Mara Klecker
Reporter
Suburban K-12 schoolsA native South Dakotan and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's journalism college, Klecker has always called the Midwest home. She's worked on journalism projects in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Nepal. In her free time, she can be found reading, hiking or planning her next international trip. She lives in the west metro with her husband and two dogs.
Latest from Mara Klecker
U.S. Supreme Court decision clears way for students with disabilities to sue — but will they?
The court sided with a Maple Grove teen, sending her disability case against the Osseo school district back to a lower court.
June 26, 2025
A school district’s debate over dress codes and clubs shows how politics is shaping routine policies
In Forest Lake schools, a proposed policy change allowing students to wear clothes with confederate flags or swastikas sparked a broader political debate.
June 21, 2025
![The hallways at Forest Lake Area High School are packed with students heading to their next class rooms. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com Monday, September 24, 2018 Schools around Minnesota finished out the 2017-18 school year facing some of the biggest budget deficits in recent history. Attempts by Gov. Mark Dayton to pass last-minute, emergency funding to help dominated the end of the Legislature session but went nowhere, and schools were left slashing budgets. We check in on](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/LHX6VPQJQ4YIBTQOBZNFUGK6RE.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
St. Francis school district rewrites book review policy, agrees to return banned titles to shelves
The school board agreed to update the district’s library materials review policy, which had been based on the now-defunct website BookLooks.org, in settling two lawsuits.
June 11, 2025
How 3M Arena at Mariucci became a go-to for suburban high school graduations
The U’s hockey arena, 3M Arena at Mariucci, is hosting 23 high school commencements this year.
June 4, 2025
At this Minnesota high school, a triathlon class helps kids ‘learn that they can do hard things’
A popular class at Dassel-Cokato High School trains students to swim, bike and run in a school triathlon that has become a community tradition.
May 26, 2025
East Ridge High School staff member removed after reportedly using racial slur in front of students
The principal of the Woodbury school sent a message Thursday afternoon to explain the incident and apologize to families.
May 22, 2025
Minnesota teacher pensions are changing to allow earlier retirements
New legislation falls short of extending the “Rule of 90″ but aims to ease inequities in the two-tiered teacher pension system.
May 22, 2025
AP tests are now mostly online. Here’s what some Minnesota schools have noticed.
Students can use their laptops and no longer fill out paper bubble sheets to take Advanced Placement exams.
May 16, 2025
At this Minnesota high school, a triathlon class helps kids ‘learn that they can do hard things’
A popular class at Dassel-Cokato High School trains students to swim, bike and run in a school triathlon that has become a community tradition.
May 26, 2025
East Ridge High School staff member removed after reportedly using racial slur in front of students
The principal of the Woodbury school sent a message Thursday afternoon to explain the incident and apologize to families.
May 22, 2025
Minnesota teacher pensions are changing to allow earlier retirements
New legislation falls short of extending the “Rule of 90″ but aims to ease inequities in the two-tiered teacher pension system.
May 22, 2025
AP tests are now mostly online. Here’s what some Minnesota schools have noticed.
Students can use their laptops and no longer fill out paper bubble sheets to take Advanced Placement exams.
May 16, 2025