Latest news with #St.PaulPublicSchools
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Paul school board OKs $1 billion budget for 2026
The St. Paul Public Schools board of education unanimously approved a $1 billion budget for the upcoming school year on Tuesday. An estimated $51.1 million budget shortfall is to be covered by $35.5 million in reserve funds and $15.6 million in budget cuts and new revenue under the budget. Of the overall budget reductions, 74%, or $11.5 million, come from cuts in central office departments – 8% of the district's total budget – including Schools and Learning, administration and operations and financial services, human resources and equity, strategy and innovation. Those departments will have cuts in staffing, contracts and vendor services, travel and supplies and service levels. Feedback this year from the community and board members encouraged district officials to look toward central office administration when making reductions, said Jackie Turner, executive chief of administration and operations. 'And we heard that as, stay away from the schools as much as you can,' Turner said. 'And I believe that the budget you see tonight does all of those things.' Drawing from the district's fund balance for the budget shortfall will maintain programs and services as much as possible, district officials said. They attribute the shortfall to state funding not keeping pace with inflation in the past 20 years and increased expenses. They also acknowledged that future adjustments may need to be made to the budget. During its May meeting, the board approved a resolution directing the district administration to prepare a November referendum recommendation for additional district revenue. Ballot language is expected to come before the board in July. The results of that referendum and as well as changes to enrollment may necessitate future budget adjustments, according to district officials. 'But I do hope that folks in our community who had concerns about the budget and the way that we're spending money, maybe there was something they cared about … that they will continue to speak to us if the concerns that they had bear out to be true,' board member Uriah Ward said. While the board passed an approximately $1 billion budget last year — this year's budget is around $8 million less — board members praised the increase in transparency this time around. Key components of the budget are construction and debt service, said district budget chief Tom Sager. The district's capital projects fund is $118.9 million. Additional revenue will not only include the proposed referendum, but also potential reductions in the district's facilities portfolio, said SPPS Superintendent Stacie Stanley. Some changes to the approved budget since the board's May meeting include $543,000 added from the general fund to reinstate some positions and programming in Early Childhood Family Education, or ECFE — a voluntary program for parents and their children below the age for kindergarten enrollment. Parents and community members in April had spoken against previously proposed cuts to the program. $60,000 was also added to the budget for student engagement support. St. Paul Central students design a mascot to represent everyone St. Paul's Maxfield Elementary breaks ground on 'community schoolyard' SPPS: New Superintendent Stacie Stanley begins first week with district St. Paul Public Schools narrows achievement gap in 2024 graduation rates St. Paul schools hit pre-COVID graduation levels, state reaches record high
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SPPS: New superintendent Stacie Stanley begins first week with district
Among Stacie Stanley's memories of attending Mississippi Creative Arts Elementary School in St. Paul is winning a spelling bee and eating pizza, she told students at a recent visit where she also heard a student choir perform the school song. The visit and performance was part of her first day — Monday — as superintendent at St. Paul Public Schools. Stanley popped in on schools she attended in her youth and explained to the students what a superintendent does. 'So you're like the president of the schools?' one student asked. They're both big jobs, Stanley explained to students gathered in the school's cafeteria. On Tuesday, she visited Harding High School to watch their unified track and field day — a Special Olympics event the district holds. Since being selected for the position in December, the former Edina Public Schools superintendent has prepared by making a 100-day onboarding plan for herself which she'll use to gather and analyze information on the district to determine a formal set of goals and next steps that she'll present to the school board around August, she said. The plan includes meeting with district and community members to learn more about the district; she's already met with Mayor Melvin Carter and has plans to meet with leaders of the St. Paul Federation of Educators — the teachers union. 'So there is no shortage of work that needs to be done, which is why I really needed to join St. Paul Public Schools earlier than July 1st,' Stanley said. Among her early priorities are launching a superintendent-student leadership team and meeting with principals and other staff members as part of a process she calls 'principal plus one.' Stanley is the district's first superintendent born, raised and educated in St. Paul in the district's more than 150-year history. She attended Mississippi Creative Arts School, Cleveland Junior High School – now Farnsworth Aerospace Upper Campus – Murray Middle School and Central High School. 'Who gets the opportunity to grow up in a district that shapes you and molds you into the person that you are, and then you get to come back and experience it as the new leader of that district? I think it's pretty rare, and it feels really good,' Stanley said. She replaces interim Superintendent John Thein, who served as in the role since May 2024 after the departure of then-superintendent Joe Gothard. Gothard left SPPS to lead the school district in Madison, Wis., where he grew up and attended school. Thein also served as interim superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools from 2016 to 2017. In a district-wide statement on Thursday, Thein thanked district members for the kindness they had shown him. 