There are eight candidates for four seats on the Board of Education for the Northfield Public Schools, ISD 659.
The candidates and the (known) links to their web sites/blogs:
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Katy Hargis |
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Peter Millin |
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Jeff Quinnell |
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Election 2008 discussion: Northfield School Board – candidates and issuesBy Griff Wigley, on September 11, 2008, 7:53 am
128 comments to Election 2008 discussion: Northfield School Board – candidates and issues |
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This discussion is now open for any citizens to direct questions to any/all of the School Board candidates. (Yes, I know Felicity jumped the gun. She will be punished severely.)
And candidates, please feel free to interact with other candidates.
Candidates, what is the role of the school system regarding alcohol and drug abuse education/prevention?
What do you think of our district’s current efforts in this area?
Ross,
I can help you a bit with your concern about property owners being able to calculate the impact of a levy referendum. When the Northfield School District went to the voters in 2006, there was a worksheet on the district website to help property owners figure out their individual tax rate for the levies. That page is no longer on the website; however this year the Osseo School District is running a two-question campaign that is very similar to the 2006 campaign in Northfield. Here is the link for that service.
http://www.ehlers-inc.info/taxInformation/Osseo/index.php#placeholder
Tom Stringer, Business Director of Northfield Schools provided me with this link. I am sure Northfield would provide this tool in the event of any future levy campaign.
Forgive me if this question is out of bounds, but I don’t know what the School Board covers in totality; what would you propose to do about a highly ineffective teacher?
Bright: The school board has policies and procedures for regular performance reviews of both non-tenured and tenured teachers. Teachers also participate in regular professional development. These things, I think, are best handled by professional staff who have the expertise to intervene in positive and constructive ways to help teachers improve. For probationary teachers, recommendations about tenure, based upon thorough review, are passed along to the school board for approval. I don’t think the school board has the professional expertise to intervene directly, but I think it can certainly express its concern to the proper professional staff.
There are many reasons a teacher may be ineffective. I know that I am more effective as a teacher in a Carleton classroom with eight highly motivated students than I was in a classroom of 40 students in Minneapolis, where I had to come in before dawn to xerox pages from the textbook (because there weren’t enough to go around) and where some of the students sat on boxes in the back of the classroom (because there weren’t enough desks). I was a more effective teacher as a substitute in Northfield, where I felt like other teachers were looking out for me and helping me along, than I was in other places where I was dropped into a classroom with no support from anyone. Teachers must have the resources and the support they need to be effective, and must feel they belong to a supportive professional community.
Response to #51
“2. It is the schools job to educate, not police students. It is pretty well known we have a problem with drugs in Northfield and Rice County. I believe it is the schools job to educate students on the risks and hazards of drug abuse. But it is the parents who must be involved in their children’s lives and activities. It is not the schools job to raise children, but to teach children. It is the parent’s job to equip their children with the tools and knowledge needed to make the right decisions. As the father of two teen age boys I realize the enormity of this task. But any failure on my part in teaching my children right from wrong and explaining the consequences that leads to failure or the wrong decisions on their part, is my responsibility. The school district needs to have a zero tolerance and allow law enforcement to do their jobs in policing the schools if and when needed. “
The school already does a good job in educating children on drugs. All of my three children are very much aware of the dangers on drug and alcohol use.
At home I try to reinforce what the school is teaching.
None of this is a guarantee that my children will never do drugs or alcohol. We all do the best we can.
Aside from an open discussion and education on drugs the school has the responsibility to support law enforcement in their efforts.
A zero tolerance law should be the basis of all actions.
We have to be tough,vigilant but show support when needed.
If we really have evidence of wide spread usage I would go as far as supporting occasional random bag and locker checks. Drug sniffing dogs could really have a great impact.
This might sound radical, but I think Drugs and alcohol are to much of a threat to all children.
Griff:
Most of the candidate pages also contain answers to questions posed by citizens in addition to their personal statements and links to their websites.
