Good evening and welcome. My name isLinda Heiny. I am a member of the League of Women Voters of New. I will be yourmoderator at this League of Women Voters St. Peter Area Candidate Forum featuringcandidates for St. Peter Independent School District 508 School Board. Thisforum is being presented with co-sponsors the St. Peter Chamber ofCommerce and the St. Peter Herald. I will be assisted by Carolyn DoberDobbler, secretary of the St. Peter League.League of Women Voters is a local, state, and national nonpartisanvolunteer group. We encourage informed and active participation of citizens ingovernment, and we influence policy through education and advocacy. We donot support candidates or political parties. Tonight's event is designed toallow the candidates an opportunity to express their views on issues importantto members of the public in preparation for the general election on November4th, 20125. Candidates follow the unbiased andimpartial format established and published by the League of Women Votersof Minnesota. This form is being recorded in itsentirety without an audience on September 9th in the Governor's Room atthe St. Peter Community Center. Editing is authorized only for official mediareporting. Excerpts or edited clips of candidate forums may not be used forpartisan political purposes. The views expressed in each forum are those of thecandidates, not those of the League of Women Voters.I will ask questions tonight that have been submitted by the public to theLeague via email prior to this evening. Lead question facilitators screen all ofthe questions and may rephrase, combine, or eliminate questions to avoidduplication. We will not ask questions that are irrelevant to the office orthat are designed to make a statement rather than solicit information.Questions that are hostile, embarrassing, inappropriate, or of apersonal nature will not be asked. As the forum moderator, I have the finalresponsibility as to which questions will be asked.All of the candidates listed by the Minnesota Secretary of State's officefor this for this for this office have been invited and I believe all of thecandidates um are present with us tonight. We have in alphabetical orderDrew Dixon, Kate Martins, Charlie Ptos, and Marcia Rant.Voters will select three candidates to serve on the school board each for afour-year term. Candidates will first have two minutesfor opening statements tonight. Then on a rotating basis, we will ask thecandidates, each of the candidates all of the questions. They will each have1.5 minutes to answer. At the end of the forum, each candidate will have twominutes to make a closing statement. Timers are here tonight and they willhold up a yellow sign when there are 15 seconds left um for your answer and astop sign when your time is up. Candidates will be allowed to finish ifthey are mid-sentence when the stop sign appears.Our timers this evening are Judy Allen and Cindy Olsen, both members of the St.Peter Area League. We have asked each candidate to bespecific in their opening statements as to the reasons they are running foroffice and their unique qualities, skills, experience, or expertise theywould bring to the job. We are ready to begin with openingstatements and we will do those in alphabetical order with uh Drew Dixonfirst followed by Kate Martins then Charlie Pototts and Marsha Ram.If you are ready you may go ahead. >> Hi good evening uh League of WomenVoters and fellow candidates. Um nice to be with you here this evening. Thank youfor the opportunity to speak and give a a forum and a platform to have adiscussion um for us. We appreciate that. Um my name is Drew Dixon. I'm umhave been on the school board for three terms. I'm currently the vice chair ofthe board and serving on a number of comm community uh committees. We have anHR committee committee that's working through contract negotiationsfrequently. Um we have policy committees. We have anumber of committees that we all serve on as subcommittees of the board. Um I'mseeking a fourth term. Uh and I have reasons for that.I have had children in the district. Um this this will be the first year I won'thave children in the district. Um which is an exciting time for us.Exciting time. Um but I'm thankful for the the time. I'mthankful for the experience that we've had. Um, school boards are probably notexactly what you think they are. That's what I found to be true. Um, we've spenta lot of time cutting our teeth on school finance,um, negotiating contracts, things that I probably hadn't been involved withbefore. Um, that I've really picked up um, a number of expertise, well,expertise, experiences certainly along the way. Um,and I'd like to continue to put that to good use to benefit the community of St.Peter. It's a community I believe in very strongly. Um, so thank you fortonight. >> Thank you. Um, go ahead, Kate Martins.>> Hi, I'm Kate Martins and I do thank all of the League of Women Voters that arehere and the opportunity for us to speak as well as this great panel ofcandidates that you have in front of you. This is a a good uh time for votersin the St. Peter Public Schools District. Um I am running for my secondterm. This is uh I I had 42 years of experience working with students as a aneducator and and facilitator. And after I retired, it became important to me tocontinue uh offering community service, particularly to St. Peter where I'velived for ever. I was not raised here but and all three of my children camefrom here. This is a really fraught time ineducation and there is a lot of uncertainty ahead. I feel as though myteacher perspective is going to be a benefit to the community uh and to thestudents in the St. Peter School District. Uh our students are ourgreatest resource. They are our hope for the future and they are our biggestresponsibility and get providing these students with the best possibleeducation that we can is important. I believe St. Peter has done that in thepast and is continuing to do so uh innovating and being in a pretty goodposition compared to a lot of other districts at this point um because ofthe fact that we have a a great functioning board, a new administrator.We have been financially responsible. We've even started fixing up a middleschool that was there when my kids were going through. So, this is a greatcommunity and I hope that I get a chance to continue to serve on the board. Thankyou. >> Thank you, uh, Charlie Pototts.