Posts by James Sanna

It’s an all-too-familiar story for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or transsexual students, or their parents: students who single out and mercilessly harass another student for years because the school administrators can’t, or won’t, act. A coalition of Minnesota LGBT advocacy groups are trying to keep this story from repeating with a bill that would require all schools to have anti-bullying policies that protect a broad range of youth, including LGBT students.

Will state funding for education take a hit in efforts to close the gaping $5.3 billion state budget deficit? State Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller thinks so, noting that since cuts could affect all state departments, it’s optimistic to expect education’s 40 percent share of the state budget to remain unscathed. Schools officials contend that, after years of underfunding, there’s no fat left to cut. Meanwhile, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vowed to protect schools funding. With no resolution yet in sight, school officials statewide are wondering if — and when — their districts will feel the pinch.