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Teachers union: Deal reached 6 six months after contract ended
The statewide teachers union reports only about half of Minnesota’s districts have settled, making it the slowest pace in 20 years.
HENNEPIN COUNTY, Minn. — The state’s largest school district has tentatively agreed to a new contract for the first time in more than six months.
“This contract is nothing like we’ve ever negotiated before,” said Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota (AHEM) Local 7007 President Val Holthaus.
The union and the district have been negotiating since the contract expired last June. AHEM filed for mediation with the Bureau of Mediation Services on Nov. 22 and the first session was scheduled for Jan. 3, 2024. Holthaus says the two met with mediators twice, calling them marathon sessions.
“They knew the teachers were united and they knew teachers were rallying in numbers they had never seen before,” said Holthaus.
From gathering at board meetings to walking out at the end of school days, the union said it was calling attention to a lack of pay and short staffing. Holthaus says the district is down about 20 teachers.
“The pandemic was a huge bell weather of how the state of education has been,” said Holthaus. “We needed to do something to attract teachers to Anoka-Hennepin and keep our teachers in Anoka-Hennepin.”
The tentative deal includes an 8% pay raise over the two-year contract, a $750 bonus, added insurance contributions and sick day credits that apply toward insurance premiums when a teacher retires.
The statewide teacher’s union, Education Minnesota (EdMN), released new data Thursday and reports, that for the first time in 2024, more than 50% of its regular local school districts have some sort of settlement.
That amounts to about 174 unions that have settled across the state. Another 164 have not yet – EdMN reports that’s the slowest pace of settlements in 20 years, which is how far back its reliable data goes.
And like AHEM, it says at least 45 unions have filed for mediation, including Minneapolis and St. Paul.
It is perplexing to some experts, especially given the legislature backed billions of education dollars this past session. Anoka-Hennepin received $65 million, according to AHEM.
“I’m hoping that the movement that Anoka-Hennepin teachers made and the negotiating team for the district made will set a precedent to other school districts and also attract students to go into education,” said Holthaus.
The district provided a statement about the tentative deal that would take effect immediately, writing, “The agreement was reached within the budget authority provided to the negotiators and the district is expecting AMEM membership to ratify and the School Board to approve the contract at their Feb. 26 meeting.”
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Police are reviewing security camera footage to find those responsible for spray-painting two swastikas at Temple Israel’s entrance.
MINNEAPOLIS — Members of a Minneapolis synagogue arrived Monday to discover their building had been targeted by an act of antisemitic vandalism.
Two swastikas were spray-painted at the entrance to Temple Israel.
“It is heartbreaking to see such a hateful image directly underneath the words emblazoned above our doors, words that have guided us for generations: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples,'” Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman said in a letter to Temple Israel members. “Temple has always been a sacred space, a welcoming place to all who enter with a spirit of community and peace.”
Zimmerman said Minneapolis police are reviewing the Temple’s security camera footage, and the Temple’s own security team remains on alert.
“I am proud of our Temple community, and of standing up for our Jewish values even in difficult times,” Rabbi Zimmerman added.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who attends Temple Israel, said he supports MPD in its efforts to find those “responsible for this hateful act.”
“These Nazi symbols were placed on my synagogue, where Minneapolis Jews congregate and deserve to feel safe,” Frey said in a statement posted to social media. “We don’t back down to fear, we stand strong, proud of who we are, and I know that Minneapolis – a city of inclusivity and love – stands with us.”
Temple Israel is home to one of the ten largest Jewish congregations in the country.
Police in Wisconsin’s capitol city descended on Abundant Life Christian School around 11 a.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting an active shooter.
MADISON, Wis. — Police in Madison, Wisconsin are in the early stages of investigating a deadly mass shooting that took place at a private school late Monday morning.
Here’s what we know so far.
Where it happened
Madison Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes said 911 calls began coming in around 10:57 a.m. reporting an active shooter at Abundant Life Christian School. Officers from Madison and across Dane County arrived at the school, 4901 Buckeye Road, on the city’s east side, just blocks from Lake Monona.
Abundant Life Christian School is described as non-denominational. The enrollment at the school is just under 400.
The victims
During an early press conference with reporters, Chief Barnes said three people are dead including the suspected shooter. At least five others were transported to area hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Barnes would not confirm how many of the victims are children or staff members, saying authorities are still sorting that out.
At one point in the press conference, police said five people were dead, but they subsequently backed off on that number.
“Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country,” Barnes said. “Every child in that building is a victim, and will be a victim forever.”
The shooter
Barnes said officers responding to the incident found the suspected shooter, who he described as a juvenile student at the school, dead of what they believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this point a motive for the deadly attack is unclear.
The investigation
Reporters on the scene said both state and federal law enforcement are on scene to help with the investigation, including personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes said another press briefing is currently scheduled for 2:30 p.m. KARE 11 will plan on carrying it live on our YouTube channel, with links on our other social channels.
MINNEAPOLIS — No matter how you celebrate the holidays, El Sazon Cocina and Tragos has the seasonal flavors to make it even better.
The restaurant is known for its authentic Latin and Mexican dishes and is located at 5309 Lyndale Ave. S in Minneapolis. Some of its new specialty cocktails include gingerbread, mint, cider and traditional Mexican flavors.
If you’re hungry, El Sazon offers tacos, bowls, enchiladas and more. Cristian de Leon, chef and owner, and Zoilo Ruacho, mixologist and owner, visited KARE 11 News at Noon to share a few of these specialty seasonal items.
