OUR VOICE
2015 Saint Paul Public Schools Board
Voter Guide
October 2015
Minnesota
Contents
Candidates at a glance
Q1 Deciding to run
Q2 Priorities
11
Q5 Opportunity gaps
13
Q6 Testing
15
Q7 Racial equity
17
Q8 Inclusion practices
19
21
23
25
OUR VOICE
You will have the choice of voting for up to four people for at large seats.
Learn more about how and where to vote from the Ramsey County Board of Elections website at
https://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/elections/VoterInfo.htm. If youre not registered to vote, you may register on Election Day at your polling place.
All candidates received the candidate survey by email. Candidates who responded within the guidelines presented have
their responses printed within this guide.
All candidates were informed that they had a limit of 200 words to
respond to each question. To ensure fairness, only responses to the
survey questions were included. Any responses exceeding the word
limit were cut at exactly the 200th word. Candidates who did not
submit responses are noted accordingly.
OUR VOICE
Candidates At a Glance
The responses expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Race/
Ethnicity
Gender
White
Male
Instructor of Christian
Conformation
White
Female
Yes. I am an
experienced urban
teacher
Steve Marchese
White
Male
No
Scott Raskiewicz
Other:
Human
Male
Yes
Jon Schumacher
White
Male
No
White
Female
No
Name
Aaron Benner^
Greg Copeland
Zuki Ellis*
Linda Freeman
Keith Hardy*,i
Mary Vanderwert
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
Q1
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
The single most important decision any School Board makes is whom
it hires as Superintendent. The collective responsibility to determine the
Superintendents retention or non-renewal belongs to the Board, but in
Saint Paul that authority was usurped by three Board Members who
will not be accountable to the public for even one day of Silvas service
under the new contract they supported. These three put up half the votes,
and the other three incumbents, not on the ballot this year, put up the
other three votes of the six cast in favor of a New Silva Contract with a
4% boost in pay and lifetime health insurance!
The March 17, 2015 Lame Duck School Board decision to grant a new
three year contract to Superintendent Silva was a breach of institutional
trust. Political expediency, once again, beat out democratic process,
community trust and fiduciary duty owed Saint Paul voters. Given that
only one incumbent is seeking re-election in the
OUR VOICE
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
I want every family in Saint Paul Public Schools to have the great
experience that my family had. As an educator I want to support
teachers so they can help families achieve their educational goals and
see their children thrive. I believe quality Public Schools are the critical
to our citys future success and viability.
I have spent my entire 25-year career working with young children and
their families in early childhood education, most of the time in Head
Start and programs locally and at the at the Minnesota Department
of Education as the Head Start State Collaboration Director. I also
managed the child care programs at the Wilder Foundation for five
years. My experience in early childhood education would be unique on
the School Board.
I raised three children as a single parent. I understand how decisions
are made in families when there is limited time and even more limited
resources, and how important schools are to families in reaching their
goals and dreams.
Scott Raskiewicz
As a social worker, substance abuse counselor, coach, tennis teaching
professional, and for seventeen years, a substitute teacher in the St.
Paul schools I have worked with youth for over forty years. I understand
education and its importance in developing an authentically democratic
society that works for EVERYONE. Furthermore, as a writer and
philosopher focusing on the political economy and human development
I understand why the American education system (and society) works for
some but not all. I also understand why political and economic leaders
deliberately underfund education and try to turn education into a joyless,
one size fits all, dehumanizing, technology and testing based system
that does little more than serve a deeply inhumane and antidemocratic
status quo. I am running for school board to use my knowledge and
experience to focus on the ROOT CAUSES of the problems facing
education and our society and to pursue solutions to those problems.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
Q2
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
A new early childhood education model that is age appropriate 3-6 year-olds, and incorporates Montessori principles. Id like to
see this implemented as a universal early childhood program. A
sound foundation is essential for student success.
Closing the achievement gap and increasing opportunities with a
focus on racial disparities. Why? Education is a right all our
children must have access to, and it is our responsibility to assure
we provide it. We should wisely prioritize school needs to function
within the available budget.
