I believe we should conduct regular surveys to give community members a chance to explain to us why they leave the district or why they decided to stay or re-enroll in the district. I feel it is a board member's job to have a full understanding of the asks and limitations of both sides in contract negotiations. Many of the same essential items that closed small businesses had been selling. What would you suggest as a strategy to stem those losses? Furthermore, more and more children are coming into contact with the criminal justice system. Melissa Hortman DFL Speaker of the Minnesota House State Representative (DFL-Champlin) Jake Spano Mayor of St. Louis Park. To be effective, any plan would require access to both language and cultural translation. I'm running Also, we need to access and utilize new and advanced technology such as ShotSpotter so that we can make sure we are taking all measures to prevent gun violence. Placing our faith in a city government to successfully control rising rent when it cannot even control rising crime requires a huge leap of faith. Our efforts to help small businesses thrive, build infrastructure, support great schools, recruit high-wage jobs and provide great public services including recreational amenities can all pale in comparison to the importance of public safety. I am the co-owner of a small residential remodeling company that operates in St. Paul and beyond. WebPaul Langenfeld, personal care attendant and former vice president of the Highland Park district council; Abu Nayeem, data analyst and community organizer; Scott Evans Wergin, These investments are expensive, but they're important if we're trying to give our students the schools they deserve. Some of these projects will be cut. Republish. The argument is circular as leadership continues to believe they need ever more dominion over citizens and all aspects of housing here to correct problems they helped create. Our district tries to make certain translation services available to our students and we provide some amazing dual-immersion programs that provide great spaces for students to learn English as well as their own languages. I am a graduate, parent of two St. Paul Public Schools graduates and a SPPS grandparent. As a board member, I will serve my role by staying informed and actively aware of what is occurring within the process. When droves of families leave a single school for another district school, or a charter, we know we are not being responsive to our families. When our government gets involved, you get more of what you don't want and less of what you do want. I am a 30-plus-year professional educator, social worker and active community member. For the current rent control measure on the ballot, I believe it is too restrictive. The filing deadline for this election was August 15, 2017. A quarter-century ago, a Metropolitan Council staff person said there was no political will to help them address it. We should not be giving hundreds of millions of tax subsidies to developers that don't need it. There have been many reasons SPPS has seen enrollment decline. I think we must understand what drives families to remove themselves from the district or the public school system particularly immigrant and BIPOC families. As stated above we need equitable elementary schools, that is the starting point. As of June 28, 2020, SPPS was projecting a loss of 1,228 students. Works Progress Administration programs from the 1930s? Tuesday 10-12-21 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm CHICAGO When Paul Vallas ran for mayor of Chicago four years ago, it did not go well. I'm a programmer, data scientist and Midway/Frogtown community organizer. Endorsements: DFL Environmental Caucus, Friends of Lake Hiawatha, MN350 Action Other candidates running for mayor include AJ Awed, Bob Carney, St. Paul, MN 55114 (651) 641-6199. I would love to see us be proactive about reaching out to families to see why they choose charters or private schools over our public schools. These recruits need to be shown a pathway to receive their Minnesota licensure while working with our students. 2018 See also: Municipal elections in St. Paul, Minnesota (2018) The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, held a special election for the Ward 4 seat on the city council on August 14, 2018. This includes increasing training for police officers and expanding community outreach. We need to assist in housing placement for their year of study to achieve their Minnesota licensure, we need to partner with the city of St. Paul to do this. Chicago Sun-Times. I am the son of a retired St. Paul police officer and a former teacher who now serves as Ramsey County Board Chair. Every day I see students taking out loans to pay for college. Tom Tunney, but he also faced a huge amount The mayor has an important role in working with the private sector to assist in the development and redevelopment of the riverfront and under-utilized areas. Kate Knuth Saint Paul School Board. At the same time, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has sparked a nationwide push for police reform and alternative public safety programs. Every citizen in St. Paul should have a chance to feel safe. All were disrupted from learning, teaching and performing their duties over the course of the last 18 months and to this day. What do you think the district is doing right in serving their needs? I have learned in this campaign that some of these administrative offices can be combined and combined work duties. Mayor Norm Rice (fmr.) We also need to make the process easier for people speaking the languages in highest need that our ELL teachers do not speak, such as Karen, Somali, etc., to enter our schools. I suggest an increased focus on practical applications of using English such as working as a team, starting and completing large projects, and managing a budget. The children will be provided a safe and secure environment until their parent/guardian picks them up from the curfew care center. Strategic investments must be made so that our spending is in alignment with what taxpayers expect and this includes infrastructure maintenance and bricks-and-mortar projects. 