Adams, North Park Teachers Are Up for MN Teacher of the Year

Stan Mraz teaches science at North Park in District 13 (Columbia Heights). John Keran teaches fourth grade at Adams in District 11 (Anoka-Hennepin).

Two Fridley-area elementary school teachers are candidates for 2013 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, the teachers union Education Minnesota announced Thursday: Education Minnesota nominated 135 teachers from across the state for 2013 Teacher of the year, the organization said in a press release. A 25-member panel of community leaders will name semifinalists and finalists in coming weeks, with the Teacher of the Year announced at a ceremony May 5 in Brooklyn Park.

• Photos (1)

Spring Lake Park Schools' Cheryl Gustafson a Semifinalist for MN Teacher of the Year

She teaches at the district's Learning Alternatives Community School.

Cheryl Gustafson, a teacher at the Learning Alternatives Community School in the Spring Lake Park School District, is a semifinalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year.  Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers union, made the announcement Thursday.  Gustafson is one of 34 teachers selected to advance from a list of candidates the organization named last month.  A panel of judges will choose 10 finalists later this month and the group will name its 2012 Teacher of the Year on May 6.  Three teachers in Fridley-area schools are candidates for the Teacher of the Year award sponsored by the Education Minnesota teachers union. Other candidates from Fridley-area schools were Callie Bush, a science teacher at Fridley High School, and early …

• Photos (1)

Capitol Review

Wolf's Bill Draws Media Attention, Teacher-union Fire

The state senator said she's open to either opt-in or opt-out for union-member contributions at issue.

The 24 words state Sen. Pam Wolf proposed adding to state lawbooks last week drew a small flurry of media attention and teachers-union fury before the state Legislator took off for a weeklong holiday recess.  Those 24 words, amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 179A.06, subdivision 6: A dues check off under this subdivision for contributions to foundations, political action committees, or publications must be requested by the employee in writing. "What I believe she's trying to do is bury the union in a blizzard of bureaucracy," Tom Dooher, president of Education Minnesota, told Minnesota Public Radio. In a tweet, WCCO's Pat Kessler elaborated on an Associated Press story by quoting Wolf's remark about her bill that "it's not anti-…

• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Capitol Review

Tom Tillberry: Better Budget Outlook Means It's Time to Pay Schools Back

The Fridley DFLer says the state's improved financial outlook is an opportunity to return 'shifted' funds to school districts.

Minnesota's improved budget picture means the state should release delayed payments to school districts, said one of Fridley's representatives at the state Capitol Monday. "I believe we should use this brighter forecast and repay the vast majority of the $1.4 billion school funding shift," said Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-51B) in a statement, only hours after the Minnesota Management and Budget Office forecasted a deficit of slightly more than $5 billion, down from $6.2 billion. "Laudable" was Tillberry's term for Gov. Dayton proposal to use the $1 billion or so to ease cuts to nursing homes and Minnesota Care, as well as eliminating a surtax on incomes of more than $500,000. But the third-term legislator said struggling schools are his …

• Photos (1)