OUR VOICE
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
Scott Raskiewicz
My first priority would be to focus on the ROOT CAUSES of the problems
facing education and our society i.e. inhumane and antidemocratic
economic and political systems supported by a corporate cartel that
controls all major media. These system are designed and function
to concentrate wealth and power into the hands of a morally and
intellectually corrupt ruling class and their collaborators while causing
the rest of us to struggle and suffer needlessly. Focusing on ROOT
CAUSES is the best way to prevent and solve problems.
Secondly, I will work to reduce class sizes. This will help end the
dehumanizing assembly-line approach to education that is failing
students and society.
Third, I support a richer, more diverse, human centered curriculum with
ample opportunity for the humanities, arts, fitness, and social interaction.
I want every student to remember, as I do, school as among the most
joyful and meaningful experiences of ones life. Growing up if struggle
for everyone but schools must become a safe and joyful harbour that
helps everyone succeed with that struggle.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
Q3
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
The Board must restructure its meetings and processes to include parents,
faculty and the larger community on the front end of policy making.
Eliminate the Committee of the Board meeting. Hold two monthly
regular meetings, workshop meetings as required and broadcast them
all on Cable-TV. All District Advisory Committee Meetings should also
be televised, as should all formal public hearings and meeting held
outside the Board Room at individual schools.
The Board should return public comment to the agenda of the Regular
Meeting. Public comment should welcomed by the Board as it is
discussing the individual business items as they appear on the agenda.
The rendering of public comment outside of and before the Regular
Meeting must be ended. All public comment should be heard during the
Board meeting and Cable TV broadcast to the public.
Ill be part of the critical link that connects policy and the public. I
will listen, reach out, ask questions, and dialogue. Im prepared to be
advised and work collaboratively with other board members to build
concensus, establish goals and policies, and seek accountability. I seek
imagination along with strategic planning in developing and piloting
scientifically based, creative initiatives.
Ill keep our childrens education in the forefront of our decisions,
beginning with the communities views on their childrens needs.
My background as a licensed teacher and a Montessori director/
consultant, experience with second language learners, an early
childhood initiative on a remote reservation, in disadvantaged
communities, and as a support teacher working with children with IEPs
in an inclusion model will serve to strengthen the school board.
OUR VOICE
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
The School Board is responsible for setting the overall goals and
direction of the district, hiring and oversight of the superintendent,
engaging with and representing the public (including families,
students, educators and the community at large) and advocating
for the needs of the districts students. The Board has the primary
responsibility for establishing strategic goals and holding the senior
administration accountable for results.
In addition, the Board
should be the focal point for rallying the larger community to help
accomplish major initiatives, such as reducing achievement disparities.
I expect my duties to include the following:
I expect to:
Define the organizational culture we want in our schools.
Communicate our (the Boards) vision and expectations to the
Superintendent and school leadership.
Provide supervision, guidance and support to the Superintendent
and hold her accountable to meet the goals articulated by the
Board.
Ensure that policies and procedures promote equal access and
voice for all stakeholders and students.
Determine significant policy issues for the school district that ensure
the desired culture and student outcomes are achieved.
Develop and approve a budget that reflects the priorities/goals of
the District.
Listen to and respond appropriately and transparently to the
community, parents, staff and teachers when concerns or ideas are
presented.
Keep abreast of the latest research and new ideas related to
education.
Scott Raskiewicz
We all know the basic role of the school board to help schools run
more effectively, efficiently, and fairly. I believe that role must expand
to include addressing the ROOT CAUSES of problems. For instance,
the school boards of our nation must join together to lead the fight for
something long overdue in America a universal Single-payer health
care system based on corporate and individual accountability. Nearly
a third of American health care spending is taken by corporate profit,
exorbitant executive salaries, administrative costs higher than anywhere
else in the world, and, in general, an approach centered on corporate
profit rather than human health. This approach takes tens of billions
of dollars away from socially beneficial uses such as education.
Similarly, school boards must all for an end to the War on Drugs.
This war is fought mostly against poor people of color. Like the health
care system this war wastes tens of billions of dollars yearly that could
be used for positive purposes, like education, rather than negative
purposes like locking up human beings, many of whom are non-violent
drug offenders.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
10
Q4
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
The main challenge teachers face is the time and/or ability to document
routine observations and assessments.
