Pagan-Umar, Ward-Rannow, Kerry for school board

For the last two years I have been watching Eden Prairie School Board meetings and have been horrified by the lack of organization and knowledge that is routinely displayed by some members. The Chair is incapable of leadership, parliamentary rules are frequently ignored, meetings ramble and accomplish little and some of the board Members are ignorant of what is happening within our schools, what their role is, or how to work together. Some do not even attend school events or interact with students, parents and teachers. Is this the best we can offer?

Given this, I am voting for only three of the candidates currently running for Eden Prairie School Board. I will be voting to re-elect Francesca Pagan-Umar who has repeatedly brought so much valuable knowledge and experience to the meetings, is well served by her master’s degree in education and has children in the elementary, middle and high schools. Her commitment to her role on the school board is unwavering and apparent at every meeting.

I will also be voting to add Jody Ward-Rannow. She has children in our school district and has been a constant presence as a PTO member/president for six years and a parent volunteer in our schools. She has seen the issues from the inside and has a solid plan for how to help the school board move forward to become more functional and effective.

And finally, I will be voting for Isaac Kerry to fill the remaining two years on the vacant position. Isaac is a stay-at-home dad, firefighter and published author of educational children’s nonfiction. He also volunteers his time in our schools and has a proven track record of supporting education. He will make an excellent addition to the school board.

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Although there are five positions open, none of the other candidates have shown me that they have the experience or ability to do anything other than bog us down further.

Gretchen Haynes, Eden Prairie