Three candidates pitch vision for Edina schools at public forum
Three candidates for the Edina Public Schools Board shared their priorities at a community forum on October 25, emphasizing the need for better special education services, stronger literacy instruction, and more direct engagement with students and families.
Cheryl Barry, Jennifer Hovie, and Elliot Mann participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Edina Public Schools Parent Leadership Council at the Edina Community Center. The informational event gave community members a chance to hear directly from candidates about their vision for the district.
The candidates discussed several key priorities. All three emphasized the importance of implementing the district's five-year strategic plan effectively. Elliot Mann stressed that strategic plans often sit on shelves without being integrated into actual district operations. "I feel like the district is really set up to do well," Mann said, describing the plan as "a living breathing document where if you're following the board, you'll see that board action is always linked in with where it fits in in the plan."
Other major topics included improving special education services, managing relationships between teachers and administrators, and maintaining strong literacy standards. The district has implemented a comprehensive literacy training program called LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) across schools.
Jennifer Hovie emphasized the importance of listening to students and families when evaluating the district's success. "I would look to students and families and really take inventory of where students feeling today that they're being supported," Hovie said. "I think the best way to do that is to talk to people and get the voices of everybody."
The candidates also highlighted broader themes including educational equity, data-informed decision-making, and creating inclusive environments for the district's diverse student body. The forum provided an opportunity for engaged parents and community members to assess the candidates before the school board election.
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Votes (1)
School Board Candidate Forum Opening and General Questions
Dissent: None
Moved by None · Seconded by None
Candidates shared their professional backgrounds and priorities for the district. Key themes included educational equity, the need for data-informed decision-making, and fostering inclusive environments for a diverse student body.
Notable Quotes (2)
So often times we see districts or at least I've seen districts where we have a five-year plan and we say this is our great plan but it's not intermeshed with what we're actually doing in our district... I feel like the district is really set up to do well it's a living breathing document where if you're following the board, you'll see that board action is always linked in with where it fits in in the plan.
I guess to measure how well we're doing I would look to students and families and really take inventory of where students feeling today that they're being supported... I think the best way to do that is to talk to people and get the voices of everybody.
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
The five-year guiding document for the district's goals and operational alignment.
A comprehensive literacy training program implemented across the district.
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Other Topics from This Document
District Policy and Operational Priorities
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