The documentation and
assessments guide our teaching and our consultations with specialists
and volunteer coordinators.
This requires additional classroom staffing and professional development.
I will welcome input from teachers. I expect that a channel already
exists for teacher input. If it does not exist, we need to build one.
OUR VOICE
11
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Our teachers are being held responsible for unlocking the potential in
all of our students without adequate support or voice. I will advocate for:
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
There are many issues confronting the Saint Paul Public Schools. Our
students have more serious and diverse needs. Many of them are living
in low income or poverty and all of the social ills that come with that.
Many of them are learning two languages. Many have experienced
trauma in their lives. Many have disabilities developmental, emotional
and physical. Many have health issues and limited access to services.
And many children are very talented and require more challenge in
their education. Meeting the needs of all students with a limited budget
and many regulations from the state and federal governments is very
challenging.
Scott Raskiewicz
The main challenge teachers face is society degraded by the moral and
intellectual incompetence and indifference of the ruling class and their
collaborators. America spends almost as much as the rest of the world
combined on what Eisenhower warned us about nearly 55 years ago
the military industrial complex. And yet we cant find money to reduce
class sizes and offer a richer, more diverse, curriculum. Even worse, of
the millions of people who have died in Americas imperialistic wards
since WW II about 90% have been civilians. This is madness and
inhumanity on a massive scale, all financed by our tax dollars.
Teachers also are challenged by the fact that so many youth (and adults)
are mesmerized and even addicted to a gadget filled pop culture that
debases our humanity and hinders us from pursuing higher goals such
as education and living in harmony with the natural world and everyone
in it.
These two challenges, combined with an economy that causes so much
poverty and suffering, leaves teachers in a very difficult situation. The
best way to help teachers is to work for a fairer, more humane and
democratic economy and society.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
12
Q5
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
OUR VOICE
13
Keith Hardy*
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
The achievement gaps reflect disparities in our city and society income,
family structure, housing, employment, safety and, most significantly,
race and ethnicity. The reasons are many and complex. Some children
dont get early childhood care necessary for them to begin school
prepared and ready to learn. Some children come from families under
stress which affects how they are able to learn and thrive in school.
Schools use curricula often predicated on white, professional/middle
class norms and some students dont learn in ways that fit well with
them. A mostly white teaching staff brings with it their own racial norms
and preconceptions of children of color. Finally, our teachers often lack
the resources, support and flexibility to meet individual needs.
Parents living in poverty are busy working two or more jobs or have
mental illnesses or other issues that keep them from being supportive of
their children or to be involved in their childrens schools. Consequently
there is less opportunity for early childhood education for too many of
our poorest children. When these children enter the schools they are not
prepared for what awaits.
Too many of our children have lost hope. From what they can tell there
is no point is working hard in school because their future will look very
much like their past. They have seen their parents or siblings incarcerated
and that is what they expect will happen to them. When they
Scott Raskiewicz
I have indirectly addressed that question above. More specifically,
people of color have never been fully valued or integrated into American
society. People of color tend to trail whites in virtually every measure
of well-being. The achievement gap is a reflection of that reality. It is
absolutely the role of the school board to address the ROOT CAUSES
of the achievement gap by advocating for a full employment economy
based on cooperative and public utility economics and a universal
Single-payer health care system that eliminates the non-productive,
wealth-stealing middle-men, i.e. health insurance companies. And
to complete the answer to question four, the school board must allow
teachers a greater role in designing and developing district policies.
America is a very hierarchical society, top heavy with largely nonproductive administrators. Teachers, as a group, understand education
and should be given a greater role, along with parents and students,
in designing district policy. Administrators and self-serving experts
should play a smaller role.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
14
Q6
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
OUR VOICE
15
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
Standardized testing has worked really well for corporate interests but
has not served children, families or teachers very well. They have forced
teachers into delivering a curriculum and establishing an agenda that is
not what they were trained for or believe in. When preparation for testing
becomes the focus of our education system, we lose the opportunity to
prepare children with the other skills they need to be successful in life.
Instead of memorization and formulaic problem solving, we should be
teaching our children how to interact appropriately with others, how to
think critically, how to solve problems creatively and collaboratively and
how to lead others and manage time.
