School board candidates get real about their views

Editor’s note: This article was updated on Oct. 28 and again on Nov. 1 to reflect additional recommendations or endorsements given to some of the candidates.

During several weeks of campaigning, Eden Prairie School Board candidates have met constituents, engaged in candidate forums, and answered important questions in the Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) Voter Guide.

Ann Bradsher, Jon Cermak, Kim Johnson, Kim Ross (incumbent), Dennis Stubbs (incumbent), and Jody Ward-Rannow are competing for three open spots on the seven-member board.

With the Nov. 5 election drawing closer, EPLN reached out to each candidate to clarify previous statements, including more practical details about how they would enact their positions, and request any position updates. The questions and answers have been condensed for clarity.

Ann Bradsher

Ann Bradsher is an 18-year Eden Prairie resident. Two of her daughters currently attend, and three have graduated from Eden Prairie Schools. She is a licensed, certified public accountant who is also an active volunteer in the district, including through the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), high school resource center and spirit store, and the dance team. She has been endorsed by the Eden Prairie Education Association (EPEA) and recommended by the Minnesota Parents Alliance. The Senate District 49 Republican Party has also listed Bradsher as a recommended candidate on its sample ballot. She reported no other endorsements or donations.

Read Bradsher’s previous public statements at the LWV candidate forum, and in the EPLN Voter Guide and Additional Q-and-A. Bradsher does not have a campaign website.

You’ve named respect as the most pressing issue facing schools. As a school board member, how would you address this?

Bradsher said she would work with the superintendent to identify “non-negotiable areas for improvement” and find ways to fix these, “or we’re going to be going further down the wrong path.” She said to instill a culture change, “the administration and every educator has to be on board.”

She said teachers are struggling to teach because they’re acting as disciplinarians instead. “Of course, they’re supposed to maintain decorum within their classroom, but it has gotten to an unhealthy level.” By prioritizing respect, “Kids are going to learn more, they’re going to turn out better educated, if their classrooms are under better control.”

You’ve said school safety depends on effective security personnel. Are there any other security measures you’d advocate for?

Bradsher said she supports “empowering our security guards to be able to step up without being afraid of retaliation, being told that they went too far. They don’t have to physically restrain anyone, but it’s stepping in and saying, ‘That is enough, get to class.’ Some of these really simple administrative things would resolve some problems.”

Bradsher said she believed that addressing the lack of respect in schools in itself would improve safety. “How we are treating our teachers, our classmates, ourselves, the way I watch some of these girls behave, the way they’re dressing, the way the boys are physically treating each other – it’s just a lot, and I think it’s not healthy and not safe for these kids,” she said.

Bradsher also said she would support more rigorous general screening of visitors to the school buildings, including asking them what they were bringing into the school with them.

You’ve addressed concerns over attendance. How would you tackle this?

Bradsher had a clear message for parents whose kids skip for no good reason: “Send your kids to school. Stop calling them out because they don’t ‘feel like going.’” She said each absence is missed learning, resulting in some students struggling academically and being unprepared to advance to the next level.

Bradsher said that as a board member, she would insist on improved attendance recording, noting that students are sometimes marked missing when they are, in fact, in school, and vice versa.

She also called for accurate enforcement of off-campus privileges, since students who did not qualify, or whose privileges had been revoked, sometimes left anyway. She said this should be a priority to ensure student safety and protect the district from potential liability.

“When our kids are at school, we assume they are safe and accounted for,” she said, adding, “Why have a process if you’re not going to follow it? These kids should have to scan their card, and if the little red light shows up, tell them to get back in the building. It’s why we have security. It’s why we have paid to have working scanners for their IDs.”

How would you prioritize accommodating the religious holidays of Eden Prairie’s diverse community?

Bradsher said she supports accommodations for students who observe religious holidays, but adding additional days off school would push out start and end dates. She advised meeting with different religious leaders to understand each faith’s needs and priorities.

The Prior Lake public school district recently withdrew from the state of Minnesota’s universal free school meals program, which covers the cost of breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of need. Do you support universal free school meals?

