Anthony Lonetree

State Sen. Alice Mann, DFL-Edina, suggested recently to a group of St. Paul high school students that limits on cellphones at school could ensure “you get the education you're here to get.”

Former state Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius and suburban superintendents Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed and Stacie Stanley emerged from a 21-candidate field.

Key to next year's increase was a voter-approved technology tax hike that had the dual purpose of minimizing cuts to classrooms and other operations, officials say.

Stacie Stanley, superintendent of Edina Public Schools and a St. Paul native with Rondo roots, emerges as top choice for St. Paul Public Schools leader among three candidates described by one as “friends and sisters.”

State’s second-largest district goes with maximum increase allowed by state Department of Education, which determines how much school systems can raise in taxes.

High school students would be allowed to use them outside of class, in a departure from the phone-free policies adopted by many districts heading into the current school year.

The Minneapolis, Owatonna and North Branch school systems are part of the new 2-year “Forward Together” program that launched in August with 25 student teachers.

School board election that would've had three seats up for grabs has been moved to November 2026, but the school district still could put a proposal on this fall's ballot.

St. Peter Claver is holding steady with about 90 students as part of a consortium of Twin Cities schools serving urban-area students in need.

Districts across Minnesota are due to receive $531 million in automatic per-pupil funding increases during the next two years, but costs are rising and chances for significant new aid are slim.