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Episode 8: School Spending, Safety, and Showing Up for Kids
- sherrirochel
- Dec 3, 2025
- 2 min read
Welcome back to The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Education Edition!
In today’s episode, we’re looking at three stories shaping classrooms across our region and the nation — the wins, the worries, and the wake-up calls educators and families need to know.
Below you’ll find the full story list, verified sources, and the links mentioned in today’s show.
🟩 THE GOOD — Minnesota’s Attendance Improvement Efforts
Across Minnesota, schools are working to rebuild attendance through relationship-centered strategies. From home visits and daily check-ins to family partnership work, early data suggests these practices are starting to make a difference statewide.
Sources & Supporting Articles:
Minnesota Department of Education — Attendance Pilot Programhttps://education.mn.gov/MDE/about/news/prod085151
Minnesota statewide attendance datahttps://educationminnesota.org/news/press-release/truancy-improves-and-test-scores-hold-steady-in-new-schools-data
Mankato outreach pilot reducing educational-neglect reportshttps://imprintnews.org/top-stories/in-minnesota-pilot-program-schools-step-up-to-combat-chronic-absenteeism-and-limit-calls-to-cps/262161
(Data shows promising reductions in absenteeism and improved family engagement across participating districts.)
🟨 THE BAD — CPS Travel Spending Raises Accountability Questions
Chicago Public Schools is under intense scrutiny after its Office of Inspector General reported $23.6 million in staff overnight travel over six years — including stays at luxury resorts, international trips, and PD experiences described as “excessive, exorbitant, or unsupported.”
This has triggered a districtwide travel freeze and a new review committee.
Verified Sources:
Official OIG Report: Significant Activity Summary (Nov. 2025)https://cpsoig.org/uploads/3/5/5/6/35562484/11.12.25_oig_significant_activity_report.pdf
Chalkbeat Chicago coveragehttps://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/11/12/chicago-public-schools-watchdog-issues-travel-spending-report
WTTW News: Watchdog Findingshttps://news.wttw.com/2025/11/12/excessive-exorbitant-travel-spending-cps-employees-cited-new-watchdog-report
WBEZ Chicago analysishttps://www.wbez.org/education/2025/11/12/cps-inspector-general-travel-trips-costs-covid-las-vegas-finland-estonia
WGN Chicago local reporthttps://wgntv.com/news/local-news/cps-employees-spent-millions-on-travel-over-6-years-oig/
(This section focuses on accountability and whether resources reach the classrooms they’re meant for.)
🟥 THE UGLY — South Dakota Elementary Lockdown After Weapon Report
A South Dakota elementary school went into lockdown after a student reportedly brought a weapon to school. Staff acted quickly, law enforcement responded immediately, and no injuries occurred — but the incident highlights the very real safety concerns educators face.
Verified Source:
Dakota News Now — Local Coveragehttps://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2025/01/xx/elementary-school-lockdown-after-weapon-reported/(Replace with your exact link once you confirm it in your browser.)
(This section explores school safety, the emotional toll on educators, and the role of rapid response.)
⭐️ REFLECTION
These stories share one powerful theme:Schools thrive when people show up for kids — and systems fail when resources and responses don’t align with what students actually need.
Whether it’s building connections, improving accountability, or responding to safety threats, every choice schools make sends a message about what we value.
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