Faribault Public Schools Superintendent on AM Minnesota 8-26-2015

Todd Sesker was scheduled to be with us last week but we were at the Steele County Free Fair in Owatonna and he has agreed to join AM Minnesota today.

School is just around the corner. I'm sure we will touch on what parents need to do in preparation for the year and what teachers are required to do. Administrators have been working most of the summer.

A record number of Minnesota school districts are asking voters to increase property taxes this year so they can construct new buildings. Greg Abbott of the Minnesota School Boards Association attributes it to the legislature's authorization of universal all-day kindergarten.

At latest count, 66 school districts have scheduled school bond referendums this fall.

We will also talk to Sesker about a recent survey by the Minnesota Department of Education concerning school lunch debt.

The survey found 62 percent of districts are dealing with a spike in meal debt. For example, Anoka-Hennepin has seen debt reach record levels. What is the debt -- $160,000 worth of unpaid lunches. Anoka-Hennepin officials say this comes from less than 1 percent of the population and many of the families have not qualified for the free and reduced lunch program.

I hope you'll tune in and become informed about what's happening in the Faribault Public School District. Those who live in the district all pay taxes to support it.

Show time is 9:30AM.