I respectfully disagree with Mr. Sumner’s assertion about the mayor on 
schools.

In what are arguably the city’s two most important school-oriented decisions 
over the past eight years, the move to Community Schools and the later high 
school start time (which tends to keep kids off city streets and each others 
living room couches, along with some worthy academic features), Sharon was 
there early and with passion. Her work was vital.

I’m not sure you want the mayor a whole lot more involved in schools than she 
has been. She does not and should not select board members, superintendents 
or teachers.

Give her credit. She did well on schools.

If you are looking for an education area in which to hold her accountable, 
I’d suggest checking into her unwavering support for Parents in Community 
Action, the Head Start operator here. She has served on the board, ridden on 
the PICA float in the Aquatennial, had her folks running protective cover for 
the operation, etc.  However warm and fuzzy the idea of Head Start may be, in 
practice in Minneapolis, it is in desperate need of a careful accounting, far 
more focused than a recent state report on early childhood education provided.

Sharon’s union endorsements are especially interesting in light of her 
support of PICA as and after the NLRB was finding PICA had engaged in 
union-busting tactics, preventing employees (in this case making about $10 
per hour) from organizing.

Maybe union folks ought to answer questions on that, too.


Dennis Schapiro
Linden Hills

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