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Hi .. I'm Pam Frantum. I've lived in St. Paul for 11 years in the Merriam Park neighborhood and would generally describe myself as a lurker, although there are a few things that I tend to respond to .. generally relating to development finance.
I've been in the municipal public finance arena my entire career, historically in the private sector, but for the last 3 years in the public sector. I do extensive work with tax increment financing. While I will admit there have been abuses with this financing tool, I would argue that the good projects across the State far outweigh the bad. I'll say no more on the subject, except that I get vexed when TIF is used as a verb.
I'm a product of a small public school in rural Minnesota, which is still very proactive and, I assume, fiscally sound since it has not been consolidated into a larger district, as many of its counterparts have. My son attended public school in Brooklyn Center, graduated from a reservation high school in South Dakota and attends a private Indian college. My grandson attends the Mounds Park American Indian Magnet in St. Paul. His dad is actively involved at the school and I have attended various functions there.
I live very close to Longfellow and was surprised last May Day when I found a May basket on my door for a kindergarten class. This is the basis for what I expect and would want from our public schools .... a sense of community. In my hometown, the activities at the school was the focal point of the social activities of the community, whether it was homecoming or a class play or musical. The entire community participated in events rather than just students and immediate family.
Recently I was at St. Paul Open School to see "Much Ado About Nothing." It was an enjoyable evening. Sitting in the audience reminded me of that feeling of community. Unfortunately, unless you know specific students, it's difficult to make a community connection with the schools in St. Paul.
Our future is directly related to the education of our youth. That education must be done through family and schools on all levels ... social asl well as academic. I support public education. Thanks.
Pam Frantum Merriam Park
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