With $150M shortfall looming, St. Paul schools and union contract proposals already have huge gap

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St. Paul Public Schools and the union representing its educators are negotiating a new contract as a pending $150 million budget shortfall looms in the upcoming school year.

And while negotiations are still in early stages, one thing is certain — there’s already a huge gap between what the school district says it’s willing to spend and what the St. Paul Federation of Educators hopes to get out of the upcoming two-year contract, which will replace the last one that expired in June.

Top objectives for the union — which represents around 4,000 teachers, educational assistants and community service professionals — include wage increases, adjustment to insurance, and more funding for student mental health support services.

District spokeswoman Erica Wacker said school officials so far have tallied up about $106 million in additional spending in 23 of the 46 proposals put forth by the union during negotiations, and the school district has said it’s only willing to allocate $12.4 million in additional funding.

$94 million gap

That already puts a roughly $94 million gap between what the district is willing to spend and what the educators union has requested, already much higher than what the district saw in 2022 when teachers came within minutes of striking.

That year, educators wanted about $60 million in increases, according to district estimates at the time, and the school district said it was only willing to increase spending by about $7.4 million.

District and union leaders reached a contract mere minutes before the next day’s classes were canceled. That deal included $3,000 bonuses, 2% raises and class size reductions.

Two years ago, St. Paul schools had federal pandemic aid money, and St. Paul’s school board earlier this year approved a $1 billion budget, the district’s biggest ever.

But significant shortfalls are on the horizon. Looming over contract negotiations is a projected $150 million budget shortfall expected in the 2024-2025 school year as federal pandemic aid dries up. District officials say their hands are tied by the fiscal situation.

St. Paul teachers went on strike four four days in 2020, their second strike in history, and almost went on strike in 2018.

Where things stand

Negotiations are still in their early stages, but early proposals from the district and union give a look at where things stand.

In the first year of the upcoming contract, the union is asking for a $7,500 pay bump for all teachers and community service professionals in the district, as well as a 7.5% raise in the second year. They’re also asking for a $5.43 an hour raise for educational assistants followed by a 7.5% raise in the second year.

Meanwhile, the school district is offering a 1% cost of living adjustment in the first year of the contract for teachers and school community service professional sand 1.5% in the second year. Educational assistants would get two consecutive 1.5% raises.

St. Paul teachers are among the highest-paid in the state of Minnesota. In the 2022-2023 school year, the average teacher salary was $87,250, according to data from the Minnesota Professional Educator and Licensing Standards Board, placing the district in the top 10 statewide.

Under the deal reached in 2022, educational assistants got hourly raises of $1 or $1.25 and another $1 the second year. By 2023, they were expected to make between $18.85 and $37.55 per hour.

So far the St. Paul Federation of Educators has submitted 46 proposals, though the final picture of all their requests hasn’t emerged. But the district already is beginning to turn some down.

Negotiation meeting

At a negotiation meeting Thursday night, the district rejected two of the proposals put forward by the union.

One called for additional mental health and school counseling staff. Another requesting more support for restorative practices — shifting away from traditional discipline like suspensions and emphasizing community building.

In its responses, the district said it agreed with the intent of both proposals, but estimated the mental health proposal would cost an additional $25 million and the restorative practices proposal could cost $2.2 million.

District leaders also told union leaders that they were not in a position to agree to the proposals because the union hadn’t yet submitted all of its requests.

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5 things to watch in the Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions game — plus our Week 11 predictions

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Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is set to return Sunday against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

Fields will make his first start since Oct. 15 after recovering from a dislocated right thumb. His comeback starts with the Bears’ first meeting this season with the NFC North-leading Lions (7-2). It’s the first of three straight division games for the Bears (3-7).

As kickoff approaches, here’s our snapshot look at the game.

Player in the spotlight

Justin Fields

Coach Matt Eberflus said Friday that he could feel the excitement at Halas Hall this week as the Bears welcomed back Fields, who missed four games and is “champing at the bit” to play.

The Bears evaluated Fields’ operation playing with the injury all week — the quarterback’s first full week of practice — and Eberflus said he improved every day.

“You get that timing with the receivers on the concepts you’re running that particular week,” Eberflus said. “He got his footwork back where it needed to be. The accuracy was good, got better as the week went on.”

Fields said Wednesday that he was focused on Sunday’s game and not the big-picture implications of the final seven games of the season — when he will have to prove to Bears leadership that he should be the team’s future quarterback.

Eberflus echoed that Fields needs a microfocus so he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself as he returns against a Lions defense led by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The second pick of the 2022 draft has 4 1/2 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, an interception and four passes defended.

“Just operate the offense,” Eberflus said. “Protect the football. Operate the offense. Let the runners run, give it to them, let them do their thing. And when you have your chance and your opportunity when called, make it happen and let it flow. That’s really the message to him and what he has been focused on.”

Pressing question

What’s next for a healthier Bears defense?