>> Good evening. Thank you for providing a venue for our school board candidateforum. Um, I'm honored to have served the last four years and now eight yearstotal uh on the St. Peter school board and I would be honored to continue thatservice. There are many reasons I decided to run for a position on theschool board. Uh the primary reason being a desire to do what I can tocontribute to the continued progress of St. Peter Public Schools. We are astrong district as Kate mentioned, one I'm proud to have attended and proud tohave two children currently attending. Um and our continued success willrequire consistent leadership. Uh as an incumbent candidate and the currentboard chair, I'm proud of the work we have done, particularly over the last 14months through some challenging budget times uh and two superintendenttransitions uh the most important leadership transition a district faces.I am deeply invested in providing a safe, welcoming place for all studentsto receive the tools they need to have a productive and meaningful education. Umdo our current policies and practices serve all students and families? Do ourall of our policies and practices or do any of our policies and practicesinhibit access or resources for any of our students? Uh these are the kind ofquestions we need to address to work toward a better place for all of ourchildren to learn and thrive. Uh I believe very deeply in the values wetalk about in our district. I believe schoolboard members should work uhwithout an agenda other than supporting our children through their education andI look forward to the opportunity to continue to do this work for ourdistrict. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Marcia Raft.>> Good evening. I'm Marcia Raft. Uh, thanks to the League of Women Voters forhaving us here tonight and the other sponsors. I appreciate your time andyour energy to um support uh voting not only for District 508, but voting ingeneral. I'm currently um the K through 5 library media specialist in aneighboring district. I'm a licensed K through6 elementary teacher and I hold alicensed K through2 library media. Um in addition to my experience in my schools,um I've spent a lot of time over the past four or five years working quiteclosely um with our Islamic center and tutoring and coordinating um afterschool and summer programming there. Um many of our students in that program arenew to the country. Um and not only do we support those students, but wesupport the families who are navigating some pretty challenging uh systems,including our school district. Um I'm also currently the co-president of ourSt. Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council. I've been on that council forabout three and a half years and um really enjoying the work that we'redoing there. I'm the proud mother of two St. Peter graduates, one of 2020 and oneof 2025. So, I am also experiencing um what life is like to not have a child inschool right now. Um and my husband Ben um also lives in our community andserves on our city council. When thinking about why I want to get intobeing on the school board, um I believe in a life of service. And when I'mthinking about serving, my experiences, my skills, my knowledge,um, points straight towards the school board. Um, some of the things that arepriorities for me are equity, safety, rigorous academics, and preparingwell-rounded students for a bright future.Thank you. >> Okay, we will now proceed with ourquestions. Um, as I indicated earlier, we will go in uh um sort of a randomorder. I um do try to announce at the start of each question what order we'llbe presenting the questions to the candidates so that you can anticipateand if you need me to repeat a question, please do just let me know. Um the firstquestion will go first for Mar to Marshia Ramp then Charlie Pototts, DrewDixon, and finally to Kate Martins. And the first question is, what are threecritical ways that K12 schooling should impact students and Miss Ramp?>> All right. Um, three critical ways. Well, narrowing itdown is always a challenge. Um, the first thing that pops to my mind, um, issocial emotional learning. um and thinking about some of the things thatare happening in our schools, in our world, things that are happening withyoung people, um trends that we're seeing with mental health. Uh I think wehave a really big duty to make sure that children are managing their emotionalwell-being and what they can do to care for themselves.Um I mentioned rigorous academics. As ateacher, I absolutely know that when you expect children to be their very best,they will meet that standard. Um, so giving them high standards to meet willmake sure that we're giving them the rigor that they need. Um, and the otherthing I mentioned was preparing well-rounded children for a future. Um,of course we uh we always kind of think about careers. Um, but we have childrenwho will grow up to be parents, children who will grow up to be neighbors, um,and different members of the community. So, we have an obligation to help themprepare for all of those aspects. >> Okay. Um, Charlie Pots.>> Um, yes. Okay. Three critical ways schoolshould impact students. Um I think that uh one of the most important things thatwe that we talk about is um either school or workforce preparedness, right?So um the students in our district whether whatever they're moving on towhen they enter the world beyond the hallways of St. Peter High School, uhthat they are prepared for it and whatever it is that they're ready totake that on, whether that is continued education or whether that is enteringthe workforce or the military, uh whatever it might be that they areprepared for that. Um I would echo his rants with social emotional learning andsocial development. Um I think that uh interpersonal skills and socializationare um particularly post pandemic are a thing that we're still talking about. Iwork um the dean of students at Gustavis and I work with uh you know the best andthe brightest college students uh and we see the interpersonal skill gaps thatexist uh in the last five or six years. And um I think that that is a continuedpoint of emphasis in our K12 is how do we how do we close those gaps in termsof interpersonal abilities and sort of the soft skills that are required tonavigate life successfully. Um and then I hope also another wayschool should impact our students is that they understand the value ofseeking knowledge of learning uh and of curiosity. Um that their theirperspective on the world has been shaped in St. Peter and that's great but thereis a broader world to think about and and hopefully we are helping helpingbroaden their perspectives before they move on from here.