Bradsher said she does not think universal free school meals are necessary for all students. “We end up feeding many children who are not in need, and while the local schools are not paying for those meals, I believe our state taxes are funding them,” she said.

“Let’s come up with an effective plan to reach the families who are in need and make sure their children are nourished when they are at school. Let’s put state funds to sensible use to meet ‘needs.’”

Do you support the existing district curriculum? Is there anything you’d want to change, including in science, health, and sex education?

“The reality is that our kids live in a diverse society where they see and hear and are exposed to many different views, preferences, and schools of thought,” Bradsher said. “Learning about differing viewpoints and theories may inspire them to grow into respectful, inclusive citizens.”

She added, “My goal will be to teach our students how to respectfully, peacefully coexist with their neighbors at any age. Kids will learn about issues surrounding sexual preferences and gender identities outside of school with their peers, on social media, and in the shows they watch. 

“A safe curriculum on these topics with some general information could be helpful in answering questions and providing accurate, scientific information rather than leaving kids to their own devices to get information.”

Ultimately, she said, “My biggest hope is that the message/teaching will reinforce respecting each individual’s body, personal space, and mental health. Nobody can accurately assess how another individual feels; it isn’t our job. It is our role to respect their humanity.”

Jon Cermak

Jon Cermak is a 20-year Eden Prairie resident with two children, one attending Eden Prairie Schools and one recently graduated. He works in corporate human resources, has volunteered in youth sports, and co-founded Minneapolis HOPE Dollars for Scholars, which provides post-secondary educational opportunities regardless of income. Cermak said he has not accepted political endorsements or donations but received a letter of support from the Senate District 49 Democratic Party.

Read Cermak’s previous public statements at the LWV school board candidate forum, in the EPLN Voter Guide and Additional Q-and-A, and on his campaign website.

You’ve named safety as a pressing issue. How would you specifically address this as a school board member?

“I am a supporter of common sense gun control and safety in schools,” Cermak said. “The fact that we still have our children doing active shooter drills is insane to me.” He said he would support measures to improve physical safety in schools as a school board member.

However, he added that safety was not just physical. “This is about mental health. This is about the ability to feel safe, to show up with your authentic, genuine self, without any ramifications or concerned about being bullied, just to go and learn and regardless of who you are.”

Cermak said he supports the district’s well-being and inclusion strategy: “I think safety includes how you show up and how you feel in the environment you are in as a student, being able to bring your authentic self to class.”

For instance, “That means, if I’m an LGBTQ student, I should be very comfortable in my skin and feel 100% safe going to school, no matter what. That’s the beauty of public education – everybody’s on an equal playing field.”

What are some practical ways you would help create a culture of respect?

Cermak said he would work within allowed parameters to serve the community’s unique needs. “I believe in accountability, I believe in consequences, but I also understand there are cultural lenses to things,” he said.

For instance, he would like to see robust kosher and halal meal options in the cafeteria. “That’s a respect thing for a huge population of students,” he said.

He added that this should extend to awareness for multicultural holidays. Even if the calendar can’t be changed to reflect every holiday, he advocated for increased awareness and accommodations for students who observe these.

Regarding noise issues at the Class of 2024 graduation ceremony, Cermak said every student should have the right and the respect to have their name heard. However, he cautioned against stereotypes and assumptions and suggested collaboration to help everyone feel respected.

Do you support the current curriculum, including science, health, and sexual education?

Cermak said he supported teaching a state-approved curriculum. He values comprehensive health education, including talking about drugs, alcohol, lifestyle, and sex. He advocated for sharing the curriculum in advance, so families who disagreed could opt out, but he said he hoped everyone would be open to various perspectives.

“We should be embracing and teaching about different lifestyles, including LGBTQ,” he said. “Let’s just recognize this group of people, and have a conversation about it.” (Author’s note: According to the district, LGBTQ content is discussed in middle and high school in a “neutral and informational” way from a “lens of inclusivity and respect.”)

Regarding the science curriculum, he said, “I don’t think creationism should ever be taught in public school; I am 100% in favor of and believe in evolution. I believe in science.”

