Recent content from Mara Klecker
What to know about Sonia Stewart, one of two finalists for Minneapolis school superintendent
The school board interviewed Stewart on Monday night.
Minneapolis Public Schools leaders laud 'very strong' superintendent finalists
The public will have a chance to meet the two finalists — Sonia Stewart and Lisa Sayles-Adams — and watch their interviews next week.
At one Woodbury school, teens saw the achievement gap and stepped up to tutor their peers
The Close the Gap club at East Ridge High School draws up to 40 students each Tuesday after school.
A school missed a coach's sexual assault record. Then he did it again.
Minnesota schools' handling of background and reference checks are at the center of two high-profile lawsuits. A separate case before the state Supreme Court could determine whether if schools are liable when someone with a problematic past is hired and goes on to abuse students.
How Minnesota schools are trying to stop students from vaping in bathrooms
About 14% of high school juniors and 6% of eighth-graders reported using e-cigarettes, according to the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey.
Minneapolis, St. Paul school districts continue to see enrollment slide
Both districts hope for signs of stabilizing enrollment in the coming years.
Minneapolis schools expand music therapy to help students play and cope with emotions
The district added music therapy lessons, long a tool in special education, for all students at some schools.
Alternative high school's move brings students back to downtown Anoka
Sandburg Regional High School relocated from a leased space in Coon Rapids to the site of the former Sandburg Middle School, which closed in 2010.
Schools work to combat rising levels of chronic absenteeism
The number of students missing too much class has risen since the pandemic because of many factors, including increasing mental health challenges.
After first week of class, Minneapolis school district still needs hundreds of teachers
The district added hundreds of other new positions this year and now faces an almost 15% vacancy rate.
Do you have what it takes to lead Minneapolis Public Schools?
Applications are now open for the permanent superintendent position, with hopes of picking someone by the end of the year.
It's the first day of school for most Minnesota students. Here's what to expect.
More than 800,000 kids are back in the classroom as free meals and new school safety initiatives kick in.
Minneapolis charter school finds new North Side home after rental dispute with landlord
The Legacy of Dr. Josie R. Johnson Montessori School has moved to Family Baptist Church. The school's old landlord, Our Lady of Victory Church, has "ceased operations."
As Minnesota kids go back to class, school choice pushes districts to up their marketing strategy
Public school enrollment in the state has stalled in recent years as more families opt for private schools or homeschooling.
Minneapolis Public Schools has begun to contact families whose data was accessed in February hack
The cyberattack paralyzed computer systems across the district in February; a ransomware group claimed responsibility in March.
What happened to the Rabbit Race game at the Minnesota State Fair?
The carnival game dated back to the 1930s and was a staple at the Penny Arcade.
Search ongoing for missing pilot in northern Minnesota
St. Louis, Cook County officials said Saturday the pilot, who went missing Friday, had not yet been found.
John Pearson, longtime Minneapolis Southwest High teacher, dies at 62
He started his career at NASA before trading the lab for a classroom.
Minneapolis school board holds off on updating student phone policy
Board Member Lori Norvell moved to send the policy back to the policy committee and seek more input from teachers, students and parents. That passed unanimously.
Minneapolis school board to vote Tuesday on allowing for more flexibility for cellphones in class
The proposed revision to district policy allows teachers to set classroom rules with the input of students.
Without affirmative action, how should students approach the college applications process?
The College App opened the application season Tuesday, the first one since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June striking down affirmative action.
Minneapolis charter school seeks new home in dispute over broken bathrooms, unpaid rent to church
The Legacy of Dr. Josie R. Johnson Montessori School must move out of Our Lady of Victory church by mid-August.
Rental aid will be available to more Minneapolis Public Schools families facing homelessness
The Stable Homes Stable Schools programs are expanding this fall.
Minnesota school districts turn to students to help fix growing backlog of broken laptops
South Washington County schools recently launched a pilot program to train teens to repair district Chromebooks.
Bill Webb, longtime Edina band director, inducted into National High School Hall of Fame
Dave Stead, the longest-serving executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, was also inducted at a ceremony this month.
Should Minnesota students have cellphones in class? It's often up to principals and teachers
The flexibility in a proposed revision to Minneapolis schools' student device policy is similar to other districts'.
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.
Vadnais Heights charter school to pay $325,000 after teacher sexually harassed, assaulted student
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights found that school staff violated Minnesota's civil rights law by failing to prevent and address sexual harassment and assault.
Minneapolis students may soon have more freedom to use their cellphones in class
The proposed revision to district policy says they could use their phones "as established by classroom norms set forth by the students and the teacher."
Minneapolis Public Schools uses state aid, pandemic relief money and reserves to balance budget
Administrators warned that some of that money won't be available in future years.
Minnesota Department of Education hacked in global data breach
The agency said 24 files that included student information were accessed.
Minneapolis Public Schools looks to one-time funds to help cover $97M gap in proposed budget
The district is planning to balance its budget with pandemic relief funds, which sunset in 2024, and withdrawals from the rainy day fund.
Extra attention for students helps Minnesota schools shrink graduation gap
Districts have emphasized those individual supports amid recovery from the pandemic.
'Crash! Bang! It Sank!' Minnesota preschoolers make own version of Titanic movie
The filmmakers — ages 3 to 6 — began their project when one student brought in a photo of the ship for show and tell.
Quacking in class? Ducklings imprint on Stillwater High students
Retiring teacher Andy Weaver has long incorporated ducks — and many other animals — in hands-on biology projects for students.
Minnesotans see first census count of same-sex married couples as sign of acceptance
Before the addition of the new box in 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau had a history of altering data reported by same-sex married couples.
