Your Daily Guide

St. Paul Public Schools Asks Teachers to Retire Early

St. Paul Public Schools is losing $4.9 million in revenue because it enrolled 542 fewer English learners (EL) than expected. What to do about it? The district backed off a plan to lay off 16 EL teachers after intense public pushback. Last week, the school board approved an alternative plan to offer early retirement to at least seven EL teachers. On today’s show, Sahan Journal reporter Becky Dernbach talks about how district officials and the teachers union had to think creatively to avoid teacher cuts. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities / Sahan Journal]

• ‘Incredibly uncertain times’: St. Paul school board members warned the community will face more hard decisions ahead. They fear the district is eating away at its rainy-day funds, or “fund balance.” Meanwhile, costs are rising for public schools across the state. In fact, 63 districts have referendums on the ballot, with many asking voters to increase property taxes for school funding. [Sahan Journal / KSTP]
• Pushback: The St. Paul school district changing course shows the lobbying power of parents and the teachers union. It reminds me of how intense backlash in Minneapolis caused the district to walk back its plan to close up to 16 schools. Parents and organizers created this incredibly intricate website with graphs and report findings. After all, it’s hardly ever politically favorable to fire a beloved teacher or cut student programming.

Tuned in: If you’re into local politics, you might have seen Dr. Amber Alton on your feed. Alton regularly talks lefty Minnesota politics to their tens of thousands of online followers. On today’s show, Alton highlighted how they accidentally fell into the work of online political commentary and which local elections they are watching most closely today. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

‘He needs help’: Sahan Journal interviewed the father of the 18-year-old charged with plotting an attack on the Mall of America. The suspect’s father said his son has undiagnosed developmental delays, and described a tumultuous and abusive home life created by the young man’s former stepfather. [Sahan Journal]

Grim numbers: A preliminary report by the Minnesota Truth Council, created by Gov. Tim Walz, finds that more than 70 children were detained by federal immigration enforcement. Plus, KARE 11 reports that ICE bought a private Appleton prison for $420 million more than the previous asking price, to turn it into a detention center. It may be the most expensive property sale in the state’s history. [Star Tribune / KARE 11]

Coo: The Star Tribune’s Alex Chhith has a lovely profile on how Hmong Minnesotans are reviving roller pigeon husbandry. These are pigeons specifically bred to tumble through the air. “Pigeons were one of the things that kept us out of trouble,” Bethel resident and three-time National Birmingham Roller Club champion Ma Lee tells Chhith. [Star Tribune]

Feedback: A survey of Minneapolis residents and police officers turned up some interesting results. Community members and officers alike expressed distrust in the Minneapolis Police Department’s discipline process. Police and residents were also divided on whether officers treat all community members equally. [North News]

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