He added, “Many places are dangerously close to blurring the line between church and state. I don’t want the Eden Prairie public school system to ever be one of those. Anytime you go down the path of even considering teaching anything other than evolution as a scientific fact, in my opinion, you might start to blur those lines.”

Some candidates have expressed concern about screen time. What are your thoughts?

Cermak said he fully supports students using iPads and laptops in school. “When I heard candidates say, ‘Let’s go back to paper and pencil,’ my mouth about dropped to the floor,” he said. “I’m not in favor of going backwards. I’m in favor of going forwards. I think we put our kids in a disservice if we say, ‘Let’s go back to the way it was when I grew up in the 1980s.’”

He added that informed voters who care about progress need to realize, “If we don’t prepare our children to be effective with the use of technology, now, at this age, they’re going to be behind. We’re already behind in so many ways.”

Are you in favor of universal free school meals?

“I am,” Cermak said. “I think that is one of the best things that we’ve done. And I 100 percent support accepting state money for this, along with state nutritional guidelines, to publicly funding kids’ ability to eat.”

Cermak said he thinks that many times when people say they are against universal free school meals, it’s because they don’t fully understand the statistics and science behind it. “I don’t think they really realize how many kids it impacts,” he said. “So, for me, that is money well spent.”

Are there any other areas you’d prioritize as a school board member?

“I have a passion towards early childhood education,” Cermak said. “Making it free, making it easily accessible, having it resourced appropriately, so more kids can start really early, would be hugely important.”

Kim Johnson

Kim Johnson is a 35-year resident of Eden Prairie whose three children graduated from Eden Prairie Schools. She works in corporate learning and development, and her civic engagement includes serving on a district Pathways team, being a delegate to the Minnesota Republican Party’s 2022 State Convention, and being an election judge. She has been recommended by the Minnesota Parents Alliance and the Senate District 49 Republican Party has listed Johnson as a recommended candidate on its sample ballot. She reported no other endorsements or donations.

Read Johnson’s previous public statements at the LWV school board candidate forum, in the EPLN Voter Guide and Additional Q-and-A, and on her campaign website.

You’ve said that you’re concerned about “invasive” content in the schools. What did you mean by that and how would this influence your board activity?

Johnson said the issue is multi-faceted, but ultimately, she does not want “indoctrination” or for parents to lose control over raising their children.

She said one example of “invasive” content is having school-issued devices at home. “I want to make sure that we’re not putting things in front of children that are going to either cause harm or cause a disruption to family households,” she said. “We actually need to have some guardrails in place for the safety of all of the students.”

A second example is the current school environment, which Johnson said is not sufficiently inclusive or collaborative. “When I’ve gone to the high school, I see tons of signs for all of these interracial pieces, but then it’s offended if we put the (American) flag up,” she said. “It’s offended if I’m a white person.”

She added, “We’ve gotten to the point where we’ve gone so far over that we’re not actually being inclusive. We’re not being collective in a group of individuals trying to work for the common peace. And so I want to make sure that we respect one another. We all have different points of view, but need to come together for what is going to be best for individuals.”

Johnson said that while everyone needs to respect individuals and their choices, there are limits. “I’m starting to see this creep into our society – furries, individuals that identify as a cat or a dog or some type of animal,” she said. “We have to draw a line at a certain point that we are human, and we need to be treated as human individuals.

“I don’t necessarily want to cave into what’s happening out in the world. I want to focus on education,” she added. (Author’s note: Eden Prairie Schools said there is no reference to, or inclusion of, any materials that discuss or encourage furries in Eden Prairie Schools curriculum.)

Johnson said she supports a basic health and sexual education curriculum, but opposes inclusion of material around gender identity and other LGBTQ+ topics.

“Sexual orientation is a choice,” she said. “I’m a very firm believer that when we’re born, we’re born male or female. Later on in life, individuals choose something.” She said kids “want to be everything and anything, and I want to just let them be kids. Let’s learn later on in life.”

Johnson also said she wants to focus on reading, math, science, and history curriculum but would advocate for a shift away from “invasive” literature. She also expressed concerns that history, in particular, was being “erased.”

Science-wise, Johnson said she does not believe in evolution, and she would like creationism theories from various religions taught in science class alongside evolution. However, she stressed that no theory should be presented as fact.

