Recent content from Anthony Lonetree
St. Paul schools superintendent's tenure ends after challenges and national accolades
Joe Gothard, who is leaving for Madison, Wis., has led Minnesota's second largest district through restructuring and the pandemic. His successor faces ongoing budget and academic issues.
Finalists named for 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year
The annual honor given by the teachers union will be presented during a banquet on May 5 in St. Paul.
St. Paul Public Schools identifies cuts for coming school year
The proposed cuts include teaching jobs, an early-childhood hub and special lunch menus as the district faces expiring federal pandemic relief funds and a $107.5 million budget gap.
St. Paul Public Schools turns to old hand to fill temporary schools chief role
John Thein, best known as the former leader of the Roseville school district, will again serve as interim superintendent of the state's second-largest district.
Reporting errors, missing graduates mar Minnesota grad rate calculations
The Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts clarified reporting errors, but the episode points to ongoing needs to better collect and organize student data.
St. Catherine University names next president
Marcheta Evans, who now serves as a college chancellor in New Jersey, will be the 12th woman to lead the St. Paul institution, and its first Black president.
St. Paul school board OKs two-year teacher deal
Agreement with educators was reached less than a week before a possible strike; union members ratified the contract last week.
St. Paul schools, teachers reach tentative contract agreement, avoid strike
The tentative agreement announced Tuesday comes less than a week before a planned strike.
State lawmakers asked to help open rigorous courses to minority, low-income students
Removing barriers and encouraging students to take on challenges at school has brought recognition to Open World Learning Community in St. Paul.
St. Paul school district proposes arbitration to settle teacher contract, avert walkout
The proposal came a day after the union filed an intent to strike notice for the fourth time in as many bargaining cycles; the walkout would occur March 11, but talks continue.
St. Paul Superintendent Joe Gothard named new Madison, Wis., schools chief
Gothard, who recently was named the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year, grew up in Madison and began his career as an educator there.
St. Paul teachers set March 11 strike date as talks continue
The walkout is set for March 11 as district, union negotiators continue to meet in mediation. The district reports the two sides remain millions of dollars apart.
Minnesota teachers are winning their best pay raises in years
Suburban districts are settling contracts nearly equal in cost to the aid they received after 2023 session; legislative leaders say teacher pay has needed to grow.
St. Paul Public Schools teachers authorize strike
The vote means union leaders can choose to call a strike if they deem it necessary. A walkout would not come until March at the earliest.
State leaders enter new session indicating they may stand pat on big K-12, child care investments
Education advocates plan to push for increase in bedrock per-pupil funding formula; hope for more if February budget forecast brightens.
Minnesota school, county leaders push for plans to address chronically absent students
Education advocates plan to push for solutions at the Legislature. Meanwhile, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi has been discussing the topic with local school districts.
St. Paul superintendent named finalist for top schools job in Madison, Wis.
The move would represent a return home for Joe Gothard, who has led Minnesota's second-largest district since 2017 and is the state's current superintendent of the year.
Mankato science teacher fosters connections in school's forest
Julia Battern of Mankato East High School was recently honored with a state conservation award for her work teaching students to tackle environmental issues.
Snow days making a comeback in St. Paul Public Schools
Students will be free to set aside their iPads and enjoy sledding or other winter activities for at least two days under an agreement negotiated with the district's educators.
Court orders Minnesota landlord to stop exposing tenants to lead paint in rental homes
Progress Residential Management Services manages about 600 rental properties in the state.
St. Paul Public Schools already eyeing expansion of groundbreaking Karen language program
Hundreds of students have enrolled in the new classes and the district will expand the coursework to middle schools for the next academic year.
Next step for early learning advocates: Child-care subsidies for middle-income families
DFL lawmakers are preparing a proposal for the coming session.
Leaving class? In some Minnesota schools, students now use digital pass systems to get permission
The SmartPass system is now in place in St. Paul's secondary schools and the Lake Superior district as schools look for ways to keep students on track.
Minnesota attorney general settles with Burnsville charter school over alleged misuse of funds
Former leaders of Gateway STEM Academy were also charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud case.
St. Paul schools, union agree to contract mediation
Both sides remain far apart on potential costs.
Budget pinch looms for Minnesota schools as $1.3 billion federal COVID relief money ends
Districts across the state will have to make difficult choices when aid that propped them up during the pandemic comes to an end in 2024.
In votes over school funding, metro districts won more than greater Minnesota
Two-thirds of the districts that sought more funding for building projects or operating levies saw at least one question pass.
Voters in South Washington County, Osseo school districts back big building projects
Mankato and Rochester also were among dozens of Minnesota districts with questions on Tuesday's ballot.
Hamline University selects new president
Kathleen Murray, who starts her new job in January, served previously at Macalester College. She takes over from Fayneese Miller, who is retiring.
Minneapolis, St. Paul school districts continue to see enrollment slide
Both districts hope for signs of stabilizing enrollment in the coming years.
St. Paul Public Schools superintendent gets top state honor
Joe Gothard has been at the helm of St. Paul schools since 2017.
Minnesota schools can tap pandemic relief money to boost air quality. Are they using it?
The state says school districts have sought just $13 million in COVID pandemic relief funds so far, but districts have more projects in the works.
St. Paul residents to have voice in school district's spending decisions
The new advisory panel will also include the superintendent and three school board members.
St. Paul Public Schools, Junior Achievement North to bring professional projects to classrooms
The collaborative classroom projects will begin in the 2024-25 school year.