>> Okay, maybe I should repeat the questions for the audience as well. Umwhat are three critical ways that K12 schooling should impact students? AndDrew Dixon would be next. >> Thank you. um critical ways. Um first, Ithink is probably the most obvious, the those fundamental skills thatwe all probably think about when it comes to K12 schooling.We're prepping them to we're teaching kids how to read. We're teaching mathconcepts. We're teaching concepts of uh natural science, uh physical sciences.Um we have the arts. We're exposing lots of um students to lots of differentopportunities um to pick up find their strengths um and those are real corebuilding blocks that we're going to be using or they're going to be using forthe rest of their lives. So beyond that um I think um another area of criticalimportance is for um critical thinking. We want our students to be leaving uh aSt. computer education with one a good head on their shoulders uh and two theability to navigate our more and more increasingly uh digitalworld. Um that can be awfully tricky and it's getting trickier and trickier. I'msure everyone in the room can agree with that and maybe see that themselves. Umso we want to be able to have critical thinking thinkers leave the door. um andalso prepping for today's world in general. And we're doing that throughthe use of ummies. We're doing that through the use of uh an evolvingeverchanging curriculum and um um what do we call it through throughclass schedule, class catalog? >> Uh Kate Martins.Um this is as I said earlier a very uncertain time and the best thing thatwe can do for our students is to provide them with the best information the besteducation and highest critical thinking skills that we can give them. They'rethey have a a world of information at their fingertips and they need to beable to use it appropriately. Um so that thinking ability um is is taught in allkinds of ways in various contents. Interdisciplinary is hugely importantright now. We um need to have them understand that they are going to livein a world that looks way different than maybe it does here in St. Peter and thatthey may have challenges that we can't even prepare them for and we need togive them that confidence to uh to work and produce in that area. And I thinkthe the main thing that we need to do is to in instill in them the validation oftheir abilities. The fact that there is um a a responsibility that they have tothe community and the state and the world in which they live and that theyhave the ability to impact change and that we need to encourage that in somany ways. the academic uh content, extracurriculars, co-curriculars, all ofthe opportunities that they may have to participate in the broad spectrum ofoperative of offerings in this community is highly important. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh the second question will be umoffered first to Kate Martins, then Drew Dixon, followed by Marshia Ran, then uhCharlie Pototts. And that question is, we know how critical it is to keep ourchildren safe. Broadly, when you hear the term school safety, what does thatencompass for you? Um, Kate Martins, it'sthese are the days for school boards to be uh particularly active and involvedand this safe school safety safety of the students in the community is is highon everyone's uh list of priorities. We um need to con make consistentmessaging available. We need to have specific uh response processes.We need to have the community support the security of our of our students. Theschools themselves need to be uh solid and the interaction between the thepublic safety uh organizations and the schools has to be absolutely fine-tuned.In uh St. Peter, we are pro installing a uh standard response uh pro protocolthat is meant to do that and the common language is going to be very veryhelpful. As a an educator in the old days, there were all kinds of messages.There were all kinds of words. There were various things that we did and itwas not necessarily consistent between buildings and between school districtsand among the community uh law enforcement officials. This this newpartic this new protocol is going to make consistency the help that we need.>> Okay, Drew Dixon. >> Uh yes, thank you. Um, I mean, right outof the gate, physical security, it it still pains me. It has forever.The fact that we need to have conversations about having resourceofficers in the school and uh locked secure access doors,but that's an unfortunate reality and we can't pretend that that isn't. Um sohaving those secure access doors um having resource officers in aroundthe school to be used as um not as uh law enforcement but more as uha resource for troubled um or moments where umit's not that things get out of hand, but um just as an extra resource forsupport for our students. It is important. So that's one critical way.Um I think another way that makes helpsfoster safety within the schools is that students are able to see themselveswithin the teachers and the larger community of the school that they'rethey have groups to identify with. And we've really made a focus on making surethat um cultural inclusion and awareness is is supported and and celebratedwithin the school. And I think that's important for us to do. Um, and we'veall talked about the social emotional needs and changes of of our studentpopulation over time. That's certainly as true now as it ever has been. Um, andtaking that seriously and adding supports there isimportant for us to do. >> Okay. Um, we know how critical it is tokeep our children safe. Broadly, when you hear the term school safety, whatdoes that encompass for you? Uh, Marcia Raft.