Part 5: What is Important to You as a School Board Candidate?

Editor's Note: Earlier this month, Patch submitted a series of five questions to each of the seven candidates running for four seats on the School District 199 School Board. Each day this week, we'll publish the candidates' answers to one of the questions we posed. To promote fairness, we asked each candidate to limit responses to 150 words; we reserved the right to edit for clarity and length if necessary. The general election is Nov. 8. Click on the candidates' names to view profiles of each candidate. Candidate Bridget Sutton has not yet turned in her responses to the questionnaire.

Inver Grove Heights Patch: What other issues are important to you as a candidate?

I think that relationships are extremely important. I want to encourage the best work from our students and our employees. If we as a school district want to have great relationships between families and their teachers, we have to model that behavior. I want to the public to know the excellent work that is being done by our employees for the students and the community. Seeing the smiles on the faces of parents and children as they leave conferences should make all of us proud.

I am very supportive of extra-curricular activities. Arts and athletics give the students a way to build relationships and apply their skills and talents outside of a classroom. From the stress of opening night, to enduring a long winter sports season, to meeting deadlines for the yearbook, our students develop confidence, creativity, loyalty and excellence under the guidance of educators.

The technology and additional operating levy would give us the opportunity to continue to offer the students of Inver Grove Heights one of the top educations in the state of Minnesota. The district is very proud of the numerous awards and recognitions all of our schools have received. We all understand the difficult economic environment many of our residents and families are currently experiencing. While the district currently has one of the lowest taxes in Dakota County, and no one likes to raise our taxes, we do need to request an additional investment in our schools to continue offering the high quality education for our students.  I would encourage everyone to vote yes on all three of the referendum questions in November.

To continue to grow and stay competitive with the real life tools that will be needed in our future. Our Economy continues to change our future, and I like to stay ahead.

Changing federal and state education policies will increase the need for 21st-century curriculum. I would like to see a program that rewards teachers for designing and implementing new courses and curriculum that provide a practical link to the real world and inspire critical thinking. Every subject could have “exploratory” courses that start as an elective and could be developed into a full core course. We also need to better communicate, as a district, with our students, parents and residents, especially through email, social media and our district website.

Keri Myran: There are 27 different languages spoken by our students. More than one third of our students receive free or reduced lunch. Our student population is more transient than it has ever been. These factors all contribute to ever increasing challenges for our district. More services are needed for our students as they face more challenges. More services cost more money.  Unfortunately, much of what we do in education is driven by finances and mandates, but we are at the mercy of the state and federal governments. We provide special education services, but the state and federal government who are required to fund it are currently $3 million short in meeting their financial obligation. That $3 million shortfall comes out of our general fund. We are mandated to update curriculums to meet state and federal standards, yet no funding follows the mandate for new materials or technology. 

Allen Gerber: The school board needs to work collaboratively with administration, teachers, students, parents and the community. This requires mutual respect which is earned by all parties. There needs to be transparency, excellent communication and reaching out for active engagement. If a capital project levy for technology passes, the school board needs make sure that funds used for hardware, software and training are used to the maximum benefit of the students and teachers.