That said, testing requirements originate at the state level. The district
still must comply with state mandates and standards. In addition, I
believe we need to have regular measurements of progress to determine
whether students are meeting learning goals. We also need to document
how well different student populations are learning in our schools so
that we can target resources and offer relevant instruction. Graduation
rates, enrollment rates (year over year), PSEO/advanced course
enrollment numbers and measurements on other evaluation mechanisms
(e.g., AP scores) could also be helpful in evaluating the districts service
to students.
Scott Raskiewicz
In Finland, a world leader in education, there is no standardized testing
until students apply for college. Reducing the role of dehumanizing
standardized testing is critical to improving American education. The
main reason these tests exist is to enrich testing companies. These tests
also exist because they are written to ensure that many students will
do poorly. That provides a reason for those who seek to profit from
privatizing public education to claim they will do a better job of
educating students, a claim that has been proven false over and over
again.
Instead of standardized tests, I favor an individual and group project
based approach to education. Student progress is better evaluated
by student essays, debates, art work, the writing and performing of
plays and music, making documentaries about critical issues of the day,
community projects, and other hands on approaches that will engage
the whole child. I support testing of students but these test should be
prepared by teachers, not some out of state testing company that cares
only about profits and cares nothing about education or students.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
16
Q7
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
Ill assure that our schools provide rich curriculum and teaching materials
representative of the divesity in our St. Paul schools. Schools must
provide equal opportunities for course selection and the children must
be rigorously prepared to participate in these courses. Teachers must
be prepared to see opportunities for all their students, and direct them.
Observational documentations should contribute to recommendations
regarding individual students.
OUR VOICE
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Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
I believe the district needs to think more creatively about how it is meeting
the educational needs of students and involve educators, families and
students in the process of determining how to be more effective. If we
are supposed to have strong schools to support strong communities, are
those schools organized and supported around the needs of the students
in the community? What can we learn from successful schools outside
of SPPS? What are families, students and community members asking
of their local schools? In addition, the district needs to do a better
job district-wide of both encouraging and making available to students
of color opportunities to take advance courses, including IB, AP, Avid,
PSEO, and College in Schools.
All decisions made by the School Board and the administration need to
be evaluated based on how they will affect childrens growth, especially
those children with diverse needs. Test scores are one way, not the
only way, to evaluate success. Annual self-assessments conducted by
school leaders, parents, community members and experts should be
done in each school site and the results must be used to determine next
steps. Ongoing assessments and student portfolios are alternatives for
determining progress instead of test scores.
The School Board needs to articulate their expectations for district
leadership with
Scott Raskiewicz
I have indirectly addressed this issue above. More specifically, I would
work to redefine the purpose of education. The ruling class and their
collaborators want us to believe that the purpose of education is to
prepare students to compete in the global economy. That goal shapes
the education system and takes away much of the joy of school.
In stark contrast to the ruling class I believe the purpose of education is to
prepare students to create and cooperate in a global community where
all people are valued and all human needs met. Authentic education
is about critical thinking, problem solving, living in harmony with the
natural world and the development of joyful human relationships. I will
work to help develop a curriculum, for ALL students, that serves that
goal. That will require additional spending but in the long run it will pay
for itself many times over by creating a better world. We must always
remember, America is a rich country. There is no shortage of wealth. The
problem is a shortage of democracy in deciding how that great wealth
is circulated, accumulated, taxed, and used.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
18
Q8
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
budget
OUR VOICE
19
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
The children who are arriving in our state have come from countries
experiencing war and death and destruction. Many have suffered
trauma and are now in a school district that is like nothing they have
ever experienced. They need to learn English but they also need help
in processing their experiences. We need to remember that they will all
adjust on their own schedule not within our adult arbitrary time frame.
Some may need more support and more time in the ELL classes so they
are equipped to handle the demands of the regular classrooms. School
district policies need to be flexible enough to allow the teachers who
know their students to provide input when decisions are made about
their placement and when indicated, allow students to have more time
with the additional support. Our policies need to be developed in a
way that meets the individual needs of individual children. It is critical
that they be successfully integrated into our school community.
