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Parents will need to make plans for childcare if teachers strike
Right now the district is in negotiations with the teachers union.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul Public Schools said the district agrees its teachers deserve more for everything they do but more money to educators compromises programs for students.
Right now, the district is in negotiations with the teachers union. The clock is ticking as educators announced they will walk off the job March 11 if a deal is not reached.
District leaders say the biggest sticking point right now is money, and they’ve spent a lot in recent years on school safety.
“The history of these bargaining sessions there have also been a number of different language items, too,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, SPPS superintendent. “And I think both sides have to carefully go through them. Are there costs involved? Ways that we can do this in creative ways that don’t take away from our investment that we have in negotiations?”
The St. Paul Federation of Educators is asking for better pay, more affordable health care and more mental health support for students.
There’s another mediation session on Friday.
Meantime, St. Paul parents are paying close attention to strike talks, as they’ll be left scrambling for childcare if teachers walk.
Chelsea Zomer considers herself lucky. Her 3-year-old son is only in one Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) class that could be canceled if there is a strike.
“I’ve actually volunteered with a couple different friends of ours. Comes down to it, I can take care of them,” said Zomer.
Saint Paul families are starting to make plans.
“I see the dedication of the staff to my kids,” said Ying Jin, who has two kids in the district. “I support their fight.”
His wife is a teacher in another district, so he’s happy to figure something out if there is a strike. His neighbor, Rebecca Pelton also wants to support those teachers.
“I feel like they do a great job, just showing up for the kids,” she said.
Pelton said she isn’t exactly sure what she’ll do though, if it comes to a strike. We checked in with community centers and libraries, who said they will post publicly on their websites and social media channels if there are changes to programming.
The parents who went on camera today were supportive of a strike. But one mom who did not want to be on camera said they are tired of strikes within the district and decided they will be moving their child to a different one.
“Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and Saint Paul Public Library are in close conversation with other City departments to ensure students and families are supported in the event of a teacher strike impacting Saint Paul Public Schools,” said a Parks and Recreation spokesperson in a statement.
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There’s just over a month left in the year, but still plenty of time to shore up your financial situation. Financial Advisor Ayo Idowu visited KARE 11 News at Noon.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — It’s crazy how fast time passes. Take a look at the calendar – there’s just over a month left in 2024.
And while a month may not feel like much, there’s still plenty of opportunity to make some financial moves that will end the year with a bang, and set the table for a successful 2025.
Financial Advisor Ayo Idowu visited KARE 11 News at Noon to go over a “to do” list with anchor Alexis Rogers. Among his recommendations:
Take a look at your IRA and Roth IRA contributions – If you have not met your yearly contribution limits and have some extra cash on hand, it might be a time to do some extra funding.
Review your company 401K – Consider whether to up your contribution percentage, look at allocations and whether they should be changed or rebalanced.
Prepare for taxes – Get your documents together, move to write off portfolio losses, and if you can… pay that January mortgage early.
Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president’s home state of Delaware.
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden kicked off his final holiday season at the White House on Monday by issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in southern Minnesota.
The 82-year-old president welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom” and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles.
“It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on Jan. 20, 2025. That’s when power will transfer to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, the man that Biden defeated four years ago and was battling again until he was pressured to bow out of the race amid concerns about his age and viability.
Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president’s home state of Delaware.
“The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites,” he said during remarks that were occasionally interrupted by Peach gobbling atop the table to Biden’s right. “Peach is making a last-minute plea,” Biden said at one point, drawing laughter from an overflow crowd that included Cabinet members, White House staff and their families, and students from 4H programs and Future Farmers of America chapters.
Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on.’” Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.”
Peach and Blossom came from the farm of John Zimmerman, near Northfield. Zimmerman, who has raised about 4 million turkeys, is president of the National Turkey Federation, the group that has gifted U.S. presidents Thanksgiving turkeys since the Truman administration after World War II. President Harry Truman, however, preferred to eat the birds. Official pardon ceremonies did not become an annual White House tradition until the administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
With their presidential reprieve, Peach and Blossom will live out their days at Farmamerica, an agriculture interpretative center near Waseca. The center aims to promote agriculture and educate future farmers and others about agriculture in America.
Later Monday, First Lady Jill Biden will receive delivery of the official White House Christmas tree that will be on display in the Blue Room. Then the Bidens will travel to New York City for an evening “Friendsgiving” event at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island.
MINNEAPOLIS — It’s hard to say no when faced with adorable puppy dog eyes.
Pop star P!nk would agree, as she announced Wednesday that she is adopting her Minneapolis foster pup. P!nk got the puppy from local rescue The Bond Between in October and intended to keep him for a few weeks to raise awareness of fostering and have some company during her tour.
The dog, named Graham Cracker, won over the singer within a month. In an Instagram post Wednesday, P!nk thanked The Bond Between and promoted the rescue’s fundraising efforts for “Give to the Max Day.”