$2M donation from MacKenzie Scott to benefit child care in Minnesota
Little Canada-based nonprofit Think Small will use the money to work to improve child care options.
St. Paul Public Schools notifies students about winter data breach
Names and email addresses may have been accessed, the district says.
Minnesota education activists, DFLers argue ban on student restraints needs to stay
Minnesota Republicans have called for a special session to repeal the measure that prompted several law enforcement agencies to pull out of schools.
St. Paul's new East African Elementary Magnet offers cultural lessons to attract families
The community helped recruitment efforts for the school, which is part of the district's strategy to counter declining enrollment.
School bus routes bounce back, but drivers are still in demand across Minnesota
School districts and contractors say raises and bonuses were key to driver recruitment and retention.
Minnesota's tiniest learners will get lift with new state-funded scholarships
State-funded scholarships commonly associated with 4-year-old preschoolers are being expanded to give more low-income infants and toddlers access to richer, more consistent programming.
Minnesota's tiniest learners will get lift with new state-funded scholarships
State-funded scholarships commonly associated with 4-year-old preschoolers are being expanded to give more low-income infants and toddlers access to richer, more consistent programming.
St. Paul schools give district leaders 6% pay raise
The school board raised pay for district administrators by 6% after a broader compensation study.
Brooklyn Park shooting victim identified
An adult suspect was arrested for the death Friday night.
Teachers, aides needed across state as school year approaches
The shortage of educators in Minnesota is significant, a statewide survey shows.
St. Paul schools want every student they can get, and hunt begins in preschool
The district will join forces with Head Start to offer more preschool classes.
St. Paul schools chief gets lower grade for 2022-23
Joe Gothard acknowledged he'd fallen short on advancing the district's equity plan.
St. Paul schools face challenge of delivering 'well-rounded education' to all
Half of the district's elementary schools didn't meet that goal in 2022-23, even after merging campuses.
Minnesotans re-evaluate finances after student loan relief rejected
The Supreme Court ruling on the Biden administration plan came a couple of months before borrowers are set to resume payments that had been paused during the pandemic.
Supreme Court says considering race in college admissions is unconstitutional
Minnesota colleges had been bracing for the ruling on affirmative action and emphasizing their commitment to diversity on campus.
St. Paul Public Schools budget tops $1 billion
The budget includes special education staff hired with help of bonuses and the return of yellow school buses for two high schools.
Four St. Paul school board candidates get DFL's endorsement
Incumbent Chauntyll Allen backed for second term.
U students face new round of tuition hikes
The university budget proposal for Twin Cities and Rochester campuses includes 3.5 % increases.
Interim University of Minnesota President Jeff Ettinger to take over June 10
Regents approved his employment agreement Friday, including several measures to avoid conflicts of interest.
U regents to meet to finalize details of presidential transition
Current President Joan Gabel is leaving to take another job. Former Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger will serve as interim president.
Final Minnesota competitor exits in fifth round of National Spelling Bee
Eighth-grader Maximus Katsoulis was the last Minnesota student remaining in the competition after four others made mistakes in earlier rounds.
St. Paul schools get $52M boost from state, still face budget gap
The state's second-largest district is projected to still come up short on the budget front, requiring it to use rainy-day funds to fill a looming deficit.
St. Paul surveys reveal student, staff concerns about school safety
The school board heard a summary of survey results and conversations with unnamed staff, students and families around safety issues.
St. Paul's new East African elementary school gets community's blessing
The magnet school will open in the fall.
Mark Lodge, high school hockey archivist who officiated 6,000-plus games, dies at 70
History of St. Paul's Johnson High School was a passion.
Minnesota's U.S. Presidential Scholars named
Two Maple Grove students are among 161 honored nationwide.
East African-focused elementary school to open in St. Paul this fall
Frogtown area school to be districtwide magnet.
Sheriff's deputy shot and killed in western Wisconsin
It's the third death of a law enforcement officer in western Wisconsin in a month.
What's for lunch? St. Paul schools serve up bison nachos
The special meal was dished up districtwide Monday, but carried extra significance in American Indian Magnet School's renovated cafeteria.
Minnesota State system names two chancellor finalists
The next chancellor will take over for Devinder Malhotra, who will retire from the college system in August.
St. Paul Hmong language schools to get new name
Txuj Ci HMong Language and Culture will be the new name for Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet, an elementary school, and Hmong Language and Culture Middle School.
St. Paul schools are getting $319 million in pandemic relief; here's how they're spending some of it
The funding for all kinds of things, including academic recovery, is set to expire in September 2024.
St. Paul students return to Harding High after fatal stabbing
Educators demand action on safety concerns.
Daniel Harshman, a St. Paul police sergeant who loved to ride, dies at 76
The former leader of the city's Mounted Patrol unit had an affinity for horses and Harleys.
Minnesota parents again cope with distance learning, wistful for snow days
Many school districts called for second day of learning from home on Thursday.
St. Paul Public Schools to try again to give voice to students
Consultants to help develop new engagement model after the Student Engagement and Advancement Board (SEAB) fell dormant.
St. Paul schools require ethnic studies ahead of statewide push
Critical ethnic studies is now a graduation requirement for the class of 2025 in St. Paul Public Schools. Johnson High's principal hopes it creates more leaders.
Russell 'Russ' Moore, who shined on drums and as union leader, dies at 94
Moore's son said he never had to work a "straight job" outside music to support his wife and three children.