Thanks, Jane! Looks like all School Board candidates but Jeff and Katy have answered these 5 questions on their pages, linked from the bottom of the Northfield.org Elections page:
Today’s Nfld News has a profile of Anne Maple…
who plans to join us here soon!My bad. Anne has already commented here. (Someone get me more coffee, puhlease!)
Katy, the Nfld News feature on you includes this intro:
But the piece doesn’t include any examples of what you did as a “devil’s advocate” to challenge other school board members and the administration?
Can you give us some?
School board candidate Jeff Quinnell has a guest column in today’s Nfld News.
In Aug of 2007, Supt. Richardson and High School principal Leer said they weren’t planning on using drug-sniffing dogs at the high school. (Nfld News article here.)
In Oct. of 2007, they did. (Nfld News article here.)
Katy and Diane, as the incumbents, can you comment on this and your involvement/thinking/position about it, before and after?
Peter and Kevin, thanks for responding to Curt’s question.
Other candidates, feel free to chime in with your thoughts about the use of drug-sniffing dogs on school property.
Griff, I’m glad you asked the question about the use of drug dogs in the high school; that was what I wanted to ask. I was surprised that Mr. Millin did not know that had occurred already. It was a source of a lot of controversy.
So, how about it candidates?
Okay, I’ll jump in to break Griff’s consecutive comment streak. One drug-sniffing dogs: I would be inclined to oppose their use in the schools, primarily on Fourth Amendment grounds. Elsewhere, the ALCU has become involved in cases where drug-sniffing dogs have been used in schools. If there is probable cause to suspect a particular student, a warrant should be obtained to search that student’s locker. There are all manner of threats in our society, including illegal drug use. That’s no reason to undermine civil liberties, or to resort to drastic measures that erode community trust and (if used too often or too heavy-handedly) may desensitize youth to the actual severity of the problem.
Here is an interesting digest of information on School Safety and the Legal Rights of Students. The article concludes that “the current direction of Fourth Amendment law reflects society’s fears of and disrespect for children and the paucity of alternatives to police-type enforcement measures that are both in use and under consideration in the schools. It also indicates that school authorities no longer have to grant students the civil rights considered inalienable by the rest of the nation’s citizens.” The article suggests alternatives to these “draconian” measures that would help foster an atmosphere of trust and respect rather than of suspicion and fear.
Peter, thanks for getting back to me.
For all candidates, I’d like to know your feelings about the effect of charter schools on the regular school system (if any). We are not in a position to send all kids to charter schools -- what is the effect of removing those kids and the associated funding from the regular public school system?
I’m not saying we should get rid of the charter schools we have, but I’m very interested in the opinions of those who would (I presume) have a vote in any new charter schools.
Another question: Many of you talked about your careers, which are certainly relevant to service on the school board. Can you also describe the different schools you attended and degrees obtained? I see this as one way to document a commitment to education in your own life; if you have other ways to document such a personal commitment, please describe those as well (ie your kids’ education, etc). Some of you have hit on aspects of these, but it hasn’t been uniform.
Thanks!
One final set of questions, and I’ll move on with my day!
Do you believe in evolution? Should it be taught as part of the science curriculum?
Do you believe in intelligent design/creationism? Should it be taught as part of the science curriculum?
to Felicity, a Digression: The above, # 69, is why Felicity IS felicitous…
Definition of felicitous: “having a special ability for suitable expression”.
… always fair in how she poses the question.
Felicity,
(#66) Charter schools are often centers of innovation in education, and can explore educational options (such as project-based learning at ARTech) which can’t always be fully implemented in traditional public schools. Charters also often serve a different population than the traditional schools—students with different learning styles and needs, for example. Traditional schools and charters, being part of the same public school system, also share some resources (such as band programs). The high school drama program, for example, has certainly benefited from the talents of ARTech’s arts coordinator, Bob Gregory-Bjorklund. Finally, from a purely practical standpoint, charters take some of the demographic pressure off of the traditional schools. Traditional schools and charters can and should learn from each other, and support each other, and should both be held equally accountable for results.
