Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

ISD #272 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-boardA candidate forum for this race is scheduled for September 5, 2024, at 7pm at the Eden Prairie City Hall.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Ann Bradsher
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jon Cermak
    (NP)

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    Kim Johnson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kim Ross
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Dennis Stubbs
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jody Ward-Rannow
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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With over 24 years in corporate learning and a certification in instructional design, I bring a fresh perspective and a commitment to positively shaping students outcomes. My continuous learning approach enables me to question and innovate effectively. As a learning professional and leader, I offer collaborative skills, strategic thinking, problem solving, budget planning, and more. I am dedicated to fostering an environment where students thrive through quality education, safety, and open communication. Having been part of the community for over 35 years and with children who attended the district, I am passionate about serving our community.
In the past nine months, I’ve attended school board meetings to understand the district better. My top priority is ensuring high quality education by meeting students at their individual learning levels. Equally important is providing a safe environment where students and staff can thrive. Lastly, fostering open communication between staff, students, and the community is essential for maintaining trust and collaboration.
My strategy for addressing the budget cuts involves reviewing spending to distinguish needs from wants and postponing non-essential expenses. I will explore reducing vendor costs and increasing alternative revenue streams. Maintaining key staffing roles and avoiding larger class sizes are crucial to preserving quality education. Additionally, conducting an annual 10% reduction exercise will ensure we are prepared to make necessary adjustments efficiently.
Addressing educational disparities is both a state and national issue that demands a collaborative effort from teachers, policymakers, the community, and families. To effectively tackle this challenge, we must first analyze data to identify the specific gaps within Eden Prairie. With this insight, we can develop targeted solutions to effectively support and improve our school district.
Open communication is a top priority for me. Gathering feedback from key stakeholders is crucial, and their voices must be heard. As decisions are made, it is essential to share information through various channels. If a communication platform does not exist, we should create one to document decisions and ensure that all relevant parties stay informed.
Campaign Website http://www.KimARoss.com
Contact Phone 6126706787
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/KimforEP
Campaign Email Kim@KimARoss.com
I have more experience than any member of the Eden Prairie school board or any candidate. I have served 8 years on the Eden Prairie school board, and I love the work. For the past 2 years I have been Eden Prairie’s representative on the board of Intermediate School District 287 which serves the unique learners of 12 member districts. I’ve learned so much about special education and what it means to help each student achieve their potential.

My experience is more than just time served—it's about effective leadership and the ability to make impactful decisions that enhance our students' educational experiences and success. I am committed to listening to our community and excited to continue supporting the mission of inspiring each student.
Driving achievement by engaging students in their learning, advocating for the safety and well-being of students and staff, and ensuring that the district is operated in a financially and environmentally sustainable manner. Successfully preparing students for their futures is the goal of any school district. Learning requires a safe and inclusive environment for students and staff as well as financial stability to ensure that the necessary resources are available to support students and staff.
Fortunately, Eden Prairie is not facing budget cuts, unlike many districts. It is also at a 10 year high in enrollment, resulting in stable revenues. If cuts are necessary in the future, I would work closely with the administration to identify areas that would have the least impact on student achievement and staff effectiveness. It would also be important to ensure that no group of students or staff is disproportionately impacted by budget cuts.
The EP School Board is always looking at disaggregated data to identify disparities in achievement and district operations. The board needs to ensure that the district has the focus and resources to address identified disparities. The district’s emphasis on personalized learning is critical in addressing disparities. Focusing on the needs and experiences of each student allows us to identify specific areas where students need support and provide targeted services to improve their proficiency.
Finding effective ways to hear the voices of staff and the community requires intentionality and a willingness to approach engagement in different ways. During my current term I have advocated for a more concerted effort on the part of the board to engage staff and underrepresented groups in our community. Fundamentally you need to meet people where they are instead of expecting them to come to you. I would advocate for more purposeful outreach to diverse groups of staff and community members.
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The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.