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 available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Remh20t3sBo&list=PL8uLxKF-4-jKDjR2AUzLym9Cdc5c8ja9v&index=2&pp=iAQB. More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2024-candidate-forums.
Contact Phone
507-358-1888
I am the best candidate because I believe strong public schools are a building block for our growing and diverse community. I will invest in our students and staff so every student has the supports and services they need to be successful. A vote to re-elect me is a vote for ALL of our students’ futures. I am the best candidate because I believe in thoughtful, data-driven decision making and innovative strategic planning to improve academic success. I prioritize student safety, belonging and support. I value community input and the voices of students and staff. I envision a bright future for the district and our students. I will continue to bring my attorney problem-solving skills and community advocacy to the board table.
I will focus on the relationship between student belonging and student success because that relationship is critical to every student's development and well-being.
Effective strategic planning lays the groundwork for the district’s success, both through effective management by the superintendent and effective governance, policies, and collaboration by the school board.
I am focused on removing systemic barriers because doing so ensured education equity, not just equality.
The board focuses on governance and policy development. We hire a superintendent to manage district operations. I would listen to and consider recommendations from the chief operations officer, finance director, and superintendent. I would study the issues and ask questions. I would collaborate with the superintendent and board to gather community input to help make the best decision for all students. I would prioritize cuts outside the classroom to avoid cuts to classroom resources.
I believe diversity contributes to every student’s success. I recognize disparities exist and prioritize removing barriers and developing creative solutions, such as restorative practices. The district’s equity policy identifies our responsibility to “remove barriers that prohibit . . . historically underserved/marginalized groups from attaining . . . academic achievement and growth.” One of my goals is to increase and measure enrollment for historically underserved groups in advanced courses.
I will engage teachers and families by making sure they understand the board is very much open to input/feedback. I will listen to teachers’ school continuous improvement plan (SCIP) board presentations and ask questions about their innovative work on behalf of their students. I will continue to join my board colleagues as we engage families through quarterly community engagement listening sessions. I also attend community events and school events to meet and engage with teachers and families.
Quality education is very important to me. I hold a law degree from Mitchell Hamline Law School and am a member of the MN and GA bars.
I ran a successful insurance benefits consulting firm for 30 years in Rochester, my hometown, and bring a practical, real world business perspective to the Rochester School Board.
I am running to provide a voice of reason for those disenfranchised by the current School Board which operates in a one-sided ideological echo chamber. I will provide much needed diversity of opinion. This will create a vibrant marketplace of ideas to improve our schools.
Academics, Budget & Common Sense (see https://4yourchildren.org/abcs-campaign/ )
Academic instruction is the most important function of schools. It must be the boards top focus.
I won’t approve expenditures that don’t further academic achievement & development productive graduates.
RPS lost its way by embracing & promoting controversial social, sex, & gender polices. Boys are allowed in girls’ locker rooms? NO! I will advocate for a return to common sense policies.
Identify & eliminate expenses that don’t belong in schools. Eliminate controversial non-academic programs & expenditures that support them. Referendums should be last resort respecting the financial burden they place on taxpayers. Community trust has been broken in area of financial stewardship. Unless we rebuild that trust we can’t expect community support for added spending. Visit https://saynotothetaxman.com for info on our district’s disrespect of taxpayers in their spending decisions.
The focus on race and wealth here is wrong. We need to see all students and families as people we serve. Students of all groups have needs. Our focus should be on helping students learn in a caring manner. It is proper to give extra academic help where it is needed regardless of race and economic situation. Beyond that we can refer people to resources outside the schools whose focus and expertise is on other non-academic areas which are outside of the school’s proper mission.
Teachers, families & guardians are all essential participants in successful education. The PTSA name lists proper priority order:
Parents
Teachers
Students
Administrators
MN law confirms that parents are primarily responsible for their child’s education. They deserve to know everything that is going on with their child and the Board needs their input. We won’t get it if we don’t get their attention before making decisions. I’ll look for ways to get that attention and their input.