>> Um, safety is definitely a priority for me and when I think about safety, Ithink about a lot of different levels. Um, I think the first thing that comesto our mind um is the pretty serious dangers that are uh happening um thatcan happen. And um you know, of course, we want to be making sure that we followthe best safety protocols that we can have um to keep outside dangers away. uminside the building. Uh I think one of the big things we need to do is thatmake sure that all of our students know that they are loved and they'reimportant and that every single student in our schools knows that there is atleast one adult that they can turn to and talk to about anything.Al along with that uh we need to help our K children learn to love one anotherand to support one another and care for one another to be inclusive andaccepting. When we think about tragedies, mostoften those tragedies are occurring at the hands of former students or ofpresent students. Um, and we need to be proactive for thefuture in that um, sense.Um, we also need adults to make sure that they're stepping in and followingthrough with whatever needs to be done in the moment or in the time um, tofollow up with things that are dangerous.Charlie Pots, >> uh, school safety. What safety means tome is that students are able to show up and learn. That this is a place wherethe outside world is appropriately filtered so that they can have anenvironment conducive to learning. Uh safety to echo some others is thatstudents are seen and heard and that and their context of their lives isunderstood to some degree. Our our teachers are amazing at getting to knowour students and the things that make them tick. Uh and that helps studentsfeel safe uh and accepted which leads to broader safety. Uh I think St. Peter'sactually been ahead of the game in terms of secure entrances. We did this work along time ago. Some neighboring districts are just doing this work nowin some of their buildings. And so I feel really good about how we've securedour buildings during the daytime um and and appropriately gotten people throughthe right way by way having to check in at an office. The trainings that Katementioned um I think are wonderful with the common language that we'll usearound response protocol. Uh we review our policies and procedures regularlyand so um we feel confident in how the administration treats safety and theimportance of it. Um and we review that all the time as a board. Um we have aterrific school resource officer and a wonderful partnership with the St. PeterPolice Department. Um that gives me great comfort in sending my two childrento school. Um and I think particularly right we've talked about evolving mentalhealth needs of our of our students right now. And so using all theseresources that we have to work together to keep those students feeling safe andtreating others with respect um is important. >> Okay, I think we got everybody right.Okay. >> All right. Uh the next question, theorder of response will be Charlie Pototts, Marcia Ramp, Kate Martins, andthen Drew Dixon. It's a little bit of a long one. Um sogiven the preliminary projection of a future budget shortfall in 202526that will reduce budget reserves significantly and the uncertaintiessurrounding both federal and state school funding. What criteria will youuse to make recommendations for any cuts that must be made? >> Uh this is an issue that unfortunatelyis a really big part of being on the school board. um is one of our primarilyprimary responsibilities is the uh financial health of the district. We'vebeen through this the last couple of years uh in very uh significant and umunpleasant ways. Uh I think the first things that I think about when um whenthinking about our budget uh is how do we do the in order to correct budgetshortfalls which we will always have, right? um how do we uh reduce the uhimpact on direct student service? So, how does it how do we keep those cuts?How do we keep those reductions away from the classrooms and away from directstudent support and direct student service? That's the most important thingto me. Our students are the main thing and their safety and education is themain thing. Um we've we've been through this process of how do our how do ourpriorities and our direction line up with our strategic plan and then how dowe filter that down to making decisions based on okay what's necessary what canbe sort of trimmed. Um decisions are hard. Uh humans are the most expensivepart of our budget. Um but those are the people who interact with our studentsdaily and sometimes we have to make really difficult decisions. We try to dothat with as much public input as possible, knowing that um we welcomethat input, but it's sometimes hard to uh follow through on the things thateveryone sees as priorities. We need to determine that as a board. Uh and Ithink we do a good job of that. >> Thank you, Marcia Ram.>> All right. Um I always try to be proactive when I'm thinking aboutthings. So when I think about budgets, instead of thinking about cutting first,um my mind goes to how can we make sure we don't have to cut? What are thethings what are the steps we can do to prevent cuts? Um some of those things,you know, we might ask ourselves is how are we making sure that our enrollmentis staying up? Um how are we attracting new families to this community? How arewe attracting families to this school? Um some of that's going to be communitypartnerships with the city. um you know, thinking about housing. Um we can't havemore kids here if we don't have places for people to live. Umand of course sometimes it does come down to where are we going to make thecuts? Um what are we going to uh do? Um and like Charlie said, the uh the theclassroom is where we want to keep the money. Um and for the further out we goum is where we have to find the room for for trimming some of that off. Umand classroom teachers, you know, teachers know what that looks like, whatis necessary, what what can we do without at that level. Um,and uh, additionally, I'd say that, you