“I don’t disagree with teaching (evolution), but it can’t be that this is the only way,” she said. “Science is all about theories and proving out theories. … Everybody’s going to come up with their own conclusions at the end, or based off facts that they find.”

Johnson said likewise in a civics class, teachers should be impartial and not inject their own political beliefs.

What are some ways you’d work to build a more respectful school culture?

Johnson said she feels respect is intertwined with school safety. She said it is vital to communicate expectations and have clear consequences, but she is concerned with a lack of enforcement.

For instance, she felt the cellphone policy needed to be properly respected and enforced. Johnson said when another district banned cellphones altogether, it helped that school build a collaborative culture of mutual respect.

“Without that distraction, individuals talked to one another,” she said. “People got to know each other because they actually built that relationship, that face-to-face conversation. They had less fights, and their academic scores went up because they removed the digital distractions, building respect for individuals.”

Johnson said this would also reduce an “us versus them” mentality. “Racism goes both ways, and so we have to stop stereotyping individuals based off of what color our skin is and start to get to know people,” she said.

Do you support adding additional religious holidays to the school calendar?

Johnson said she supported studying the district population, identifying holidays resulting in high absenteeism, and adding those to the calendar.

She said she’d also advocate for educating and recognizing different cultures’ religious celebrations and facilitating their observances with prayer rooms, for instance. “We need to be accommodating from that perspective,” she said. “Our faith is important to each and every one of us.”

At the LWV school board candidate forum, you stated that you support school vouchers, which would allow state funding to follow students to schools of their choice outside of the public school system, including religious and private institutions. How would you expand on that?

Johnson said while she wants to keep students in the district, she supports public funding following students so that it doesn’t create burdens on the school accepting extra students.

As for money following students to private schools, Johnson said she would want to learn more about what that would look like from a funding perspective and if there is risk to the private sector. “Would the school be more governed by the government or not? I am not sure what that does to tuition-paid support,” she said.

“I would want to see the pros/cons and restrictions that are involved,” she added. “My focus is to support students and provide them the quality education they deserve. Let’s make Eden Prairie that destination where our students want to stay.”

Kim Ross

Kim Ross is a 40-year Eden Prairie resident whose daughter is a district graduate. Ross is currently serving her second term on the board, having previously been a member in 2008-12. A career marketing executive, her civic engagement includes district committees and the Rotary Club. She has been endorsed by the Eden Prairie Education Association (EPEA). She has also reported endorsements from Ron Case, Eden Prairie’s mayor, former Eden Prairie school board members John Estall and Jill Scholtz, and Steve Cwodzinski, state senator for District 49, with a letter of support from the Senate District 49 Democratic Party. However, she reported no political donations.

Read Ross’ previous public statements as part of the LWV school board candidate forum, in the EPLN Voter Guide and Additional Q-and-A, and on her campaign website.

How do you promote a culture of respect and positive student behavior?

Ross said she’s discussed this with many adults but wants to hear directly from students. “We’ve always done student surveys, but this year we’re asking specific questions about, ‘Do you feel safe? Do you feel that your peers are behaving responsibly?’”

Ross noted some behavioral issues stem from COVID-19: “Kids didn’t have structure for a couple of years, and had to relearn how to behave.” She said the situation isn’t dire, however, pointing out the district’s 95% graduation rate. “I just don’t think it’s as chaotic as the adults are making it out to be,” she said. “Are there issues? Yes. Do we need to address them? Yes. Is it out of control? No.”

She said it was ironic that some families have now complained that recent efforts to enforce behavioral rules are too strict.

Noting the current national political and societal divides, Ross said, ultimately, “I think it’s about mutual respect, and that’s something that adults are not modeling well these days.”

As a board member, how do you work toward school safety?

Ross said her perspectives recently shifted upon learning that most school shooters are current or former students who know exactly what will happen when they walk into the building. “For most of them their desired outcome is to not survive the incident,” she said. “So more people with guns in a school, oddly, is more motivation for them because their desired outcome is more likely.”

