After four years on the Northfield board, and having achieved more than retirement age, I was fairly sure I would not run again. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that, if the voters allow me to serve again, I can contribute to the stability of the district. I don’t have single issues that drive me, and I pretty much do my homework in a timely way.
So what is my platform?
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL:
1. We must continue to carefully review budgets so that a recommended reserve is obtained and maintained. We do not want to go back to the “Statutory Operating Debt” status of two years ago, which was the result of educational funding being frozen at the state level AND irresponsible spending of a previous administration. Superintendent Chris Richardson demonstrated great leadership in facing the financial problems of the district and managing an open public process in making cuts.
2. Continue to support/stabilize building leadership. All principals now support data driven decision making and personal learning communities (study teams as the basis for staff development). With no turnover in administrators this year the personal learning communities should be even more prepared to review the data on student performance in their buildings in order to improve student achievement.
3. We must address more precisely (through the things itemized in #2) the student achievement lags in our special education and limited English proficient student body. Being on the Adequate Yearly Progress watchlist is not pleasant, but does provide us with more incentive to target achievement in these populations. And we must celebrate how well our entire student body performs.
AT THE STATE LEVEL:
1. Pressure our state representatives and senators to demand that school funding be reformed along the lines of the original 1971 “Minnesota Miracle.” That was created following a court case (Van Dusarte v. Hatfield) which ruled that, “The level of spending for a child’s education may not be a function of wealth other than the wealth of the state as a whole.” That worthy effort has been eroded by budget freezes, the continued “No New Taxes” pledge of the Governor, and a lack of willingness to revise the calculation formula for property tax equalization.
* They should expect (nay, demand!) that the ‘04 funding taskforce be reconvened and its work completed with specific recommendations.
* They should demand equalization in that funding formula. All students should receive equal opportunities.
* They should demand that funding be targetted towards meeting local, state and federal standards.