know, we want to make sure we'reoffering um, the kind of programming that attracts people to our to ourdistrict as well. Okay. Again, given giving preliminaryprojections of future budget shortfalls and uncertainties surrounding federaland state school funding, what criteria will you use to make recommendations forany cuts? And um number three, Kate Martins,>> I agree with Marca. The last thing we want to do is to cut. And we do knowthat this is uncertain time in term uh in terms of funding. I think that thereare several levels at which we can act. One of the main things is to to dealwith the legislature about the unfunded mandates that we have and that that arecontinuing to come through to us. Our budgets are fixed. We can't raise pricesas uh as a business can to try to meet um the the up the rising costs. We needto make sure that the community understands how we use our money that weare being v vigilant on um all of the on all levels. We need to encourage um thecommunity and the stakehold stakeholders to participate in these decisions asthey come up doing a regular check kind of thing and keeping the communicationlines open. There are things like grants and so on that we can pursue um as we aswe need uh money. But the main thing is to stay vigilant, to stay on top of it,and not to let there be any unknown um or unexpected surprises that we can beparticularly cautious about the planning. We also need to have ourteachers and staff in involved in this because as Marcia said, they are veryaware of the kinds of things that they need and what can be expendable and whatcan't. Thank you. >> Okay, Drew Dixon. Yeah, all of thepoints that the candidates have brought up are all absolutely right. Um thoseall of those things go into it. Um so I'm not going to add anything new. uh myperspective on it as a board member is when we're looking at prioritizingum our services and uh trying to make itthrough a budget um shortfall would be that um this iswhere we I think we really see the strength of or the power of a a strongsuperintendent because a superintendent is really going to be helping us withall right we're we're doing a 10-year roll out look of our finances so we cansee into the future as much as we can to try to anticipate what the what thelandscape will be at that time. Um that superintendent is really to be core increating our strategic plan. So when we're looking at the services and thethings that we could or couldn't do and what we might we should or shouldn't do,aligning to that strategic plan is going to be um will always be the right answerbecause uh that helps us kind of keep ourducks in a row in a sense and keep us focused and going in the in the rightplace at the same time. um consistently. Um and as we said before, we we reallyat all as much as possible reduce the amount of stress and impact to for thosedirect student services. Uh but that's tough. I mean, this is a a humanservices um organization and so there's not a lotof fluff that doesn't involve um student contact, unfortunately.>> Okay. Thank you. Um, the next question will be answeredfirst by Drew Dixon, then Kate Martins's, Marshia Ranch, then CharliePototts. Um, it's another long one. Uh, the recent release of MinnesotaComprehensive Assessment Test scores indicates that St. Peter studentsoverall showed improvement or held their own relative to results reported in2024. Continuing a level of achievement higherthan the state average. So the questions are, how do we continue to improvestudent achievement in St. Peter and what areas what are the areas of concernthat the district should address? >> Thank you. Uh that is true. Um that hasnot always been true. Um, we have seen test scores and there's for a lot ofreasons that go into this, but where our test scores are maybe not as high or asstrong as we would like to see and that has maybe gone on for many years. Now,there's lots of reasons. Those assessments change, those the testschange. They get fine-tuned over time. Data that you're looking at is always ayear or so behind. Um, so it's a foggy picture. umuh but to improve. So the reason that that's important to say is that there isa renewed a continued but renewed interest on from our perspective to sayhey um this is good but is it good enough forSt. Peter? We really try to pride ourselves as being better than average. Um that is thegoal. uh and so there has been a renewed focuson those things. I think our P pl PLC's have been uh instrumental in changingthat those are learning communities where the teachers get together and theytalk about how they are teaching and what they are teaching. So there's analignment in um um their tactics, their alignment intheir um content.Um those have been very important. That's kind of grassroots stuff in a waywhen it comes to uh education. Umyeah, I'll leave it there. Yeah, thank you.>> Thank you. >> Uh Kate Martins,>> uh standardized measurements has uh kind of a mixed bag. There are several thingsthat are being used as standardized measures that have some uh maybe someold goals that we need to refresh. That's one thing. Although the St. Peterschools have consistently we are right now we are above the state average. Weare doing well. I think one of the main things to do is to um is to wa look atthe look at the scores as an instructive tool rather than something that's athat's an a slap on the hand or a um a an a bad comparison of the staff.teachers are using these as instructive methods. This is what we need to do.There have been changes in math education. There are changes going on inin science education which are more appropriate to uh the the learninglevels of students. The read act is allowing us to uh focus on readingskills which are integral to everything. There are curriculum review processeswhich are in instituted about every 5 to seven years. and that has that has beenrevised just a bit so that there it can be more student responsive. So there isa lot that can be done to continue to grow the progress that our students aremaking. Again, this is um in uh regardingMinnesota comprehensive assessment test results. How do we continue to improvestudent achievement in St. Peter and what are the areas of concern thedistrict