Mr. Mann,
As a MPS teacher (and to be fair, not one that was realigned), I would like to see more forward thinking related to the issue of realignment. You are clearly passionate about many of the issues that MPS face and I appreciate all of your very obvious hard work and care for MPS students. That said, the school year is about to begin its third week with students and at this point, more disruption would do further harm to the students. While it is good to understand the past, dwelling on it does nothing to help us prepare for the future.
This fall, I have begun my sixth year of teaching. While tenured, I certainly have anxiety about my job security come this spring. The budget cuts and enrollment declines are expected to continue until the 2008-09 school year. If this plays out per the futures projections, there is a distinct possibility that I could find myself as so many other MPS teachers have, welcoming the spring months with "a pink slip" in my hand.
As such, I believe it would be more fruitful in the end, to be talking more deliberately about the changes you (and others running for the school board) believe need to occur to support the children, the teachers and other support staff in Minneapolis Public Schools. Continuing to focus the discussion on what has already happened only serves to keep bitterness and resentment alive in the minds of the families and staff directly affected. The events of the past should be part of our education of the issues, but our position on the issues.
Strong leadership and clear, specific plans are what I am looking for in school board candidates. I may not live in Minneapolis, but my job and therefore my passion is directly connected to the results in November. MPS already has enough baggage; I'd like some house-cleaning.
I really do believe that we need to move on. . . education in Minneapolis needs us to do so.
Thanks,
Brionna Harder Cathedral Hill
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