Ross said the district has invested well in building security, monitoring, and drills, but these tragic events can still be difficult to prevent. She said although there is only anecdotal data on prevented shootings, “the key to it is those students having a relationship with a trusted adult in the building.”

She added that smaller class sizes contribute to safety because they allow staff to develop relationships with students and recognize potentially concerning behavior.

Do you support the district curriculum? Is there anything you would try to change?

Ross said she supported the existing curriculum and, as a board member, aims to reduce disparities in achievement and graduation rates by focusing on personalized learning. “Let’s understand and value each student’s strengths and challenges and address them individually and uniquely in as much as we can,” she said.

Ross also said she respected the separation of church and state. “You can teach a class on world religions, including the backgrounds and philosophies of different religions,” she said. “But the state sets the standards on science and what schools need to teach at different grade levels about science. It is not the place of public schools to educate kids around religious beliefs.”

Would you consider adding more religious holidays to the school district calendar?

Ross said due to the Establishment Clause in the Constitution regarding the separation of church and state, adding religious holidays could invite lawsuits if the district doesn’t then accommodate everyone’s demands.

Ross said case law comes down to making a mass accommodation, which includes issues of population size and replicability. “For example, you can’t replicate graduation or the first day of school,” she said. “Making a mass accommodation to the school calendar for days that you cannot replicate is OK. You’re not violating the Establishment Clause.”

She explained that the district develops a multicultural calendar every year to ensure no major tests or projects are scheduled for key holidays. However, she recently became aware of a past situation where these policies were not followed, and plans to ask how they’re enforced.

Some candidates have advocated for using more pencil and paper and reducing screen time. As a board member, how do you view this?

“No. 1, kids still use pencils and paper in school,” Ross said. “No. 2, kids are in school about six hours a day. That means the majority of their waking hours in front of a screen are not at school. No. 3, screen time is about intentionality – there’s good screen time, and there’s bad screen time,” she said.

Ross said that, in her experience, Eden Prairie uses technology very intentionally, citing a fifth-grade science class that used iPads to run “what if …” population simulations on animal ecosystems and then discussed their findings. “It was fascinating – and you can’t do that with pencil and paper,” Ross said.

Would you like to add anything else?

First, Ross said she wanted to follow up on an LWV candidate forum question about book banning to make clear, “It’s illegal in the state of Minnesota to ban books in public libraries and public schools.”

Referring to a recent social media conversation exploring parent concerns about school-provided book content, Ross said, “It’s been interesting to see the position taken by a lot of people responding to that, and use this as a teaching moment.”

Ross said it’s up to parents to raise their children and demonstrate their values and morals, so they are less concerned about influences at school. Meanwhile, she stressed the need for inclusion and ensuring each student feels seen and heard.

Second, Ross said, “If I’m fortunate enough to be reelected, from an engagement standpoint, there’s two things I really want to try to advance. One is hearing student voice, and the other is intentional engagement with groups in our community whose voices are often not heard or not as loud.”

Dennis Stubbs

Dennis Stubbs is a 10-year Eden Prairie resident whose three children attend Eden Prairie Schools. He is finishing a partial two-year board term, having been elected to complete the term of a board member who stepped down. Stubbs works in the drywall industry, and his volunteer work includes being a church youth leader and sports coach. Although Stubbs is listed as a recommended candidate by the Minnesota Parents Alliance and the Senate District 49 Republican Party has listed him as a recommended candidate on its sample ballot, he said he is against endorsements since the Eden Prairie School Board is non-partisan. Therefore, he said, he has not accepted any recommendations or endorsements from any organizations or political parties.

Read Stubbs’ previous public statements as part of the LWV school board candidate forum, in the EPLN Voter Guide and Additional Q-and-A, and on his campaign website.

You’ve named reducing screen time as the most pressing issue facing Eden Prairie Schools. If reelected, how would you address this?

Stubbs said he is concerned that electronic device usage is crowding out the basics of reading and writing, including handwriting.

He said students are also getting them too young, and he was concerned about a lack of content filters. Stubbs said devices should not be issued until students “know how to read and our test scores go up. Introduce them iPad starting in fourth or fifth grade, and then, maybe minimal iPad usage.”