Similarly, we need to take a fresh look at ELL services and re-visit the
policy of mainstreaming Level 3 and up ELL students. For SLIFE students,
since they are less familiar with formal education, there should be the
opportunity for an additional year or more in ELL classes to ensure
that they attain a level of proficiency where they can be successful in
mainstream classes. Programs at LEAP High School and Como High
School offer models for how to provide ELL services that reach a broader
range of levels.
Scott Raskiewicz
Research suggests that less skilled or accomplished students, or students
with behavior problems, do better when they are not isolated from
their more high performing peers. For that reason I support inclusion.
However, in the first year of inclusion I was in many classrooms where
special education students were included and witnessed the difficulties
it can cause. When special education students routinely act out it
degrades the education experience for all and makes the difficult job
of teaching even more difficult. So I am somewhat of two minds on the
issue but overall I favor inclusion. Hopefully, with time, the practice of
inclusion will be improved and teachers, staff and students will become
better and better at handling the difficult situations that occur.
As always, my focus in on ROOT CAUSES. And so I ask why there
are so many special education students in the first place. I think it is
related to unstable homes which are often the result of a cruel and unfair
economic system that makes successful family life more difficult than it
need be.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
20
Q9
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
Cross cultural competency is important not only for all staff, but also
students and interested parents.
The District has wasted well over a Millions of dollars on PEG, perhaps
more, the Chief Equity Officer told me she did not know what had
been paid to PEG, when I asked her at the Generation NEXT Board
Candidate sessions some candidates attended last month. My request
for the information then has yet to be filled by the Equity Chief. SPPS
has an academic mission for which it is accountable and during fours
years of PEG: the SPPS MCA GAPS have increased; and the On-Track
Measures at the MN DOE have gone into the basement. Absent any
positive system-wide results PEG has earned contract termination.
Separate evaluation by SPPS staff of the negative effects to SPPS systemwide school discipline is a subject for the New Superintendent, as is
a recommendation to answer this question beyond PEGs failure to
provide a beneficial equity training program.
OUR VOICE
21
Keith Hardy*,i
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
Scott Raskiewicz
I never had cultural competency or racial equity training and yet, during
my seventeen years of substitute teaching, but using the Golden Rule, I
received a great many compliments and thank you notes from students
of all races. Some of those notes were so touching they brought tears
to my eyes. I worry that all of the focus on race takes away our shared
humanity by emphasizing differences rather than similarities. That is
why I listed my race as human rather than a color. Furthermore, if we
focus on what is best for ALL students (i.e. smaller class sizes, a richer,
more diverse curriculum) ALL students will benefit whatever their culture.
Some extra training might be useful as no teacher knows everything
about every culture. But lets focus on building an American culture,
a culture where liberty and justice for ALL is a reality, not an empty
slogan. Lastly, blaming teachers for racial inequities takes focus away
from the underlying problem political, economic, health care and
criminal justice systems that treat people of color in ways that make it
needlessly difficult to create homes that prepare children to become their
best selves.
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
22
Q10
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed in
alphabetical order, including those who did not complete the survey.
Aaron Benner^
Zuki Ellis*
Greg Copeland
Linda Freeman
OUR VOICE
23
Keith Hardy*
Jon Schumacher
Steve Marchese
Mary Vanderwert
Scott Raskiewicz
I support an immediate increase in the hiring of people of color to
work as teachers assistants. In my work as a sub I found TAs of all
races to be a great help and thought many would make great teachers.
Unfortunately, on a TAs income going to college to receive the needed
training is unaffordable. Therefore, I support the establishment of a
program for free or dramatically reduced tuition for TAs of color as
a form or reperations. (I think college tuition for all qualified students
should be based on a sliding scale fee according to ability to pay.
Making college unaffordable for so many is yet another indication of
the moral and intellectual incompetence and corruption of Americas
ruling class.)
I would also like to see more college students of color working in schools
as teachers assistants. This work would be compensated by reduced
tuition and would give prospective teachers the chance to see first hand,
day after day, what its like to be a teacher.
Lastly, in the very near future college costs for ALL students must be
dramatically reduced. Our nation can afford it. After all, we are not a
poor nation. The problem is that
incumbent
* These candidates did not submit a response to the questionnaire.
^ This candidate has withdrawn since filing.
OUR VOICE
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