Pictured, left to right: Michael Baskins, Collin Beachy, Christin Crabtree, (images courtesy of the candidates); Not pictured, Stephanie Johnson.
“What are you thinking about the School Board race?” a politically active neighbor recently asked a group of similarly engaged friends.
The conversation that followed illustrated just how difficult it can be to be a responsible voter. Even people who pay close attention to local politics were unfamiliar with the Minneapolis Public Schools board candidates, their platforms and even how the elections work.
“Even people who pay close attention to local politics were unfamiliar with the School Board candidates, their platforms and how the elections work.”
But schools are critical to the quality of life in a city, and the Minneapolis Board of Education, commonly called the School Board, has problems to solve: Nearly 50% of Minneapolis kids don’t attend MPS schools, and the district is facing a budget deficit of more than $39 million.
MPS offered three restructuring options on Sept. 15 that included closing some schools and redrawing district boundaries throughout the city. The School Board is inviting community feedback before voting on a plan in November.
The Minneapolis Federation of Educators, the teachers’ union, fears that closing schools will simply lead to more disruption and more families choosing to leave the district.
While the vote is scheduled for after the School Board elections, the implementation and follow-through, if a plan is indeed decided upon, will be critical for students, families, teachers, school staff and communities. How the School Board leads through the implementation will trickle down to all stakeholders.
What the Board Does
The School Board is tasked with setting policies and goals and with hiring and evaluating the superintendent. The superintendent manages planning, operations, academics and much more. The board is responsible for overseeing a budget of roughly $1 billion, including about $280 million in local property tax revenue.
The board is made up of nine elected directors: six representing geographic districts and three at-large directors representing the entire city. They earn a $20,000 annual stipend. Two student representatives, who are appointed rather than elected, also serve on the board with a stipend of $10,000.
Elected directors serve four-year, staggered terms (unlike members of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, whose terms all end at the same time).
What Is on the Ballot
Most of the Hill & Lake Press coverage area falls within School Board Districts 4 and 6. Neither district is on the ballot this year. Two of the three at-large seats are, however, and the candidates who advanced from the primary will appear on your November ballot.
“Enrollment is down, and the fiscal house is not in order.”
November’s election gives voters an opportunity to weigh in on the people who want to lead the district’s policy and budget decisions, and to help chart a course for Minneapolis Public Schools.
Our community newspaper colleagues at the Northeaster interviewed each of the candidates: mynortheaster.com/news/four-seek-two-at-large-school-board-seats.
Jeanette Colby writes for the Hill & Lake Press. She lives in Kenwood.
