Here is my vision

Our Saint Paul Public Schools, the second largest school district in Minnesota, offer us much to be proud of. We have produced a very high percentage of students that have achieved and gone on to do great things. We also can be extremely proud of our teachers. We have more National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) in our district than most major cities. A very strong strategic plan with positive goals and stratigies was developed to improve the education our children receive, which I strongly support. There is a waiting list to get into Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented School. L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion and Adams Spanish Immersion Schools have taken a proactive approach to the future of the International world we live in. My belief is that it is possible to have the entire school district performing in this manner.

We have had highly paid superintendents, some of whom have come and gone quickly. Our tax dollars have been used to do nationwide searches for replacements, when, we should turn the search toward our own talented Administrators who are prepaed to assume the superintendency. These educators have roots in our St. Paul Public Schools and the community of Saint Paul.

Here is my hope for the future oF Saint Paul Public Schools, a bit idealistic, and maybe simplistic, but I say everything can be accomplished with our current budget. We must work to live within our means, like every other hard working American given our current economic situation. Our student enrollment is shrinking, our high school dropout rate is increasing, yet the need for additional money continues to grow. Year after year more money is requested. As it says in the Saint Paul Public Schools stragegic plan, we must "align resource allocation to district priorities."

I’m wondering what happened to our Vocational High School? Wouldn’t that help with our dropout rate of high school students? We continue to need electricians, mechanics, and IT specialists. We can offer some of our union folks the opportunity to teach students those trades. That would give the graduates a chance at higher-than-minimum-wage jobs.

Our Gifted and Talented school has a long waiting list. Why not add another school?

What about a Code of Conduct for all public school students that is strictly adhered to? Would that not help our teachers and those students there to learn and achieve? Should uniforms be considered?

Saint Paul with all its institutions of higher learning—William Mitchell College of Law, Macalester, Hamline, Saint Thomas, Saint Catherine’s, Metropolitan State, and all of our Colleges and Universities in the city—has developed into a sought after hub for advanced education. Shouldn’t our K through 12 schools be a mecca for parents looking for a new home? I can someday see a waiting list for all our schools.

Let’s start by building some competition between our Public School System, Charter Schools and Private Schools. A little competition is healthy; it leads to expansion of services, increase in quality and a higher value for education. This is our biggest investment for the future.

In the future, I would promote electing school board members from geographic areas, not at large. This would enhance the understanding for the school board of neighborhood issues, educational, economic and cultural.

I adamantly oppose movements underway to remove JROTC from schools and banning Military Recruiters. I disagree with the idea of removing the option of saying the Pledge of Allegiance or prayers. Shouldn’t that be a freedom that parents, in conjunction with teachers, should be able to decide upon?

I would appreciate your vote to allow me to approach some of these issues. I have a vested interest in the value of the schools as a taxpayer, a realtor, and, most importantly, a grandfather. I, along with you, will not accept the status quo!