should address? And uh Marcia Ran would be next.Great. Um, yes, our test scores are um one way thatpeople look at our schools and say, "How good are they?" Right? Um, as teachers,we know that those scores are one little piece of what our students are capableof, who they are, the skills that they have, um, their creativity, all of theother things that go along with that. Um, when I think about our test scoresand the increase staying the same, we're doing some great things. Um, I wouldlove to hear from teachers in regards to um, their input on what the rigor mightbe like. Maybe the uh, making a deep dive into um, students that we'remissing, which ones aren't we getting to that level. Um, some other things tolook at is the attendance. um which students aren't showing up. Um anotherthing that I noticed on our report card is uh there's a question that saysstudents at my school or teachers at my school care about me. And I want to sayat our high school level there were 15% of the students who either disagreed orstrongly disagreed. Um so some of that relationship building is also importantwhen we think about that. um students who don't think that they're cared aboutin the classroom aren't probably going to learn so much. So, I think that'sanother area to improve on. Charlie Pots,>> uh as someone who is not a good standardized test taker, I have alwaysbeen challenged by the idea that that is the measure by which we will determinehow good an education is in our district. But I understand that theweight that that is put on them is part of our educational landscape. Um, and sothat is why the district must uh look at those numbers. Um, I do I dowant to echo we're above state average in some areas. There's clearly work todo, but um, I think that that happens in a few ways. Uh, I know thatindividualized attention and differentiated methods are really taxingon our teachers. Um, but they do make a difference for our students and I'veseen that our our educators in our district do that. Um, we've talked a lotabout uh, culturally responsive delivery. We've talked about curriculumimprovement. um the the offerings that we might have that can allow forcreative delivery of content and unique learning opportunities. Uh that yetanother way beyond a standardized test that we can measure learning. Umgraduation rate is 94%. That's fantastic, right? Um we have the collegein the schools program. We have all these other ways that we can look atmetrics that show that learning is happening in positive ways. Um and so Iunderstand the value that that no I understand the importance that the statehas put on that on standardized tests. Um but I think that we have done uhexceedingly good job in lots of other areas to show that learning is happeninghere. Um always room for refinement and improvement but we do a pretty good job.>> Uh okay. Um, next, uh, the question will be answered first by Kate Martins, thenDrew Dixon, Charlie Pototts, and Marcia Raft. And the question is, climatechange is a major concern for many of our citizens. What additional effortsshould the district take to reduce its carbon footprint? >> Oh, you got to get the big one in.>> Um, that one is a an neverending challenge for everyone.um and the understanding that our students are the the ones who are goingto solve our problems. That's the way that we have to approach this. We needto encourage them to be responsible. We need to give them the tools that theyneed to develop new ideas. We need to capitalize on things like thethe 31st year of our Habitat for Humanities building. We have scholarshipor we have solar panels that are going on. And we're right in the middle ofthis mend the middle process in in by which we're re uh redoing our HVAC andheating and all of the all of the interiors of the school district. Ournew high school is relatively pretty solid one and we have plans um that wewill need to make to keep the old other buildings um in the best possibleposition we can have for our carbon footprint. I think the main thing is uhto encourage student creativity and to provide them with uh as many pieces ofinformation as we can and guide them as they explore new ideas and encouragethat the fact that they really are the ones who will be responsible and that weare counting on them. Thank you. >> Okay, Drew Dixon,>> I'm going to be honest. I'm struggle a little bit. uh how can wereduce our carbon footprint? I um here are some things that we've done I thinkthat are going to make a positive change and I honestly don't know if we've everseen hard factual evidence of this but here's what I would assume.Having new buildings, those spaces consume a lot of juice, electricity,gas, heat, um cooling, heating at all times of year. So that's a big cost forus. Um and those are the kinds of things that are being burned off and those arethe kinds of things we're talking about with with waste. Uh so having updatingbuildings with our high school um likely a very positive change. We still havethe middle school that was the high school that is being retrofitted andupdated in significant ways with much more efficient systems that was apatchwork of buildings and is now being really unified. I have to believe thatthat's going to have a big impact on uh the amount of resources that we consumeto keep that place heated and comfortable and safe and air movingaround. Um I know that we've we have solar arrays. UmI don't know what the impact of those have been and that is a good question.I'm surprised that we don't. But if that were successful and that had an impact,we could offset maybe some of our energy costs and consumption costs throughthat, it might be worthwhile seeking more grants to umfurther that program for other rooftops. >> Um Charlie Pats,>> I think the the key thing for me as a board member currently is to think aboutuh that to know that sustainability is vitally important. Uh it is alsoexpensive. And so, um, how do we think about the return on investment in theways that we can to do the things that we can right now that will make a along-term impact, uh, while also being mindful, careful stewards of taxpayermoney. Um, I think that we're seeing that in the the renovation to the middleschool, things