The Bears could have most of their starting defense intact Sunday if linebacker Tremaine Edmunds returns from a knee injury that kept him out the last two games. Edmunds was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable to play.

The Bears would benefit from being full strength against one of the best offenses they have faced this season. The Lions rank second with 406.4 yards per game and sixth with 26.8 points per game. They boast a balanced attack, ranking fourth in both rushing and passing yards per game.

Quarterback Jared Goff has completed 68.4% of his passes for 2,507 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions with just 15 sacks.

“The quarterback is talented,” cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke said. “He has seen a lot of football, and you can see that. The way he goes through his progression is so quick, and he knows where he needs to go with the football. He protects the ball well, does not throw many interceptions. Doesn’t take a whole lot of sacks, knows how to get rid of the ball.”

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has 65 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns, and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta has 47 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns.

“Two really dynamic players at their respective positions,” Eberflus said. “St. Brown is just a fantastic player. … You talk about his strength and his quickness — his ability to stay open with his quickness but also be open with his strength if he is covered.

“Then the tight end is obviously a great get for those guys. He shows great athletic ability. He’s got a big catch radius, which allows him to stay open. But he understands the game and he understands how to use his body above his years. Him being a rookie, to me when I look at him he looks like a second- or third-year player.”

Keep an eye on …

David Montgomery

After four seasons with the Bears, Montgomery, a 2019 third-round draft pick of former general manager Ryan Pace, opted to sign with the Lions in the offseason. Now, behind a very good offensive line, he’s on pace for the best season of his career.

Montgomery, who topped 1,000 rushing yards for the Bears in 2020, has rushed for 501 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 carries in six games.

“We know him pretty well,” linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi said. “Big, strong, hits the hole really fast, runs with great pad level, really good after contact, keeps his legs moving. Both backs, him and (Jahmyr) Gibbs, are dynamic.”

Gibbs, the 12th pick in the 2023 draft, has 90 carries for 476 yards and four touchdowns and 31 catches for 200 yards.

Borgonzi said Gibbs reminds him of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara.

“He’s really good out of the backfield catching the ball,” Borgonzi said. “An interesting dynamic with Montgomery, who is more of the power back and Gibbs is more of the outside runner but dynamic in the open field. Can make people miss but also finishes runs.”

Khalil Herbert to return

Fields isn’t the only Bears player making a comeback this week.

Eberflus said the Bears planned to activate running back Khalil Herbert after he missed five games with a high ankle sprain. Herbert was the starting back with 51 carries for 272 yards before the injury.

Herbert said he was happy to see D’Onta Foreman succeed in his place and isn’t worried about how it will affect his opportunities. Foreman, who is questionable to play with an ankle injury, has 86 carries for 367 and three touchdowns.

“I always have the same mindset since I’ve been in the league: Get one carry and try and score,” Herbert said. “I try to make the most of whatever I can get, and I feel like he’s done the same thing and so have the other guys.”

Now the Bears must strike a balance between how they use the duo and rookie running back Roschon Johnson. Eberflus said they’ll have a plan for the reps but also will look at the flow of the game and who’s running well to determine which player to turn to.

“It’s just going to be a heck of a group effort,” Herbert said. “We’ve got guys in our room that can take it the distance and punish the defense. One guy goes out, another guy goes in. (The Lions) are going to be tired, but we’re going to be fresh. I feel like that’s a lot to defend.”

Injury report

Along with Edmunds and Foreman, linebacker Jack Sanborn is questionable after he missed practice Friday with an illness. Linebacker Noah Sewell will be out with a knee injury.

For the Lions, defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs (illness) and guard Jonah Jackson (wrist/ankle) are out. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (hand) is questionable.

Predictions

Brad Biggs (6-4)

This is the kind of game coach Matt Eberflus needs in the worst way. More than 1 1/2 seasons into his Bears tenure, he doesn’t have a signature win unless you count the 2022 opener in a driving rainstorm against the then-Trey Lance-led San Francisco 49ers. The Lions represent a step up in class since the Bears’ Week 2 game at Kansas City. It’s going to be a huge test for some young players, not just quarterback Justin Fields. Rookie tight tackle Darnell Wright will face a challenge going against Aidan Hutchinson. Second-year cornerback Kyler Gordon should draw a lot of work against super-shifty wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Bears have been better on defense of late, but an upset is a big ask — they haven’t defeated an opponent with a winning record since Week 5 of 2021.

Lions 27, Bears 19

Colleen Kane (6-4)

I don’t know the last time I picked the Lions over the Bears — and yes, the Lions won both games last season — but there’s not much doubt this time about which team is team. The Bears are healthier than they have been for a lot of this season, with the offensive line at full strength and the defense nearing it. But the Lions pose a lot of problems, especially with multiple weapons on offense. Meanwhile, it’s hard to know what the Bears will get from Justin Fields in his return. Will he quickly get back in the groove he found in Weeks 4 and 5? Or will there be rust? Will the right thumb injury hinder him? I think the Lions keep rolling.

