MPR News with Angela Davis

St. Paul's new superintendent on the challenges in public education

a woman poses for a portrait
Stacie Stanley, the new superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools, talked about challenges in public education with MPR News at Kling Public Media Center in St. Paul on Thursday.
Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News

Like most school districts in Minnesota, St. Paul Public Schools is facing a complicated set of challenges.

Enrollment is up a bit this year, but the small increase follows years of decline. The district faces a budget shortfall, has already made deep cuts and plans to ask voters this fall to approve a tax increase to support schools.  

At the same time, student performance is stuck where it was before the pandemic and proposals from President Donald Trump and from Republicans in Congress would reduce support for public education.   

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the challenges facing public education with St. Paul’s new superintendent, Stacie Stanley.  

Guest:

  • Stacie Stanley is the superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools, the second largest school district in Minnesota. Prior to joining the district in May, she served three years as the superintendent of Edina Public Schools, as associate superintendent in Eden Prairie Schools and on the leadership team in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. She’s been a classroom teacher, curriculum math specialist and a principal. She graduated from St. Paul’s Central High School.

two women smiling in a broadcast studio
MPR News host Angela Davis (right) talks with Stacie Stanley, superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools, in an MPR News studio in St. Paul on Thursday.
Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
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