(#67) I graduated from a small rural public school in upstate New York, received a B.A. from Oberlin College (with a double major in Latin and history) and a Ph.D. (in classics) from Brown University. I’ve also taken one education (teacher-training) course at St. Kate’s. I did my first teaching as an undergraduate at Oberlin (teaching intensive Latin over the January term), and have since taught at Brown, Gustavus Adolphus, University of St. Thomas, and Carleton and as a substitute teacher (K-12) in Northfield, Minneapolis, and Edina. I’ve also tutored homeschoolers in Latin, writing, and history. Finally, I’ve published a few essays on education, and contributed a couple of entries to the SAGE Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education. I’m happy to talk more about these experiences!
(#68) For me, evolution is not a matter of belief, it is a matter of demonstrable scientific fact. It is the foundation of modern biological sciences, and should be taught as such. Creationism and intelligent design should not be part of the science curriculum. Having said that, we do need to be able to have an informed and respectful dialogue about faith, ethics, and science. I encourage people interested in this topic, especially people of faith, to read the work of Kenneth Miller, a Brown University biologist and devout Catholic, who beautifully defends evolution and refutes intelligent design, while being highly sympathetic toward the role of faith in human lives. The books are Finding Darwin’s God and Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul. Highly recommended.
Rob, thanks very much for your detailed and thoughtful answers.
Note: Now Kiffi has gone and messed up the numbering of Felicity’s questions, as reflected in my comment (currently #71)! So, as of now, change those numbers to #67, #68, #69. How does it happen that Kiffi’s comments come in out of order? Do her comments go into a special holding cell before they’re actually posted?
Yes, Rob, we keep Kiffi in a special Guantanamo-type holding cell and let her out occasionally.
Felicity’s question about public charter schools, “what is the effect of removing those kids and the associated funding from the regular public school system?” is a good one… and I’d like to expand on it with my particular bias.
Candidates, do you see the role of a school board member to primarily be a:
A) steward of the District-owned schools, programs, infrastructure, and the staff employed?
B) steward of all public education delivered in the District 659 territory?
My contention is that you should be the latter…. but that it’s hard to operate with this larger mind-set once you’re on the school board. And charter schools tend to expose one’s bias.
Once you’re a board member, it’s easy to frame public charter school attendance in terms of the District “losing students and dollars” rather than just another way that you, as a school board member, are seeing to it that public education services are delivered to local families.
Once you’re a board member, it probably would never occur to you to think, “Gee, how can we get more innovation happening with XYZ? I wonder if there’s a way I could help some of our existing staff to start a public charter school that might better serve the students in the area?” And if you did do something to launch even a discussion of this, you’d likely have Supt. Richardson and the teacher’s union on your case, because they’re naturally oriented to protecting what they see as ‘their’ budget/jobs.
See the problem?
Griff: I always try to think in terms of cooperation rather than competition. The traditional schools and charters shouldn’t see themselves as competing for students and funding, but as cooperating to create a complete and well-rounded educational community that serves all students in the district.
For example, my younger son’s beloved sixth grade teacher had a child at Prairie Creek, and there were many Prairie Creek graduates in her class. My son, in a traditional public school classroom, benefited greatly from a teacher whose educational philosophy was informed by her exposure to a charter school, and from fellow students who came out of a charter school environment.
Yes, funding is a crucial issue, but we can’t let the dollar block the view of the student. I believe all students are served by a diverse and innovative educational community that includes a mix of traditional and charter schools.
Question: Kevin Budig, did you describe yourself on Technorati as:
“A 50 something Angry White Male Paramedic who is tired of working his butt off saving people and watching his tax dollars get wasted by elected officials whom have no business spending money!”
and, do you run a blog about stopping David Bly and Kevin Dahle http://stopblyanddahle.blogspot.com/
If so, how do you plan to be non-partisan as a board member? You seem pretty angry.