Lions 30, Bears 21

Dan Wiederer (7-3)

Justin Fields is back. And the Bears are playing a much more competitive and encouraging brand of defense these days. But the Lions are for real. They are playing at home in front of a suddenly optimistic crowd. And the Lions are laser focused on a one-step-at-a-time march toward winning the NFC North for the first time. Ever.

Lions 29, Bears 17

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Adams starts legal defense fund amid probe of NYC campaign

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NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams set up a legal defense fund Friday as federal investigators conduct a public corruption probe focused on his 2021 campaign.

The fund, which will allow the mayor to accept donations outside the normal campaign cycle, is monitored by the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board, which posted a suite of documentation Friday on the new fundraising vehicle and was first reported by POLITICO.

The Eric Adams Legal Defense Trust, “is necessitated by, and intended to defray, legal expenses in connection with the inquiries by the office of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York related to the operations of the Eric Adams 2021 mayoral campaign committee,” reads a signed affidavit from Adams dated Wednesday.

Adams will be able to take donations up to $5,000, per the law, and will have to report the names and address of contributors giving $100 to the Conflicts of Interest Board each quarter. Adams’ first report would be due Jan. 15.

But not everybody can give — the law bars Adams’ subordinates in government from donating, as well as anyone doing business with the city.

Federal investigators are looking for evidence the campaign colluded with the government of Turkey and accepted illegal donations from Turkish citizens routed through straw donors. While FBI agents conducted a series of raids and interviews Nov. 2, no one has been accused of wrongdoing.

Adams recently alluded to the idea that he might use campaign funds to pay for private legal representation from WilmerHale — the white-shoe firm that his previous chief counsel recently rejoined. However, Friday’s revelation indicates he will try to get at least some of the cash from new donors.

The trustee of the fund is Peter Aschkenasy, who chaired a nonprofit affiliated with the mayor’s previous role as Brooklyn borough president that helped boost Adams’ public profile ahead of his mayoral run.

A longtime restaurateur, Aschkenasy told POLITICO he does not expect to be involved with fundraising but is simply serving as a treasurer.

The law firm Pitta LLP, which did campaign finance compliance for Adams’ campaign, is also listed on documents creating the trust.

“After consultation with the Campaign Finance Board and the Conflicts of Interest Board, it was determined that a trust should be created for any legal expenses,” the firm’s co-managing partner Vito Pitta said in a statement.

A letter to Adams from the mayor’s corporation counsel, Sylvia Hinds-Radix, notes the creation of the fund negates the involvement of her office in the matter.

“Based on the information known to us at this time, the Office of the Corporation Counsel does not and will not represent you in your individual capacity in this investigation or in any future investigations or matters arising from this investigation, whether civil or criminal in nature,” she wrote.

This version of a legal defense fund was created by the New York City Council in 2019 as a way to allow elected officials with mounting legal bills to accept money in excess of the city’s $50 gift ban — a structure designed to discourage bribery.

At the time, former Mayor Bill de Blasio had run up a roughly $300,000 legal tab in connection to a federal investigation into his own political fundraising. He had expressed support for the idea of a legal defense fund but never set one up himself.

Vikings officially list receiver Justin Jefferson as questionable on injury report

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The mystery surrounding star receiver Justin Jefferson will continue for a little bit longer. After being a limited participant in practice, Jefferson is officially being listed as questionable for the Vikings heading into Sunday night’s game against the Broncos in Denver.

Though head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Jefferson has started to ramp it up as he recovers from his hamstring injury, it’s notable that he still hasn’t been a full participant in practice. It’s unclear if that would need to happen before the Vikings feel comfortable putting him back on the field.

“He had another really good week,” O’Connell said. “We will get together and make sure we’re making the best decision for him when the time time is right, with, as Justin stated, his full input, as well.”

Mattison participates in full

After clearing concussion protocol on Friday, running back Alexander Mattison was a full participant in practice. He is officially listed as questionable, which, at the very least, suggests there’s a chance he will be available for the Vikings when they play the Broncos.

If Mattison is able to play, he would more than likely be the starter, with fellow running back Ty Chandler mixing in as a change of pace.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Vikings handle the reps between Mattison and Chandler moving forward. Never mind the fact that Mattison brings more experience to the backfield. It’s undeniable that Chandler has looked more explosive with the ball in his hands.

Mullens could be ready

After being designated for return from injured reserve this week, backup quarterback Nick Mullens could suit up for the Vikings on Sunday. He is officially be listed as questionable. That’s good news considering rookie quarterback Jaren Hall has been ruled out as he continues to work through the concussion protocol.

“Just not quite there yet,” O’Connell said of Hall. “We want to make sure out of precaution that we’re allowing Jaren to finish up the last phases.”

Briefly

After missing practice this week, cornerback Akayleb Evans (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday. Meanwhile, quarterback Josh Dobbs (ankle), tight end T.J. Hockenson (ribs), receiver K.J. Osborn (concussion) and defensive tackle Dean Lowry (groin) do not have injury designations.

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