'Thank you for making me feel like a valued member of the SPPS community. As I head into retirement, I could not be more pleased to hand over the keys to Dr. Stacie Stanley, who starts as your new superintendent on May 12,' Thein said in the statement. Stanley joins the district as the school board finalizes its next budget for the 2025-2026 school year, which the board is expected to vote on at its June 10 meeting. The school board will see a proposed budget at its May 20 meeting and has received community feedback in recent months. The district estimates $732.1 million in expenses in the coming school year, with an expected $51.1 million budget shortfall. The board has agreed to use $34.9 million in reserve funds for the shortfall, with the remaining $16.2 million to come from budget cuts and new revenue, according to the district. The district attributes the budget shortfall to increased expenses — such as increased employee wages and benefits — rising costs of goods and services and no expected increases to state, federal or local revenue to adjust for inflation, outside of the base funding formula and local operating levy. In Edina, Stanley oversaw six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, serving around 8,600 students, with more than 1,300 staff members, according to SPPS. St. Paul has more than 33,000 students and more than 6,000 staff, according to the district. She'll receive a first-year salary of $270,000 with her short-term contract going through June 30, the school board decided in February. A long-term contract begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2028. She will receive an additional salary of $37,384 during the period of her short-term contract. Her second-year salary was set at $275,400 and her third-year salary was set at $280,908, according to district officials. In addition to her time in Edina, Stanley also served as associate superintendent at Eden Prairie Schools. She is the president-elect of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and held leadership roles in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, Roseville Area Schools and East Metro Integration District. Stanley also has worked in occupational therapy and as a math teacher. She eventually became director of the office of equity and integration for the East Metro Integration District. In her career, she has overseen curriculum assessment instruction and support services and English-learner programs. Stanley has a doctorate in educational leadership from Bethel University and a master's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in K-8 elementary education from St. Catherine University in St. Paul. St. Paul Public Schools narrows achievement gap in 2024 graduation rates St. Paul schools hit pre-COVID graduation levels, state reaches record high Highland Park High students, MN Supreme Court justices hear arguments St. Paul police: 2nd grader said he brought gun to school to show friends St. Paul school board gathers feedback on budget, including proposed cuts
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
St. Paul Public Schools narrows achievement gap in 2024 graduation rates
Both St. Paul and the state of Minnesota made strides in graduation rates in 2024, with St. Paul schools reversing declines and further closing gaps across several demographics. The percentage of students graduating in four years in St. Paul was 76.5% in 2024, an increase that follows three consecutive years of declines in the district's four-year graduation rate. St. Paul's graduation rate in 2023 did not include all summer graduates due to a technical error, St. Paul Public Schools officials said at the time. Though the district's graduation rate still improved this year even when accounting for that difference. Achievement gaps for SPPS Almost all student groups in the district increased their four-year graduation rate compared to 2023, according to SPPS. This includes students receiving special education services, Asian, Black and white students and those students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The largest jumps in the district were for English language learners who went from a graduation rate of 54.8% last year to 67.4% in 2024, according to state data. Hispanic students went from a 2023 graduation rate of 53.8% to a rate of 66.4%. When including summer graduates in 2023 data, both groups still saw graduation rate increases. Despite the gains, most groups still have lower graduation rates than they did in the graduation year of 2022 when the district saw significant drops going from 2022 to 2023 across multiple groups. American Indian students went from 49.4% graduating in 2023 to 47% in 2024. They had the largest drop from 2022 to 2023 with their graduation rate at 62% in 2022. Asian students went from 75.2% in 2023 to 83.5% in 2024; Black students went from 58.8% to 69.2%; Hispanic students went from 53.8% to 66.4%; students of two or more races went from 75% to 76.1% and white students went from 80.4% to 86.8%, according to the district. There are several factors that contributed to the decline in the graduation rate going from 2022 to 2023, according to district officials. The class of 2023 had a larger number of students dropping out compared to 2022 and a larger number of students whose final status with the district is unknown. Attendance also has declined across all student groups since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among student groups with lower four-year graduation rates, according to district officials. Improvement efforts District officials attribute increased student achievement to several practices which include: • Fair and equitable grading practices along with teacher and student support which have improved passing rates. • Expanding and enhancing 9th grade academic support courses in its high schools. • Expanding access to internships, industry-recognized certifications, work-based learning experiences and partnerships providing real-world learning applications. • Implementing daily advisory classes to help with student engagement and positive relationship building among students by providing academic and post-secondary support and preparation. • Offering credit recovery options, including after school, online and experiential learning programs to help students graduate. Related Articles
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Paul school board gathers feedback on budget, including proposed cuts