There should be a distinct line between government and religion and since creationism is mostly a biblical concept it has no place in a public institution.
Most of my schooling was done in Germany. I went to school for nine years and then had a three year apprenticeship.
Once I came to the USA I took my GED and took some college courses.
My biggest motivation for wanting to run for the school board is the concern of a quality education for my three children.
Based on my personal experience I have noticed that US schools at the K-12 level are not nearly as challenging then schools in Europe.
To be honest I don’t know what the reason is. I don’t think it is a lack of money or goodwill, so what are the issues?
Part of my responsibility, to those that elected me, is to bring those issues to the forefront.
We need to keep pace with the rest of the world and my hope is that my background and travels can help to contribute to reach this goal.
Other then being a concerned parent and a hard working individual, with a lot of common sense, there is not much more I can offer in regards of being qualified.
I can promise those who will vote for me, that I will never forget that I am a public servant and here to serve.
Ms. Cairns,
Yes, yes and yes I will be non partisan because my goal is for the best education possible for our children.
All children from those that excel to those that struggle. That is what it is all about. Our children, our hope, our future.
Angry? Maybe that was the wrong term to use, but I used it and I stand on my words, frustrated would have been better.
As for the website? yes I run it and will continue to do so. I do not agree with Mr Bly or Mr Dahle, Mr Bly and I have had a few “discussions” through email, rather acrimonious ones. But he came to my door recently and we shook hands, chatted a bit and wished each other well in both our campaigns.
Although I am running for a “non-partisan” position I have a right to express my opinion, beliefs, views, as much you do on your blog, which I see has a different view then mine.
Kevin Budig says:
I agree. And I agree you should be able to express your opinion. I’m just trying to see if you’re a good fit for the Northfield School board. I’ll be voting in November.
From your blog, you seem to be for home schooling
or private school if there is a teaching of responsible family life and sexuality.
1. Can you explain how you’d like sex ed to be taught? And what are the other reasons you might favor home schooling or private school?
Your blog says:
2. It sounds like you want more teacher acountability, which would mean more “government control” and more laws. Are you for more government involvment (statutes, laws, oversight, etc) or for less?
3. Based on the above, and if you were elected, how will you deal with immigrants who have children in need of schooling? They may speak Spanish, for example.
4. If our taxes never go up, and school expenses do, what is your plan to provide quality education? Further, I notice most of the State’s budget is used for educating our children. Maybe you want to give some of that money back to the State so it can be used elsewhere, like to reduce property taxes?
5. Lastly, Northfield’s school district seems to always be struggling to make ends meet. If you had to make cuts, where would you make them?
Disclaimer:
Hi Kevin,
I am truly interested in your answers and discuss my postings on LoGroNo with no one besides (occasionally, for spelling ideas) my immediate family before I post them. Our kids are in school together, so you might know that I would be interested in what school board members have to say since I have school-aged kids.
It might be your chance to clear things up, or make it clearer to me. You have already publically said all the quotes I brought forward.
I hope you continue to communicate with me.
Holly
Darn it, if this site had spell check I’d dancing in the streets. Sorry for the new word in my last post. Publicly.
Kevin, I’m very interested in your responses to Holly’s comments as well. Also, please see comments 67-69 for additional questions from me.
Today’s Nfld News has a candidate profile of Jeff Quinnell.
[...] II for graduation from high school. My remarks about this issue, on LocallyGrown, can be found here. State Representative David Bly comments here. Posted by rbhardy3rd Filed in [...]
I want to go back to the issue of ineffective teachers. In principle, I would agree with Rob Hardy’s position that the school board shouldn’t directly intervene, and should leave it to the “professionals” to solve the problem in constructive and private ways.
The problem is, in my experience at both the middle and high schools, the problems don’t get solved by the professionals. (The situation has been different, in my experience, at the elementary level, at least at Bridgewater, which is the only place of which I have direct experience). Professional learning communities sound great, and I’ll even bet they work great for the majority of teachers who are dedicated and focussed on teaching--but they don’t address those who aren’t. And those few do affect a large number of kids every year.