like LED lights and automatic dimmer and better efficiencyin the HVAC systems. Um, I think that and better windows that don't leak anddon't have cold air blowing in all the time. Uh those are the thing the thesteps that are they are expensive but they are the steps we can take now um toch sort of chip away at this sustainability thing that we need tocontinue to make a focus. Uh Dr. Graph is joining the sustainability committeethat's starting in St. Peter and I think that's going to be wonderful um to hearinsights from um those who are experts that he can bring back to um the way wethink about future projects and and future programs in the in the district.So, um, but also when I think about the finances of it, right, there are awesomeopportunities for grants and for rebates and things that we can be thinkingabout. Uh, and I think we have a lot of the right administrators in place whowill think about that with our facilities, uh, and with our programsmoving forward. So, um, yeah, thank you. >> Okay, Marcia Raft.>> All right. Um yeah, to kind of piggyback off everyone, you know, I think um evenin our own homes, right, when we think about our own um carbon footprint, wewant to think about the efficiency that we have. So, as we're makingimprovements and can afford to make improvements, those are really things weneed to consider. And I think that we have um considered. I think thecommunity supports that. Um and um some other things that I justkind of thought of that we could do. Um I know that there um are a few differentbike paths, walking paths that are being put in within the city um that will makeit more accessible for more folks to walk or bike to work. Um maybe we offersome sort of incentive for students or staff to walk and ride their bike towork or carpool. Um there's also programs out for buses where um thereare alternative energy busing um grants available. Um so I would loveto look into that option. Um buses are obviously putting out out of a lot ofemissions when we think about that carbon footprint in our district. Um andof course the education side of it. Uh like Kate mentioned, our kids are verysmart. They have really wonderful ideas. Um,I'd love to see a a group get together and maybe come up with some ways thatthe kids think they could do some uh some changes to make sure that ourdistrict is doing the right thing. All right, the next question will beanswered in U order the following order. Uh, Marcia Ramp, Charlie Pototts,Kate Martins, and Drew Dixon. As a schoolboard member, you receive aphone call from a parent concerned about a topic or book included in theirchild's classroom curriculum. How would you respond to the parents concern? Uh,Marcia Raft. >> All right. Um, ironically, I'm a librarymedia specialist, so this is kind of my wheelhouse. Um, of course, the firstthing I would do is listen. Um, I parents, families,um, have a right to, um, be concerned about things that they're concernedabout. I would want to listen and find out what is going on. Um,I would also make sure, and, I've actually already looked at it, um, St.computer has a pretty great um policy in regards to what it takes to um have abook or classroom materials um reviewed for possible removal. Um, and I woulddirect that concern to um probably the building principalum to have that process started um so that it would be reviewedum and go through that within that policy. there's protections for forstudents um because students have a right to access informationum and students have a right to um to read. Uh so within our policy we do areally nice job protecting those students rights to access informationand making sure um that everybody has their um their voices heard when itcomes to that. >> Okay. Charlie Pots.>> Uh yeah, I think probably pretty succinct, right? Listen listen to thethe concern from um from a community member and a parent. Um connect themwith the principle of the building to discuss the issue. I think that isincredibly important is to not uh make assumptions or give answers that aren'tmine to give. Um but to connect them with a principle, uh it's not anargument. I'm not I'm not there to have an argument. I trust the processes weand and procedures we have in place to decide if something is relevant to thecurriculum. Um we have uh language in our policies in our handbooks about howa student might opt out or a family might opt out of certain material. Umbut also how a student how that I think a principal could help explain how ummaterials were chosen um and have that discussion. Uh so uh my job as a boardmember is not to have an agenda uh other than helping educate our children and soum I would want our building principal I would want our superintendent andbuilding principal to be involved in that conversation.>> Kate Martins. >> Yes. Um there what what we have is avery solid policy um which we review on a regular basis and there is a procedureby which a parent can make uh a request for more information or for theirstudent to uh maybe not use a particular uh piece of of information. I wouldstart with the teacher. I would I would this is not our job as schoolboardmembers. We do not do this. we are part of a chain and the teacher is the firstperson with whom there needs to be a conversation and that would be my firstencouragement and then from there on to follow through as as both Marcia andCharlie said with the principal and the superintendent and the policy andthere's a form and there's alternative possibilities for selecting those. Wehave about a over 160 policies in our policy guides and there's something thatcovers almost everything that could happen and they're all very legalbased.They are not something that we're making up just to be just to be difficult or tobe accommodating in unnecessary ways. Policy is there. Um go upline and thankyou for the information. And I I would probably follow up with the principalmyself or just a heads up that somebody had asked. Thank you.