Buyer’s remorse. Says Josh Verges in the PiPress, “Six months into a three-year contract, Valeria Silva may be on her way out as superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools. School board members said Wednesday that they, along with Silva, are ‘presently exploring’ options for moving her out of the role she’s held since December 2009. That likely would mean a six-figure buyout as the district grapples with a $15.1 million deficit for the coming school year.”
This is good. Says Martin Moylan at MPR, “The job market seems to be improving in Minnesota, at least for people like [Joe] Novitzki. The state’s unemployment rate is about at pre-recession levels and the average wage for private-sector jobs has been growing at a healthy clip. But if times are good for workers, it means many employers are struggling to find people. They’re not only spending more on wages — employers are turning to other strategies to procure the skills they need.”
Is there an agency to fine legislatures for “sub-par performance”? Also from the Strib’s Olson: “Minnesota hospitals have lost millions in penalties to the federal Medicare program over the last three years for sub-par performance, though they’re in much better shape than hospitals elsewhere.”
Wait a minute. They’re just starting construction? Tim Nelson of MPR reports, “A year after it closed, the Nicollet Mall is finally ready for a $50 million makeover. Leaders kicked off construction of the mall’s new design on Wednesday. The 12-block project will update sidewalks and streetlights, as well as add trees, a place for art and an LED light display. City officials acknowledge the revamp will be a difficult, disruptive process, but they’re confident it will be worth it when it’s finished. … There’s still a lot of construction work left, but city officials say the new street will start taking shape later this year. Final touches are expected to be complete by 2018.”
Cable news will be on this. Mary Lynn Smith of the Strib says, “A former Miss North Dakota was found dead Tuesday in a Minneapolis home. Investigators are waiting for the Hennepin County medical examiner to determine the cause of Samantha M. Edwards’ death, Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said. … Edwards, 37, who was known as ‘Sami’ by her friends, was crowned Miss North Dakota USA in 2003.”
But we can “control conduct” within our own borders, right? The story at Powermag.com, by Sonal Patel, says, “A Minnesota law that bans power imports from new out-of-state coal-fired power plants is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court has deemed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on June 15 upheld a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota that found that the statute’s prohibitions had the effect of ‘controlling conduct’ beyond Minnesota’s state boundaries. The Next Generation Energy Act was passed in 2007 primarily to place a moratorium on the construction of new coal plants in Minnesota, but it also barred state entities from importing power from new ‘large energy facilities’ or entering into long-term power purchase agreements that would contribute to statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions.”
Want to see what you’re getting for your money? Thanks to Cork Gaines and Business Insider, you can ogle the almost finished Vikings stadium.
Related. Rochelle Olson of the Strib: “U.S. Bank Stadium contractor Mortenson Construction and subcontractor Berwald Roofing face fines of $173,400 for ‘serious’ and ‘willful’ safety violations in the death of one worker and injury to another last August. … The reports don’t provide an explanation of the accidents, but the largest fine — $70,000 — and most serious alleged violation faults Berwald for willfully failing to have workers use proper fall protection while working at heights above 6 feet.”
Also in the Strib, food writer Rick Nelson gives Duluth area dining some love. This one is right on. “Ten years ago, Steve and Susan Knauss converted a retrofitted creamery into fun-loving Thirsty Pagan Brewing [in Superior], instantly making it a Mecca for those in search of the Badger State Holy Grail that is beer and pizza.” Or, stop in at Superior Meats and grill your own.
Here’s the latest dream about turning little old us into “the next Silicon Valley.” Says Elizabeth Segran at Fast Company, “[Atif Siddiqi] just gotten a step closer to his goal because Branch Messenger is one of 10 startups selected to be in Techstars’ first retail accelerator, which it is launching in partnership with Target. Starting on June 20, these startups will spend 12 weeks in Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they will receive mentorship from Target’s leadership as well as through the Techstars network. … The startups won’t necessarily end up selling their products or services to Target, but for many teams, like Siddiqi’s, that would be a dream come true.”
Stuff he probably didn’t learn at the police academy. Matt Cory and Audrey Zimmerman of the Forum News Service report, “The City Council of Blackduck voted to fire Chief of Police John Wilkinson earlier this month for violating city and state policies and for conduct unbecoming of a law officer. … According to city documents, Wilkinson, 35, was fired for violating city policies, as well as for possibly violating state laws by allegedly giving an 18-year-old female an alcoholic drink at a July 4, 2015, party, and at a different time, boasting loudly of a sexual relationship between the two. He also purchased illegal fireworks for the July 4 party, according to an investigation done by a member of the Grand Rapids Police Department.” So, wait, it was it the fireworks that did him in?
Silva
Buying out Silva will be money well spent for SPPS.
If the new board members want her out that badly
let them pay for the buyout.
board members
I’d like to see board members pay the buyout, but not the current board members. Rather, the board members (since removed from office) who pushed through an extension last year. They should pay for it.
SPPS is going to be paying out big settlements to the teachers who have been assaulted on the job. The cost of the buyout will by miniscule compared to the savings if we can get a replacement with a disciplinary policy that can stop the violence Silva’s policies have generated.
This isn’t about board members’ preferences. This is about the safety of teachers and students. As a parent of a current student, it is imperative to me that Silva be replaced as soon as possible.
Blaming Silva?
I don’t like Silva. Never have. But blaming her for the violence committed by students at St. Paul schools is ludicrous.
Since I know you disagree, perhaps you’ll detail your reasoning for the statement that her policies have generated this violence. The burden’s on you. Can you meet it?
I’ll try
First, my perspective comes, in part, but not exclusively, from having a child at St. Paul Central, which has been at the heart of a lot of trouble in recent years. I get a daily report (granted, from a teenager, but a pretty astute one) as to what has been going at school.
The kids suspended and expelled in St. Paul schools have disproportionately been students of color. Silva has tried to change that, which is a noble goal.
The problem is that the way that this has been addressed is by not disciplining kids who engage in disruptive and violent behavior. The result of this has been to send a message to the kids causing trouble that there will not be consequences for their actions. Not surprisingly, the behavior has gotten worse. My child has reported (this goes back a few years to Junior high) that where disruptive kids were once removed from class, they are now taken out for a few minutes and then returned so class where they are again disruptive, day after day. Teachers have been disempowered to control their classes and learning grinds to a halt in an attempt to just keep order. Even when the behavior rises to physical contact with teachers or staff, the discipline is minor or nonexistent. It takes serious violence to actually generate any consequences.
Would the life-altering injuries sustained by the assaulted teacher at Central have occurred with a superintendent who held students responsible for their actions? Who knows. But Silva has created an atmosphere where disruption of class and disrespect of teachers is tolerated. Schools are out of control, and its due to a policy coming from the top. I have no problem connecting the dots between this policy and the serious violence that has occurred.
The teacher’s union was behind the successful push to replace the school board that re-appointed Silva. But as demonstrated by the later strike threat, it wasn’t about their pay or benefits or seniority. Rather, it was about their safety and the safety of their students. That’s why Silva needs to go. She has created an atmosphere where her employees are willing to strike because they do not feel safe on the job. Its a poisonous atmosphere, and it needs to end as soon as possible.