The middle school has the most glaring examples but the high school isn’t exempt. I’m not talking about teachers who use this or that book or grade this or that way….I’m talking about the teacher at the middle school that 67 parents in one year called up to request their child not have. I’m talking about the teacher that only gives out homework assignments and worksheets, five days a week, every week of the year. I’m talking about teachers (plural) who won’t make time to meet with struggling students to give them feedback….and/or who repeatedly refuse to return parent phone calls or emails…in other words, teachers who, repeatedly and consistently display blatant lack of professionalism.
It isn’t one person or two. And talking to building principals either results in no visible action OR possibly, a specific change made for an individual student--but leaves in place individuals who shouldn’t be there. (Kids with unassertive parents shouldn’t be punished by being assigned to these teachers).
It’s a problem that many parents in town know about, but nothing gets done. Maybe it’s Minnesota nice, maybe it’s because everyone wants to strike a positive tone and not jeopardize future fund levy votes. Maybe it’s because some parents fear retaliation by teachers toward their kids if they speak up. Speaking personally, I am frustrated and fed up by my experiences at both buildings over the past five years (especially when I contrast those experiences with my ones at Bridgewater, where I’ve yet to encounter a single example of a nonprofessional teacher). Not that all teachers at the middle or high school are problematic, not even that MOST teachers are problematic, (in fact, many have been excellent, committed, fabulous, terrific). But the problem cases have a disproportionate, negative, and long-lasting effect on kids’ education.
I’m frustrated that the examples of nonprofessionalism are so blatant and so tolerated even when they are expressly brought to the attention of the professionals.
It’s led to more than a few of my friends making the decision to pull their (bright and motivated) kids out of Northfield public schools to go elsewhere (taking the tax dollars allocated per pupil with them).
I don’t think the answer is to have individual school board members intervene--but I think something has to be done. And maybe school board members could instigate some change some how?
But the norms are for the school board to stay far far away from such issues. So my question for candidates--what can be done by school board members? What would you, if elected, be willing to do?
Teachers wary of new state math standards is the headline on the front page of today’s Nfld News.
I’m interested in hearing to what extent Board candidates support the new state standards and whether they have similar reservations expressed by the teachers in the article.
Rob Hardy posted his view in comment #9 above in response to Curt Benson’s question in comment #8. Representative David Bly chimed in as well in Comment #21.
I’d like to hear from the other candidates, too.
I’m concerned that our education system is not teaching children to be logical, rational and inquisitive thinkers. Science education in the United States has been trailing most other technilogical(post-industrial) nations for at least a decade.
My question for you is “will you support science education as determined by the scientific community, or will you allow faith-based initiatives into the science classroom?”
Kathie: As you know, of course, teachers undergo a probationary period of three years, after which (based upon the results of a thorough review) they may be granted tenure. I believe tenure is an important protection and benefit for good teachers, but it shouldn’t provide complete immunity for bad teachers. In the Minnesota Teacher Tenure Act, there does seem to be provision for dismissal of teachers after the granting of tenure. The statute says (122A.14, subdivision 4a):
The statute goes on to list “inefficiency in teaching” as a grounds for dismissal after the probationary period (subdivision 6b3). Subdivision 7 of the statute then describes the process the school board must follow to serve the teacher with notice of the charges and to provide the teacher with a fair hearing, either in front of the school board or an arbitrator.
I believe these proceedings are rare, and undoubtedly expensive for the district. I would not initiate any such action as a school board member, but were such an action initiated by another party, I would of course fulfill my duties, fairly and impartially, as laid out in the statute.
In general, as I stated earlier, I believe intervention through the professional community is the first, best, and most appropriate action. But I do understand your frustration, Kathie, and the schools should take very seriously—and take serious action to address—repeated and substantive complaints from parents about the quality of teaching.
