DISTRICT TRANSPARENCY
More gets accomplished when we're all on the same page
Parents should never have to wonder what their children are being taught or what the district policies are. Teachers should never feel they need to alter or withhold information from students and parents due to obstructive policies and procedures.
School board members have the obligation to ensure policies are easy to understand and direct - no more beating around the bush on what the policy really does! A parent or resident should be able to ask a question and get a yes or no answer with a common sense explanation. They should be able to get thorough information on what their child(ren) is being taught. A resident should know exactly how their taxes are being spent, not just directed to go "look it up" on the internet (that's what I was told when I asked). A teacher should be able to have a direct conversation with parents when they feel it's needed. After all, teachers are with our kids for a majority of their day!
No matter what has been said, school board members DO have a say when policies are considered for state law. School board members and union representatives are constantly meeting with state legislators to discuss what they'd like to see written into law. The board position may be non-partisan, but it is certainly political.
As an ISD 196 school board member, my commitment to you is to ensure parents, teachers, and residents never have to wonder about what the intention of the board is when we are implementing policies, approving learning plans, or how your hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.
PRIORITIZE EDUCATION
Getting back to the basics
Understandably, teachers get the brunt of each parent and child's frustrations. After all, they're with our kids for a majority of the day. As someone who has spent my adult life in a job of public service, I can relate to the sometimes overwhelming expectations of teachers and support staff put on them by those they serve.
I've asked teachers why they wanted to teach. Most of the time, the answer I receive is because they love kids. They love to watch them grow, they love to be part of their lives, and they enjoy knowing they did what they could to set a child up for a life of success. But there is also a side to teaching they didn't know they were signing up for. Unfortunately, there has been an uptick in violence perpetrated against teachers and students. There has been an onslaught of demanding expectations regarding curriculum changes that many of the these teachers disagree with, and not just because of the unrealistic time commitment. Teachers have been given instructions to change their grading systems and pupil expectations in the name of equity.
Recently, the Department of Education released it's most current statistics on District 196 student academic benchmarks, attendance, and graduation rate. While test scores did slightly increase from last year, it's important to understand these numbers represents a 50% "proficiency" rate, and is defined as receiving a 50% or above.
More still needs to be done to ensure all children are receiving the appropriate level of education and assistance needed to set them up for success as adults. Teachers need to have the time to teach with minimal disruptions in their day to ensure information is being presented, kids have the opportunity to absorb the information, and everyone learns in a safe environment.
SAFETY FOR ALL
Everyone Deserves to be Safe at School
Everyone does better when they feel safe. Safety at school for students and staff should be a top priority for any school district. For over a century, schools have been focusing on keeping schools safe when it comes to fire precautions. Unfortunately, it took a historic event in 1908 to change the procedures of how to handle a fire emergency at school.
As a 20 year law enforcement veteran, I had a proactive policing philosophy that I still carry with me today. Why should we wait for a tragic incident to happen before we take the appropriate steps needed to stop it before it happens? Districts right in our own backyard have taken the appropriate steps to ensure buildings are safe for their students and staff - why shouldn't District 196?
Teachers and students have reported numerous times of not feeling safe during the school day due to the behavior of other students. Students have been allowed to roam the halls, given authority to commit illegal activities in restrooms, and make threatening comments and actions toward staff and students. District 196 policy 503.2AR was recently amended after new state law was passed in 2023 regarding non-exclusionary practices (see MN Dept. of Education breakdown here). The district policy states students can be removed from the class by teachers, but only after the approval of administration. While this may seem like the start of an appropriate procedure, many teachers and students have reported there is a loss of the culture of school and this procedure often creates a lot of friction between teachers, students, and those causing disruptions.
While school safety may seem like a daunting subject and one that needs to be handled delicately, I've learned a firm but fair approach to safety and security always wins. Kids strive for consistency in their schedule and are more at ease when they know they are in a safe environment. District 196 has an opportunity to make our schools some of the safest in the country with the new historical bonding bill recently passed - building security is 100% achievable. Children who understand there are fair consequences that are consistent for everyone for undesirable behavior and awards for achievement in their own personal progress tend to want to do better in school. As your next ISD 196 School Board member, I will advocate for "Safety for All" to be a district priority.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Being a Good Steward of Tax Payer Dollars
In May 2023, the largest bond (building) referendum in state history passed with 11,022 voters weighing in on the matter (information courtesy of Pioneer Press). Only about 10% of population turned out to vote, and only about 7,500 votes - in the entire district - decided every resident's next 10 years of taxes increases. While we can agree that building age and regular maintenance or new buildings and special accommodations should be added to meet district and student needs, I strongly believe there has to be a better way of disbursing information to voters about what they are voting for and, most importantly, that there is a serious matter to vote on. While speaking with residents at their doors, I have been told more often than not that most residents didn't even realize there was a referendum in May for them to vote on. Communication with residents, when their income is on the line, should be paramount when asking the community to give more in an already tight economy. And, most importantly, responsibility with the funds given by the community need to be advocated for to be used appropriately and conservatively to ensure the district has the finances available to use for emergencies in the future.
As your next ISD 196 School Board member, I will advocate for clear and direct information to residents of the community regarding the financial state of our district. That information should be easy to find and understand without needing to decipher which line item an expense falls under. Expenses for students to learn and achieve their academic goals, along with appropriate staff salaries, should be the priority of the board.
