Doug Mann LPN, LNC

Star-Tribune questions for news use














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Star-Tribune questions posed to Minneapolis School Board candidates, for news reports
















 *What fundamental changes does the district need in order to increase the chances that children of all races will achieve and graduate at an equal rate?
 
The district needs to more evenly distribute low-seniority teachers, end the practice of sending layoff notices to teachers who don't need to be laid off, and phase out "low-ability" tracks. And we need standardized tests aligned to the content of the curriculum in order to evaluate and improve teacher effectiveness.
 
*Do you favor a renewal of the levy to raise money to reduce class size?  What work can the board do before the vote to increase confidence in the district so that voters will want to renew the levy?  Should the levy amount be increased to provide the full amount needed to staff classes at the original class-size targets?

I am opposed to any levy to raise money for anything until the board and administration do more than pay lip service to closing the racial learning gap.
 
*Do you favor retaining interim Superintendent Bill Green, who has indicated he'd like to keep the job, without national search, or do you favor such a search?

I favor a doing search and am opposed to using a search firm to get around open meeting and disclosure laws.
 
*As a board member, would you vote to implement without a referendum the new state law that allows the school board to change how board members are elected, so that six are elected from districts and three are elected at-large?

No. I am opposed to changing how the board is elected without a referendum.
 
* What can the board do to help the district end its continual loss of student enrollment?

The district can take steps to make a quality education accessible to all on an equal basis, restore bus service cut since 2002, repeal the current attendance policy. The district must focus on making changes in the school environment that currently motivate students to not go to school.
















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