Minnesota farm recycles school lunch leftovers to feed thousands of pigs
Barthold Farms in St. Francis picks up food scraps from several area schools in the Food to Hog program.
Minneapolis district aims to reinstall licensed librarian at each school
Bucking the state and national trend of cutting librarian positions amid budget crunches, MPS' proposed budget includes a part-time librarian position for each school.
Rev. Patricia 'Pat' Hawley, one of the early female Lutheran pastors, dies
She quietly led efforts toward inclusion and women's rights inside and outside the church.
Why metal lockers are going the way of chalkboards in Minnesota high schools
Lockers, once a rite of passage and a meetup space, are nearly obsolete among today's teens.
Months after controversy over Islamic artwork, Hamline president plans to retire
Miller became school's second female president in 2015. Last days will be in summer of 2024.
Will Mpls. have to close some schools? Question raised as district faces enrollment drop
School board Chair Sharon El-Amin says the "time is now" to start the conversation that could include closing or consolidating schools.
Meet the student board representatives who give input on Minneapolis Public Schools' decisions
Abdihafid Mohamed, a junior at Edison High School, and Halimah Abdullah, a sophomore at Southwest High School, took on the roles in February.
Cyberattacks on school districts — like recent one on MPS — are on the rise
School districts' cyber liability insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years.
Minneapolis Public Schools cyberattack: What to know and how to protect your data
The district has not specified exactly what information was accessed, but there are steps people can take to protect their information.
Minneapolis school board extends Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox's contract for one year
The agreement includes a clause to end the contract early if the board finds a permanent superintendent.
Minneapolis Public Schools says 'threat actor' has claimed responsibility for cyberattack
The group has posted some of the data it accessed online, and the district said it is working to have it removed.
With science projects, Green Teams, students seize initiative on climate change
Student-led efforts to help their communities and the environment include everything from thrift stores to bicycle repair.
Minneapolis Public Schools urging families to monitor financial accounts after cyberattack
The district's network was infected with an encryption virus and a "threat actor" may have had access to data, the district said.
Minneapolis Public Schools' technology problems continue
The district hasn't given any more explanation for the "encryption event," but one expert notes school districts nationwide have been targets of cyberattacks.
Minneapolis Public Schools says computer systems nearly restored, ready for class on Monday
The problems were related to an "encryption event," the district told families Friday.
Minnesota's public schools lost students again this year
Charter schools and private schools saw more modest gains in enrollment after a brief pandemic surge.
Minneapolis Public Schools says computer problems won't interfere with e-learning technology
The district has updated passwords, is working with a specialist to monitor the network and has employed a kind of "virus alert system" to allow MPS students and staff to keep using district devices securely, an update said.
Hennepin Healthcare expands health equity department, releases first annual report
The efforts include a yearlong program to teach employees about how systemic racism can affect health care and health disparities.
COVID burden on Minnesota hospitals remains lower than past winters
Flu hospitalizations are also still down after spiking late last fall.
Stillwater High students get lesson in engineering with assist from three-legged dog
Sadie, a Brittany spaniel, had her leg amputated several years ago after she was hit by a car.
Minneapolis school board still undecided on timeline for hiring new superintendent
Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox has said she is willing to serve a longer term as district leader.
Minneapolis school board likely won't fill superintendent job until 2024
The school board's superintendent search committee voted Tuesday to delay the search for a new district leader until the fall of 2023, saying the added time allows for more community input.
Rising number of homeless students challenges Minneapolis schools
As the number of homeless kids and costs to transport them rise, Minneapolis Public Schools is working to meet the growing need.
Family of slain North High football star requests criminal probe of principal over walkout
The family's attorney accuses Principal Mauri Friestleben of negligence and creating unreasonable risk.
Minneapolis school board OKs $500,000 settlement with family of slain student Deshaun Hill Jr.
15-year-old Deshaun Hill Jr. was shot while walking home from North Community High School the same day as a protest.
Minneapolis school board to vote on $500,000 settlement with family of Deshaun Hill Jr.
Hill was fatally shot in February while walking home from school.
Minnesota parents again cope with distance learning, wistful for snow days
Many school districts called for second day of learning from home on Thursday.
Five new members join Minneapolis school board
One of the board's big tasks this year is picking a new superintendent.
Midnight baby born in Maple Grove hospital may be state's first of 2023
Isabelle Alice Koopman was born as the old year ended and the new year began.
Minneapolis Public Schools to get new district website by 2024
The goal is to make information easier for families to access and understand, officials say.
University of Minnesota to offer undergraduate degree in public health
The program slated to start next fall aims to help fill a "critical need" for more public health workers.
Minnesota's population growth sees 'concerning' stall for a second year
The U.S. Census Bureau released the new estimates Thursday.
In 52nd year, Operation Holiday Basket delivers meals and ritual
The tradition that links Roosevelt students and neighbors is now in its 52nd year. This year, students and alumni packed and delivered 300 boxes of food.
Minneapolis school board OKs budget changes, tax levy, high school start times
The final meeting of the current board focused on the district's finances.
Minneapolis Public Schools leaders face tough choices ahead in 2023
The district's projections suggest the city's schools will run out of money by 2025 without major cuts in expenses or increases in revenue.
Mpls. Public Schools projects 'fiscal crisis' within 5 years
The district's enrollment continues to drop and the pandemic relief money it used to balance its budget will sunset in 2024.
Former St. Paul teacher settles retaliation claim against school district for $120,000
Rachel Wannarka said the district retaliated against her after she spoke to a reporter.
Students cook up food, opportunity with culinary arts program at Roosevelt High
The program is set to expand next semester to include a course aimed at preparing students to join the industry.
Mpls. Public Schools reports enrollment declines in line with district expectations
The district is also considering budget adjustments, including raising its debt service limit.
