the storm and when they would be able to return to the emptied-out city and resume classes. 9/3/2008 Edweek.org http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/02/03nola.h28.html?tmp=1153075496 Brooklyn Center students start school Sept. 2 Only days away, students in the Brooklyn Center School District will start a new school year on Tuesday, Sept. 2. 9/3/2008 MNSun.com http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/09/03/local_news_update/bc21backtoschool.txt.html Minnetonka superintendent travels to D.C., discusses future of education Since coming to the Minnetonka School District in 2001, Superintendent Dennis 9/3/2008 MNSun.com http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/09/03/local_news_update/1aams04peterson.txt.html South St. Paul Schools looking ahead to new school year South St. Paul School District will have a special distinction when students start flooding into classrooms the first day of school. 9/3/2008 MNSun.com http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/09/03/local_news_update/c121d6backtoschool.txt.html A Georgia School System Loses Its Accreditation ATLANTA — A county school system in metropolitan Atlanta on Thursday became the nation’s first in nearly 40 years to lose its accreditation, and the governor removed four of its school board members for ethics violations. 9/3/2008 New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/education/29clayton.html?ref=education Illinois: School Financing Protest More than 1,000 Chicago public school students boycotted the first day of classes in a protest over school financing and instead rode buses more than 30 miles north to try to enroll in a wealthy suburban district. About 1,100 elementary students and 150 high school students from Chicago filled out enrollment applications in the New Trier district in Northfield, said the New Trier superintendent, Linda Yonke. 9/3/2008 New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/03brfs-SCHOOLFINANC_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin 1,000 students boycott Chicago schools NORTHFIELD, Ill. — More than 1,000 Chicago public school students boycotted the first day of classes Tuesday in a protest over school funding and instead rode buses more than 30 miles north to try to enroll in a wealthy suburban district. 9/3/2008 Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/ci_10366283.html School to offer kids dental services Newport Elementary is offering on-site dental services this year. 9/3/2008 Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/ci_10365824.html RNC causes changes for some St. Paul schools ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Republican National Convention is causing schedule changes for some downtown St. Paul schools. 9/3/2008 Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/ci_10369733.html A good mess in Spring Lake Park Superintendent Don Helmstetter pointed out the area where a one-story building was demolished and where the current construction of a two-story section of Spring Lake High School is in progress. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/north/27800719.html?elr=KArksUUUU Academy putting future principals on the right path Four of 19 participants in a new Principals' Academy are first-timers in that role this school year. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/27662539.html?elr=KArksUUUU Beugen named to Robbinsdale school board The Robbinsdale school board has chosen a new member -- Jonas Beugen -- to replace outgoing board member Paul Magnuson. Magnuson announced his resignation in mid-term last June because his family planned to move to Switzerland. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/north/27800769.html?elr=KArksUUUU Chicago students skip first day of class, head to rich suburb to protest school funding NORTHFIELD, Ill. - More than 1,000 Chicago public school students skipped the first day of classes Tuesday to protest unequal education funding, a boycott organizers said would continue through the week with help from retired teachers who will turn office lobbies into impromptu classrooms. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/nation/27761504.html?elr=KArksUUUU Eight candidates vying for three Farmington school board seats Political turmoil and concern with student achievement in Farmington have drawn a large pool of candidates to the school board race this fall. ¶ A new high school under construction in Farmington has fueled recent controversy, with the school district suing the city over the building's location in 2005. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/south/27800359.html?elr=KArksUUUU Learning a new routine in the Osseo schools Osseo not only had to eliminate two schools -- Osseo and Brooklyn Park's Edgewood Elementary -- but also had to revamp the programs at four other elementary schools, and lay off scores of teachers. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/27793479.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiacyKUU Primaries coming Important local races are also on the September 9 primary ballot. In the primary, Minneapolis voters will choose six of nine current candidates to go on to the November 4 general election. In November, three of those six will be elected to at-large seats. 9/3/2008 Twin Cities Daily Planet http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/09/03/primaries-coming.html ***MISC. NEWS: Kick off school year with St. Paul’s free after-school program Program for kids grades 1 to 6, who live or go to school in St. Paul 9/3/2008 East Side Review Not available on-line Eastside Review Vol. 24 No. 25, Monday, Sept 1, 2008 page Shining a light on quality early learning In today’s economy, people don’t buy products and services on looks and slogans alone. They seek assurances that they are making safe quality choices for thier families.It’s time to do the same thing with early learning . 9/3/2008 East Side Review Not available on-line Eastside Review Vol. 24 No. 25, Monday, Sept 1, 2008 As Economy Slumps, Teachers' Jobs in the Cross Hairs Faced with high energy costs and crimped budgets, school districts have cut administrative positions, bus routes, special services, and athletics programs. But as economic prospects worsen, the salaries and jobs of teachers are increasingly coming under green-eyeshade scrutiny. 9/3/2008 Edweek.org http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/03/02hiring_ep.h28.html?tmp=1978623966 Top-Notch Education 'A Moral Obligation,' Obama Tells Throng Barack Obama’s promise to “meet our moral obligation to provide a world-class education” sets an ambitious goal that members of the Democratic Party can’t agree how to reach. 9/3/2008 Edweek.org http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/08/29/02dems.h28.html Finding Answers To The School Lunch Test http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94196698&ft=1&f=1013 9/3/2008 National Public Radio http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94196698&ft=1&f=1013 Teen suicides dip, but rate still high CHICAGO — The number of teen suicides has fallen slightly but the rate remains disturbingly high, researchers said, possibly fueled by drug warnings that have scared many from using antidepressants. 9/3/2008 Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/ci_10366283.html University Of Minnesota / Quam is education school interim dean Jean Quam has been named interim dean of the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development. 9/3/2008 Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/ci_10365824.html A call for library tutors The St. Paul Public Library is looking for volunteers to help students in two programs. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/east/27800309.html?page=2&c=y Alaska Gov. Palin backed teaching 'creation science,' but didn't push it as school policy ANCHORAGE, Alaska - As a candidate for governor, Sarah Palin called for teaching creationism alongside evolution in public schools. But after Alaska voters elected her, Palin, now Republican John McCain's presidential running mate, kept her campaign pledge to not push the idea in the schools. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/27802194.html?elr=KArksUUUU Pawlenty: Education key to U.S. standing A forum on improving education drew standing ovations for diverse speakers, including Al Sharpton. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/south/27790649.html?elr=KArksUUUU Racist symbol found on St. Cloud State University campus St. Cloud State students and staff members say they've learned from past racist incidents and won't let this escalate. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/27764344.html?elr=KArksUUUU Suicide rate among teens still high despite earlier trend downward The number of teen suicides has fallen slightly but the rate remains disturbingly high, researchers said, possibly fueled by drug warnings that have scared many from using antidepressants. 9/3/2008 Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/nation/27791384.html?elr=KArksUUUU |