Stubbs recently worked to pass a resolution to explore creating a board policy protecting human interaction and reducing screen time, but it did not pass the board vote. Stubbs said, “I’m not trying to restrict technology for the whole district. I just think it’s a huge concern at the elementary level.”

You’ve talked about the importance of respect. What does respect look like to you, how do you create that culture, and how do you measure it?

“To me, respect is something you’re taught at a young age,” Stubbs said. “Respect your elders, your teachers. It really starts with the handbook. It’s rules for everyone, not for some. If you want to go to school here, those rules apply to you.”

Stubbs said enforcing discipline protocols is essential. “We’ve heard the name calling, the language, and during teacher contract negotiations, I saw hundreds of emails,” he said. “It can’t be ignored.”

Stubbs said teachers need the full support of parents, the district, and the school board, and “kids have to obey boundaries and guidelines too, otherwise, it’s not a functioning program.” However, he said, “You can’t just lay down the law and punish, punish, punish. You have to also care for kids and try to understand what’s really going on. And that requires a lot of personal attention and personal time.”

Stubbs said it’s unrealistic to expect incidents to stop completely, but reducing them was his priority: “It’s my job to make it my concern.”

He said he’s received significant positive feedback about new site leaders and rule enforcement. “I know it’s early in the year, still got a long ways to go, but so far so good. That to me right there says, hey, it’s working,” he said.

Do you support existing district curriculum?

Stubbs said he supported federal, state, and district curriculum guidelines and believed in the separation of church and state. Despite not personally believing in evolution, Stubbs said he supported teaching it and would oppose creationism being taught alongside. “I don’t want any religion taught in the schools, not mine or anybody else’s – that’s not fair,” he said.

Regarding potential curriculum updates, Stubbs said, “I prefer to leave it the way it is, the way it has been for decades. Don’t introduce anything new because you’re just going to make people mad. And if somebody has a different set of values or a different belief, they can teach it at home, outside of school. And if folks aren’t satisfied, they can work through the state government and by voting.”

Ultimately, he said, “Think about the volume of students and teachers and everyone in our schools. People from all different backgrounds and beliefs attend one big gathering. If a student has different values, what great conversations can happen.”

Would you support adding more religious holidays to the school district calendar?

Stubbs said the district considers state law when it sets the calendar, including the number of days students need to be in school. However, he supported including major religious holidays in the calendar when possible to reduce missed learning and increase equity.

“We have more cultures in Eden Prairie than many other districts,” he said. “Why should we have to follow the same guidelines?”

At the LWV school board candidate forum, you said you supported school vouchers, which would permit state funding to follow pupils outside of the public school system. How would you expand on your statement?

Stubbs said he had been asked about this by constituents and wanted to clarify his answer. He said that he would support state per-pupil funding following a student from one district to another, including using that public funding to pay for a religious or secular private education.

“If you think of this school district as sort of a business, what I was trying to get across is having a voucher system holds the school district accountable … if things aren’t being done correctly, then kids will leave and take their money with them,” he said.

He added, “We have such a great district, I don’t think kids are going to want to leave. I think you get a handle on the behavior, maybe get a handle on the screen time a little bit. Then the only kids that may leave are those that want a religious-based education, or maybe want to go to a private school or something.

“And you’re going to start getting vouchers coming in from other districts,” he said. “I think you would actually increase your student body by people being able to come over and bring their dollars with them.”

Is there anything else you’d like to address?

Stubbs said he’d like the public to better understand what school board members do. “We don’t just go to meetings and policy monitor for two hours and then are done for two weeks. The activities and almost daily conversations, and how much time we put in between meetings and behind the scenes, are what no one really understands.”

He said he didn’t realize when he first ran two years ago how much impact and influence he would be able to have, and he wanted the public to know that he takes his role seriously.

Jody Ward-Rannow

Jody Ward-Rannow is a 12-year Eden Prairie resident whose two children attend district schools. A lawyer who represents employers, her volunteer work includes PTO leadership, the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools board, and Girl Scouts. She has been endorsed by the Eden Prairie Education Association (EPEA). While she reported no political endorsements or donations, she was given a letter of support by the Senate District 49 Democratic Party.

