Dennis, David, Rest of List:
Actually, I agree with you. This year, everybody I've talked to on the
telephone has said: "Gee, you're running for Board of Education?" I haven't
even thought of it yet."
David is correct: the pay is bad, the hours long and the benefits
scarce (unless you count your own nameplate as a benefit, which I do) :).
The reason that _I_ am running for the Board is because I want to make
public schools better.
I know what it's like to be a student in MPS (because I was one in
1997) and I believe I can connect to our school communities on a deeper
level than someone 20 years their senior. Additionally, I have a strong
knowledge of school policy, having written the Citywide Policy Against
Hazing, the Student Bill or Rights and Responsibilities, and serving on the
District Leadership Team.
We talk a lot about community on this list: and every 6 weeks or so
Minneapolis gets touted as "the most livable city in the nation" (always
after Portland. But I think that once you hit a Starbucks-saturation rate
of 1 per block, your quality of life diminishes). The school board has a
chance to ACTUALLY make Minneapolis a really great, livable city by
strengthening public schools and connecting with community organizations so
that schools are buildings open to the community.
Imagine a school where students attend where they regularly interact
with other parents and members of the community. So that when parents come
home after work, they swing by school and pick their kids up from a painting
class, or a judo lesson (I just said that because I like judo). Some
schools already have that community. Other schools don't. We need to make
sure that ALL schools do.
Imagine a district where teachers are the most highly qualified
professionals in their field. I want to increase the rate of Nationally
Board Certified Teachers and Master Teachers. I want to restructure
staff-development time so that in addition to attending day-long teaching
in-services (which already take place) Specialized teaching advisors can
circulate around the district, mentoring classroom teachers on a one-to-one
basis. I want to develop a network of teachers sharing information and
strategies for success, so that the great ideas a teacher has at Anderson
can be implemented in a community school in the 10th ward. ;)
Imagine a district that continues to celebrate and honor our diverse
community, giving students access to learning about foreign languages and
cultures, and making students more well rounded, multicultural individuals.
I believe that our diversity provides us this strength. And I believe that
if the Board reaches out to under-represented communitites and makes a
committment with them, they'll help us out. As a student at the University
I was much better prepared for the reality of the adult world, where people
were different from me, than people who came from the suburbs. Minneapolis
is a MUCH better city because of all the types of people that live here, and
I believe our school should appreciate this treasure.
The school board is incredibly important. It's the primary force for
lobbying the state for more money for MPS schools. And when we look and see
that the compensatory education fund is being cut, forcing MPS to choose
between funding special ed classes or general ed classes, we need active,
dynamic, and intelligent people on the Board to tell the Governor that it's
wrong to do that to kids.
What do parents most care about when asked? Their kids' schools. What
do our communities depend on for future growth (both economic and
population-wise)? Our schools. What is the primary force for developing
young people and teaching them the skills they'll need? Our schools.
I'm running for the Board because I want to make sure that MPS IS the
best district in the country. I think we have a unique opportunity here to
ensure the future of our city and I don't want to see it wasted. I have
the Stonewall endorsement, and will proudly be at the DFL Convention
saturday, seeking endorsement.
You're right: some people haven't given thought to the Board of
Education. I have, and I'm running because of it.
Patrick Peterson
Ward 1, Pct 4.
PATRICK PETERSON FOR SCHOOL BOARD
"believe in the promise of tomorrow."
612*301*3675
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