My perspective is, of course, primarily as a parent, but having been briefly thrown to the lions as a middle school Latin teacher in E***a, I know how many factors contribute to the quality of teaching, or lack thereof. One of the things I lacked was positive support from most parents. I do believe in the importance of maintaining a positive tone as much as possible, understanding that education is a collaborative effort and teachers need the support of parents to do their job well. But, yes, in some cases a positive attitude simply isn’t enough.
Note: I am not a lawyer or legal expert, so if I have misread any of the statutory language, I hope someone will please step in to correct me.
Jeff: I’ve addressed the issue of teaching evolution in the last section of my comment #71. The Northfield schools have strong programs in math and science, including AP courses in the high school. I would take s strong stand against diluting those strong programs with “faith-based initiatives.” I do, however, believe that ethics (not faith) is an important part of science education, since there are serious ethical issues (quite apart from religious issues) involved in areas like cloning or experimentation on human subjects. Scientists do need to be aware of the ethical issues involved in scientific research.
The employer of teachers is responsible and accountable for their performance, just like I am responsible for those that work me.
We should not interfere with this direct relationship, but could provide consent and advice.
Raising the math standards on paper will accomplish very little and doesn’t address the core of the problem.
I believe and i am speaking as a father here, that our curriculum is too full already. An increase in quantity of learning doesn’t necessarily produce a better quality.
Many children already struggle with the very basics of math due to lack of time spent on them. This get’s progressively worse as children move on to higher grades. If you can’t recite time tables in your sleep how can you move on to algebra?
The comparison to the rest of the world when it comes to school performance is somewhat skewed. Germany for example provides more then one path in school to be successful.
Those who are not academically inclined have vocational options not available here. Children with learning disabilities are not measured against the same academic standard as regular students.
We tend to “push” all children through the same system and spend vast amounts of resources trying to bring everybody to the same level.
Not does this only skew our academic performance numbers, but in a way hold higher achievers.
I believe we need to get away from the “one size fits all” approach. Every child has different needs, skills or ambitions.
I think that our constitution is very clear on separation of church and state. “Faith based” issues make for a spirited discussion within certain contexts, and we should certainly encourage those discussions, but in the end we need to teach facts.
Today’s Nfld News has a profile of School Board candidate Peter Millen.
On multiple intelligences re: Peter’s comment on vocational school focus along with college bound prep ed…
http://tinyurl.com/69kjf8
[...] local blogs, Locally Grown and Northfield.org have online candidate forms and have had candidates answer specific questions [...]
Kevin Budig’s blog says
Read my post above #80 for more of what Kevin Budig’s blog says…
I asked: what are the other reasons you might favor home schooling or private school; how will you deal with immigrants who have children in need of schooling; if our taxes never go up, and school expenses do, what is your plan to provide quality education; and where would you make cuts, if any needed to be made?
I see Kevin is not going to answer my questions, Felicity.
BTW, did the News print Kevin’s profile re: school board candidate, yet? Was it demonstrative of his anger?
Kevin Budig, besides describing yourself as the angry white man, is your gravatar of a machine gun, etc. and hand guns….?
Now I’m scared. Please God, don’t let us need a paramedic around here. ACK!
Holly: All of the candidate profiles are up on the Northfield News site, and there are candidate statements, and answers to questions submitted by citizens, on the Northfield.org Election Page. I also encourage you, and other LocallyGrown readers, to come to tonight’s school board candidate forum at 6:45 p.m. at Bridgewater Elementary School. Unfortunately, I think Mr. Budig is unable to attend tonight’s forum.
Thanks Rob. Good luck in this election, I like what you say and do.
I went to the NNews and after looking around, I found the candidate information. It’s under News > Elections ’08 > various articles.
BTW, it seems Mr. Budig isn’t a paramedic around here.
Had the pleasure to meet Rob Hardy ( and others) at the Bridgewater Elementary school.
Rob has a good grasp on the issues and is an overall nice guy.
[...] Kevin himself answered my question on locallygrownnorthfield.org Yes, he is the same guy that writes that other blog, and yes, he did describe himself on [...]