Read Ward-Rannow’s previous public statements as part of the LWV school board candidate forum, in the EPLN Voter Guide and Additional Q-and-A, and on her campaign Facebook page.

You’ve talked about the importance of trust in building a safety culture. How would you influence safety policy as a school board member?

To start, Ward-Rannow said she would advise the district to consider how families might receive its safety messaging: “This is an important piece, because it can be scary.”

Ward-Rannow said she was confident in current physical safety protocols that keep out intruders. However, she said most acts of school violence have historically been perpetrated by people who were supposed to be in the building, “so locked doors and all that aren’t really stopping anything.”

So what, then, is the solution? “To me, it’s about relationships,” Ward-Rannow said, plus being aware of who might need mental health help and making sure they get it.

Cellphones are not permitted in class, but some parents want them to be accessible in case of emergency. How would you address this concern?

“When we’re analyzing cellphone policy, I think it’s important to ask, ‘What is the problem you’re actually trying to solve? And does getting rid of cellphones actually solve that?’” Ward-Rannow said.

“I was in high school when Columbine happened, so I’ve grown up with that fear of something happening. And so I totally get that desire. In fact, I have that desire. I would like to be able to get a hold of my child if there’s an emergency.”

She noted that elementary and middle school students can use their iPads to send emails and take videos and photos. However, she said, this ultimately comes down to a trust issue, so parents and students feel confident in an emergency situation.

Do you have any beliefs that conflict with district curriculum, and would that affect your board conduct?

Ward-Rannow said she supports a comprehensive and inclusive curriculum. “Everyone should be able to come to school to learn and be their authentic selves,” Ward-Rannow said. “That includes religion, sexual orientation, gender identity.”

She said a robust health curriculum, including sex education, is vital to ensure kids get accurate information. “I’m not promoting going out and doing something but if you talk to any middle schooler, they know things. They’re hearing about it. But are they getting educated appropriately so that you don’t have teen pregnancies and other things?”

Ward-Rannow said she would not attempt to overstep the limits of Eden Prairie Schools’ policy governance model in her role and would push back on any member who tried.

“My red flags go up when I hear people talking about agendas or indoctrination, or any of that,” she said. “To me, that signals that we’re trying to keep people out. I would oppose any of that.”

Do you support adding additional religious holidays to the school calendar?

“A large percentage of our kids miss a bunch of days of school every year because our calendar doesn’t consider their needs,” she said, adding that an equitable calendar could reduce absenteeism and alleviate the burden of making up missed work.

Ward-Rannow noted that Eden Prairie Schools gives the day before Thanksgiving off. “That’s not a federal holiday, it’s not a religious holiday, but kids aren’t going to be in school,” she said. “If we’ve got other days that we know large percentages of our students are going to miss because it’s an important day for them, to me, that is a secular reason to be looking at that.”

The school board has directed the district to improve attendance. How might you address this issue?

Ward-Rannow said she would ask the district to examine a wide range of attendance issues, including students leaving campus during class, wandering the halls, and abusing the smart pass system. She also wanted to see how frequently students are dismissed early or travel for school-sanctioned club or sports activities, since these add up from an educational perspective.

As a school board member, what are some ways you would look to create and measure a respectful school environment?

Ward-Rannow said respect does not look the same to everyone but should consider all cultures and people. She said it was important to be proactive and to talk openly among the community before problems arise.

For instance, in the case of planning the 2025 graduation, she said respect could involve asking everyone what matters to them and finding the right forum to meet everyone’s needs.

Respect is often missing because “we actually need to step back and figure out what’s the underlying issue,” she said. “A lot of times, it’s not really what people think they’re arguing about, or the solution they want isn’t going to work. But if you ask them what the problem is, you can find a solution that works for everybody.”

Was there anything else that you wanted to share?

“As I talk to more people, every single person I talked to has something unique about their family, their student, that makes it so that their children receive our education differently,” she said, stressing the importance of more intentionally considering the needs of each student. “I don’t feel like that’s happening right now, and I would love to be able to be that voice on the board.”