2. Today, SPPS is over 70% students of color. This years St. Paul mayoral race will once again feature ranked voting. Minneapolis Mayor. It is best to create consistent practices, parameters and priorities by which SPPS engages all its bargaining units. WebBoth Minneapolis and St. Paul will elect mayors in ranked choice voting and also consider ballot questions that could shape the future of both cities. Finally, we need to stop giving tax increment financing (TIF) subsidies to developers that don't need it. I suggest teaching curriculum that reflects their lived experiences, retaining and hiring staff that reflect the people who come from their communities, and partnering with existing programs or organizations that supplement their learning. I would work intentionally to maintain open communication with our bargaining units, work with district leadership to promote good-faith bargaining and attend bargaining sessions as I'm able to keep myself informed about the process. The biggest tool to increase housing and development are changes in ordinance to permit multi-unit housing. Oct. 25ST. Feb 27, 2023, 7:44am PST. What other issues are the most pressing in St. Paul Public Schools, and what would you do about them. We need to make sure all of our students, including potential first-generation college students, know about the opportunities that are available to them. By Mauricio Pea. Born and raised in St. Paul, I attended Inner City Youth League and Youth Express. St. Paul's sense of community is being tested by economic and public safety stress. I'm qualified because I'm an incumbent who was elected vice chair of the school board by my colleagues. These often include affordable housing, homelessness, road maintenance, infrastructure, mental health and other issues. Vallas said. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. I'm an Army veteran who served in Iraq in 2003. School board members that are elected on Nov. 2 will be thrust into major long- and short-term decisions and policymaking around the Envision SPPS initiative, which focuses on the potential merging, combining and closing of programs and schools. What is missing from that plan or needs to be given higher priority? I fought for equal rights for girls in sports, becoming the first female wrestler in St. Paul's Harding class of 2000. Most citizens, particularly in high-crime areas, want this. Rather than issuing a loophole-ridden mandate upon landlords, it would be more effective for the city (and nonprofit charities) to work directly with financially vulnerable families who require rental assistance using a form of government-provided rent/social insurance. I reflect our community and the children and families we serve. I'm a proud St. Paul Public Schools graduate and son of two longtime public school teachers. While there are a number of good things in the St. Paul rent control measure, the negatives outweigh the positives. SPPS continues to have persistent inequities in our elementary schools. I would continue to support and expand de-escalation training while increasing training and education when serving the mentally challenged. Established connections with community groups, nonprofits and businesses due to past associations and committee memberships. Because the graduation rates for students of color from those earlier times are not great, the confidence and patience these families have for SPPS in the present is minimal. Mayoral Candidate Cook County commissioner Brandon Johnson gives a speech to his supporters during his election watch party at El Palais Bu-Sche at 4628 W. Washington Blvd. I have been involved in many volunteer projects to help others and particular causes and in civic affairs to help better St. Paul. Equity. These investments aim to improve both the retention and experiences of families and foster stronger relationships in SPPS. For projects underway, legally, they would have been vetted and negotiated by the current mayor and his administration through a publicly transparent approval process. Politicians and community groups have voiced their opinions in the crowded Minneapolis mayoral race ahead of Election Day on Nov. 2. More than a dozen candidates are challenging incumbent Jacob Frey to be Minneapolis' next mayor, with Kate Knuth and Sheila Nezhad among the frontrunners. Every child in St. Paul should have a chance to succeed in life. I will engage and advise when appropriate. Six takeaways from the latest Minneapolis campaign finance reports, Oct. 29, 2021. At the same time, residents have expressed concerns about gentrification that could leave behind low-income communities and people of color. My passion to help others runs deep as I am the founder and president of the Langenfeld Foundation (est. A major concern is the safety of the social worker as these calls can escalate and additional stress of officers to handle only high priority calls. Any governing agreements executed between the city and the developer would have to be monitored and adhered to by the next mayor(s) for the entire term of the agreement. Last year, I was in support of the issues identified by the St. Paul Federation of Educators as the main reason for striking. In addition to Lightfoot, the candidates are U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, former schools CEO Paul Vallas, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, businessman Willie Like communities across our nation, St. Paul has not been immune to national crime trends from challenges of the last 20 months. For example, an ELL student may also receive special education. "Well, first of all, I really have to laugh at that!" February 28, 2023 at 9:13 p.m. CHICAGO Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied I wrote emails and placed calls. As a publicly elected official, board members are representing an important third party in negotiations, the families of SPPS and the taxpayers of St. Paul. Our main focus seems to be on addressing the learning loss from the pandemic. St. Paul has an excellent and progressive police department. Policies mandating price controls, whether on food or rent, only creates scarcity and higher prices. I bring a balance of professional and personal experience to the board, always putting children first. As a board member I will continue to support staff and listen to them. UPDATED Apr. Mayoral candidate Paul Vallass son Gus was one of three San Antonio police officers who fatally shot a Black man who was fleeing in March 2022, a spokesperson for the campaign confirmed on Feb. 8. Previous administrations have neglected infrastructure maintenance to fund their personal pet projects. That's why all of our work has been focused on giving all St. Paulites a shot at the prosperity our city has to offer. WebThe Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, proudly recommends the candidates listed below as the best choice in 2022. This will free up some resources, but not nearly enough. Then we need to track these students and new hires at least until they receive their tenure at SPPS. Strong knowledge of Ramsey County, city of St. Paul and surrounding community. Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, who served as the first CEO of Chicago Public Schools, faces scrutiny for his decisions to forgo payments to the pension fund and hand out harsh probations for underperforming schools. But most importantly, SPPS needs leaders who ensure that administrators are held accountable for their actions, that progress is being made toward goals in the strategic plan and proactive communication with the diverse families that make up SPPS. Supporting, recruiting and hiring additional teachers of color is a top priority of mine. Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, 25 N. 21st Ave. W. There are a lot of empty lots around the downtown/Capitol area; they can be rebuilt with mixed residential and commercial buildings, increasing the city's total revenue. For many, they are too high to provide adequate support. Chicago mayoral candidates, top row, from left: State Rep. Kam Buckner, U.S. Rep. Jess "Chuy" Garca, activist Ja'Mal Green. Ten candidates filed for the election to replace Mayor Chris Coleman (D), who did not file for re-election because of his 2018 campaign for governor. WebWelcome to the Saint Paul DFL 2023 Saint Paul Caucus & Convention Dates Are Official The 2023 Saint Paul DFL Caucus and Convention dates are public and official! Furthermore, I have served on the Highland District Council as vice president and as a member of the Community Engagement Committee. However, I am concerned about the lack of additional investments in restorative justice practices as a way of building equitable classrooms and spaces for students and the limits of short-term funding over long-term solutions. We have numerous people who would like to be in our schools to help our newest arrivals who cannot do so due to things as simple as not being able to pass a test in English. While I continue to work my way across this entire city since Feb. 25, I have occasion to ask people: If you owned a home or a building and were selling it or renting it out, would you want City Hall to tell you the prices you can charge? I would also reappoint Chief Todd Axtell. That's why it's so crucial that we utilize American Rescue Plan funding to address the massive impact of COVID-19 and to fund the services for which our students and families have advocated. If voters choose to support the very specific ballot measure this November, our administration will stand ready to implement it. Families leave the district for a number of reasons. The amount of staff and exemption cases from landlords that the city deals with is dependent on the cap. More city staff cross-training will be administered immediately so that all areas are covered. I am a graduate of St. Paul Public Schools, and my wife Kristin and I have two daughters that attend SPPS. We also need to work more intentionally to reach out to our immigrant and English language learner communities whenever we conduct the surveys that inform our decisions. Chicago Votes for Mayor in a Race Dominated by Crime and Policing. The Star Tribune asked each person running for St. Paul mayor to tell us about themselves and provide answers to the following questions: Six candidates are running to fill three four-year seats on the St. Paul school board, while two others are competing in a special election to serve the remaining two years of a seat vacated by former Board Member Steve Marchese. After falling far short in his first run for mayor in 2019, Vallas delivered a convincing thrashing of We need to do better. Lightfoot polled near the bottom of the field for most of her campaign for mayor but won the first round after an endorsement from the Chicago Sun-Times How would you balance these bricks-and-mortar projects with other city needs, especially considering that St. Paul is still recovering from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic? SPPS has incredible teachers; empower them to light the fire of education within all of our students. I will support the public's Nov. 2 decision. Where we need to improve is the size of the caseloads for many of our ELL teachers. This is creating a vacuum for students inadequately transitioning into college, trades or career after high school. I understand the concerns that kids bring to school, and I use that knowledge for decision making to support students and staff. I'm a former Sunday School teacher, assistant youth leader and youth pastor. Elected to three terms on the St. Paul City Council and one term on the Ramsey County Board. For large building projects, the city can offer bonds to fund it. The following candidates have filed to run in the St. Paul mayoral election, set for Nov. 2, 2021. It has finally become a national priority. Further, I will support referendums in which citizens will get to decide if we shall move city elections from odd-numbered-years to even-numbered years so as to double or even triple turnout. How would you approach your role as a board member when it comes to contract negotiations? New investment brings with it more (not less) economic opportunity for those who need it most. Ongoing programmatic evaluation, examination of building capacity (also in line with a holistic review of the Facilities Master Plan and the Envision SPPS initiative) and Superintendent Gothard's strategic plan (especially tenets directly related to enrollment) must be analyzed and evaluated on an ongoing basis in order to reverse the trend of declining enrollment as soon as possible. I was pleased to see substantial allocations for targeted student services and mental health and social-emotional learning. However, I would like to see us consider how we can use some of this funding as a bridge to help redirect existing resources to services we know have been needed but have been unable to provide. Minneapolis Park Board At-Large. The St. Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) are in a position to see directly how our implementation of policies, or lack of policies and investments, help or hurt our students. Worked for the city of Phoenix for four years and the state of Arizona for four years. There are also races for city council, Basic translations and written materials are not adequate for families in SPPS. There are plenty of things SPPS can do. For new homeowners of color, we can offer down payment assistance. Police liability insurance will be implemented to remove the most liable officers. I will also fight for better contracts and pay. I know American Rescue Plan funding is one-time money, and there are definite investments we need to make to help students recover from the detrimental impacts of the pandemic (learning loss, social-emotional needs, mental health challenges, etc.). SPPS provides college credit to English language learner students who test up to standards in their non-English language. 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