Community members on Tuesday shared feedback on the St. Paul school district's cash-strapped 2025-26 budget, with some objecting to proposed cuts to early childhood programming and family resources. The school board will see a proposed budget at its May 20 meeting, and district officials have been hosting community informational meetings on the budget since late March. Board members have until June 30 to finalize the budget for the 2025-26 school year and will vote on the proposal June 10. The district estimates $732.1 million in expenses in the coming school year, with an estimated $51.1 million budget shortfall. The board has agreed to use $34.9 million in reserve funds for the shortfall, with the remaining $16.2 million to come from budget cuts and new revenue, according to the district. Last year's St. Paul Public Schools budget shortfall was around $108 million. Initial staff reduction letters were distributed Friday for positions eliminated due to budget or non-renewal due to performance. The district, which as of February had 6,088 full- and part-time staff, attributes the budget shortfall to increased expenses — such as increased employee wages and benefits — rising costs of goods and services and no expected increases to state, federal or local revenue to adjust for inflation, outside of the base funding formula and local operating levy. Parents and community members at Tuesday night's meeting spoke against cuts to Early Childhood Family Education, or ECFE — a voluntary program for parents and their children below the age for kindergarten enrollment — and Achievement Plus — a private-public partnership between SPPS and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation that provides resources to families such as health services and food support. ECFE is facing proposed budget cuts of $1.46 million in the upcoming budget and a reduction from six sites to four. The Achievement Plus Initiative is set to end June 30, according to Achievement Plus director Rick Gibson in a March statement. The end of Achievement Plus and its liaison role is a loss of a connection between schools and critical services, such as housing assistance, in-school dental care and summer programs, SPPS parent Amber Rae Bernhardt said at Tuesday meeting. 'Cutting this program is not a cost-saving measure, it's a cost-shifting measure — shifting the burden onto the backs of struggling families and underresourced schools,' Bernhardt said. Other parents urged the school board to consider the community and support that ECFE has provided parents. ECFE programming includes parent discussion groups, early health and developmental screenings for children and home visits, among other resources. 'I am sure you will have better students and citizens with more involved, more prepared and more sound parents. Do whatever it takes to find a budget, even if it is asking for our help,' said SPPS parent Liliana Sanchez. The overall budget amount allocated to schools will increase by approximately 6%, or $26.2 million, in 2025-26. This is primarily due to increased enrollment, more students in special education and expanded middle school options, according to the district. SPPS saw an increase in enrollment for the 2024-25 school year compared with last, the first year in a decade it had higher enrollment than the year before. Nearly all district revenue — such as state aid and local property taxes — is tied to enrollment. The board has three guidelines for the budget, which include sustaining funding for early education in order to retain and prepare students for elementary school; sustaining funding for enrollment efforts; and sustaining expenditures for increasing student engagement and decreasing absenteeism. The board will address Tuesday's community feedback at its May 6 meeting. The proposed budget will continue to be updated until its approval in June. Feedback can be also shared on the district's website at St. Paul schools, other districts cancel after-school activities Monday due to weather Joe Soucheray: Cutting the pittance set aside for private schools? Typical Four guns found in and near St. Paul high schools in a week's span Como Planetarium to celebrate 50 years at April 17 'star party' Boys basketball tournament: Making its first state appearance, Harding is doing it for everyone
CBS News
03-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
St. Paul schools among 19 districts offering Ramadan meal kits for Muslim students
Muslims all over the world are recognizing the start of the holy month of Ramadan. It's a time for worship, service and gathering. It also means most of the month is spent fasting from sunrise to sunset. For the first time, some Minnesota school districts are giving extra support to students during the holiday with a new Ramadan Meal Kit program. "They gave us the green light to try something new this year," said Stacy Koppen, St. Paul Public Schools' director of nutrition services. At St. Paul Public Schools, food service crews are packaging 750 meal kits a day. Students can grab the kit — consisting of breakfast and lunch — at the end of the day to eat once fast is broken at sunset. District leaders say it's all about meeting students where they're at. "We have such a large number of students who are fasting during Ramadan, so it's critically important that we change our normal operation so that we are able to honor and respect and ensure that our students have what they need in a manner that allows them to still practice their religion," Koppen said. A total of 19 school districts across the state are offering up a similar program, including Wilmar and Farmington public schools. "This is definitely historic," said Dr. Abdisalam Adam, principal at East African Magnet School. "I really appreciate St. Paul Public School District taking this initiative." It's especially relevant at schools like Adam's. While most Muslim children don't fast until adolescence, he said at least half of his second graders were fasting Monday. "They just want to be part of the spirit and practice it," he said. Dr. Adam says the inclusivity is heartwarming. "To be recognized and to be seen, and your faith values to be reinforced and recognized by a huge district like St. Paul Public Schools, is really beautiful," he said. St. Paul Public Schools says there's no additional cost to create and distribute the Ramadan Meal Kits. The holy month began on Friday and ends at sunset on March 29, immediately followed by the holiday Eid-al-Fitr, which culminates in a celebratory feast.
