Candidate Profile: Begich Would Bring Inside Perspective to Board

Since 1969, Tom Begich has been teaching in Inver Grove Heights schools—an experience that makes him uniquely qualified as a candidate for a spot on the Independent School District 199 School Board, Begich said.

“The school district has been good to me; I learned a craft there, I was able to coach, I was able to be on a number of important committees, be a teacher, a leader,” Begich said. “They made a huge investment in me, and I’d like to give something back.”

Begich is one of seven candidates vying for four seats on the school board this fall. Local voters will decide his fate—and the fate of his fellow candidates—on Nov. 8.

The 64-year-old retiree’s connections to the district run deep. Not only was he a longtime teacher in Inver Grove, he is also involved in the B.E.S.T. Foundation—which provides scholarships to Simley High School grads. Finally, he has a daughter who currently teaches at Hilltop Elementary.

As a candidate, Begich says he wants to keep an open mind and will refrain from bringing a strong personal agenda to the board, if elected. But there are two issues that are close to Begich’s heart: The state of the district’s media centers and early childhood education program.

Begich, who spent the last 14 years of his career working in media centers in four of the district’s schools, says the school libraries have not had a budget since 2007. The lack of funding has forced librarians to find other ways to secure new books and other materials for students.

As the district gears up to improve literacy skills among its younger students, it makes sense for administrators to allocate more money to its media centers, Begich said.

“We’re in the business of promoting reading, and we have 150-200 elementary students … that really don’t have access to the latest literature, at least in a planned way,” Begich said.

Begich also wants to improve access to the district’s early childhood education programs and increase the frequency of classes and activities offered to pre-kindergarten students and their families. Improvements in this area can help the district close the achievement gap, Begich said, by ensuring that students are “school ready” by the time they hit kindergarten.

Begich also describes himself as a supporter of three proposed levies that could bring in as much as $4.2 million in tax revenue into the district each year.

“I think the referendums are incredibly important, because financially our schools and our administration are at a huge disadvantage compared to our neighbors,” Begich said.

Begich also wants to bring a ‘coach-like’ attitude to the board, if elected.

“I would want to be a coach that encourages,” Begich said. “There are so many unsung heroes in a successful district like this, and I would want to be someone who salutes all the participants in this.”

To read Patch's profiles on the other candidates running for spots on the Inver Grove Heights School Board this year, click on the links below.

• Monday, Oct. 3:
• Tuesday, Oct. 4:
• Wednesday, Oct. 5:
• Thursday, Oct. 6:
• Friday, Oct. 7: Candidate Profile: Communication, Professional Development Matter for Westpfahl