Thanks to Southview Animal Hospital for their support.
There are five candidates running for four seats on the ISD 197 school board this year. We’ve asked the candidates a series of questions to see where they stand on the issues. We’ll share one question and the responses at a time leading up to the election on November 7. See our ISD 197 voter’s guide for more.
We already asked about the candidates’ top priorities, how they would make the district better, money, volunteer experience, levies, what sets candidates apart, and district strengths and weaknesses. This week we’re asking about equity.
How do you think the district should respond to equity issues? What do you think of the board’s current equity work and how would you change it?
We posed this question to all candidates. Here are their answers in random order:
Byron Schwab
An excellent and consistent way for ISD 197 to respond to equity issues is to have a District Equity Policy which the ISD 197 School Board adopted in August 2023. Policy helps to provide clarity, procedure and integrity when equity issues may arise. District 197 also has an Equity Advisory Council, an American Indian Advisory Committee, Educational Equity Coordinator, Equity Office and Equity Resources. Check out ISD 197 Equity Commitment on the school district website. The School Board and in all decision making situations throughout the district, a District Four Way Equity Test is used to assure decision are made in the very best, supportive and equitable manner for all students. ISD 197 mission statement states: School District 197 is committed to caring relationships, equitable practices, and high achievement for all. Equity is one of our 3 major beliefs and building equitable systems and support throughout the district is one of our focus areas. I think our current equity work is strong, progressive and focused. I have no current changes to suggest but ask for awareness and observation that ISD 197 is action and not just talk. The school board has their own equity based goals around policy, professional development and inclusion.
Tim Aune
From everything I have seen and read, the district has done a very good job of putting in place a comprehensive set of goals and policies to everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
Recent court rulings tell us it is naïve to think the Equality of Opportunity versus Equality of Outcome debate is settled, and it will require continued updating of language and procedures to insure we live up to the promise.
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Rowen Elsmore
An equity focus needs to be central to everything that we do. The incoming equity policy is a step in the right direction. We need to fully implement it, and then carefully evaluate how it is affecting all of our stakeholders throughout the district. There is more work to be done. Our policies need to name specific protections for students’, including having given names and pronouns to be honored. Other districts around us already do this, including Saint Paul. We should also fully evaluate the work of the district’s equity office, including considering whether it is staffed at an appropriate level for a district of our size.
Morgan Steele
I think each equity issue that comes up is likely to be different and individual and should be addressed according to policy 106. I think one question is missing when it comes to the four-way equity test that is used by the school board right now and that is “what are possible unintended consequences of this decision on other students/student groups?” Equity work cannot be done in silos and without thinking about the effects of decisions on other marginalized populations- this question allows that work to come back to a larger community view.
I would like to see us push a little further with our equity work. One thing I have heard in conversations with district administration is that they have been advised to pull certain resources for community comfort, as with our AmazeWorks curriculum. To that, I wonder, who are we harming with that decision? Ultimately, it is our students who do not get to see themselves in their curriculum when those decisions are made.
Randi Walz
One of the most important things our district has done in terms of equity has been to declare that they are “on an equity journey” recognizing that while there has been some progress made, there is still work to do. A statement like that leaves room for continued improvement and welcomes further progress through empathy and education. This is the kind of district I am proud to be a part of and would be honored to serve.
My commitment to equity stems from a long-held belief that public education is the great equalizer. Investing in a system that honors differences and also teaches our students to honor differences through empathy and service is an integral part of creating an equitable school system. I’d like to see more opportunities that, in addition to supporting marginalized populations, also educate those who have historically been included to hold space for and understand that together, all of us collectively are what makes our community special.
Note:
Barbara Kessler dropped out of the race in August, though her name will still appear on the ballot.
Vote on November 7
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The ISD 197 website has details on where and how to vote. Voting options also include absentee voting, either by mail or in person, which starts September 22.
We’ll share more candidate responses as we get closer to the 2023 election. You can also see our ISD 197 voter’s guide for more.
Thank you to the candidates for taking the time to respond.
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