>> Okay, Joe Dixon. >> Yep. These are all you're all saying theexact same thing. This is 100% true. Um I would listen uh to the concernand again true wouldn't judge, wouldn't argue. That's not my place. We do have aprocess or uh a policy in place with a veryoutlined process procedure. I don't have it memorized, but I do note it includesthings like communicate your concerns with theteacher, communicate your concerns with the principal, umhave a discussion about uh accommodations about a particular pieceof material. Um and it goes on and on and on. Um but it's very concrete um andit's used um and successfully every every year.Um but most important is I think it's important that people know that yesthere is a process for this and yes um it's okay and we will listen to you anduh Kate is absolutely right. it really isn't our wheelhouse um to be so muchinvolved with um individual classrooms and materials in that way. Um that'sjust the reality of it. Thanks. >> Okay.Um another long one um would be first answered by Drew Dixon, then KateMartins, Marshia Ramp, and Charlie Pototts.Recent changes in US immigration policies and practice can affect boththe students and staff of our school district. Students whose immigrationstatus may be challenged and staff who may be approached by personnel fromagencies such as immigrations and custom enforcement regarding students.I guess the question isn't so long, it's the background. The question is how doyou think the district should approach this issue?Uh I think we've been very clear about how we've approached this. Um and it'sthe same with um any kind of contact from the outside world coming into thedistrict. Um if it's law enforcement, that's fine. You can speak with theadministration. Um and uh if you have a warrant for specific items within theschool, um then you must be allowed in. Uh but beyondthat um you're not invited to wander the halls or umyou know poke around inside the buildings um without that needed legaldocument. Uh we have been talking about about thisa lot and in our various meetings um recently um as Drew said we have a wehave a policy in uh in terms of access to buildings. People are not able tojust walk I can't just walk in unless I'm being announced um and and followthe protocol. Uh we need our students to feel safe. We need our staff to feelsafe. We need uh education to be ongoing and that can't be done in a in anatmosphere of fear or anticipation. Um we have liaison officers who work veryclosely with the various communities who might be uh involved in some sort of animmigration action. And they have provided to those families um and to thestaff the kinds of procedures, the kinds of things that are necessary, the thethe uh alternative, the solutions to problems and what's what's uh what islegal and what is not. The law is very clear at this point in Minnesota as towhat is available to outside information and what is not. And we have um we havepersonal information that is rather it's not what we used to have when we had mymy uh phone number, my address, how many dogs I had, all of that on it. It's justrestricted to the ultimate necessary information. We do a lot to protect ourstudents. Um, Marcia Ramp.>> All right. Um, yeah, I always like to, um, point right back to a policy or aprocedure when there's things like this, the legalities of it all. Um I think onthe next step I a very important thing and I'm not sure where we're at withthis um would be making sure that the staff the entire staff understands thoselegalities and um what that should look like, what their rights are, what theywhat is expected of them. If somebody approaches you and asks this, what howshould they respond? Um we also want to educate our community. um making sure,especially those who might be living in a little fear compared to others, umthat we help them feel reassured um about what the district's steps will andwill not be. Um and we could do that by connecting with different communityleaders, different community groups to help assist in in doing some of thateducation. Um, if people are fearful to send their kids to school, um, kidsaren't in school. And if kids aren't in school, they're not learning. Um, so weneed to make sure that they're aware, um, that we have their child's bestinterest at heart. >> Okay. Charlie Pots.>> Uh, yep. We are, uh, obligated to follow the law, um, as a as a public or uh,public K12. So we we have to follow the law. We I I do feel um that we have verythoroughly vetted our policies and procedures related to uh informationthat we can share. In fact, we just reviewed this policy this summer aboutwhat qualifies as directory information and what can be shared beyond um thewalls of the building. Um and so I feel very good about how we handle that. Umas Kate mentioned, the cultural liaison do wonderful work. We have uh again I Imentioned our SRO earlier uh St. Peter police um who we partner with um whohave care and safety of our kids at the front of their mind at all times. Um andso um I feel comfortable with our policy. I feel comfortable with ourprocedures. Um but I know that that doesn't always eliminate fear or concernof our community members. And so, um, I think that we, uh, need to continue toimprove the support we provide in understanding, uh, what is bringingabout that fear, um, and how that we can again ensure that the only thing thatmatters is, uh, the education of our children in a safe and comfortableenvironment. And so, how do we do that? Um,>> yeah, I'll leave it at that. >> Okay. Well, looking at the clock here, Ithink we have time for one more question before your closing remarks. And um wewill have the the order of responding at this time will be Kate Martins's,Charlie Pototts, uh Marshia Ramp, then Drew Dixon.What is your vision for the future of the school district,Kate Martins? >> Oh, all this and haven't. We have a anexceptional school district. We have a community that is very very supportiveof our educational process and our students. I think that I would like tosee that there we could increase the communication which is already goodamong the various uh components of our community, the businesses, the uh groupsuh that are active in the community, the events that happen in the community. Areschools becoming more um more part of the overall benefit that the studentderes through 24/7 of their life? We have worked very hard to make uhmoves toward all students feeling heard and seen and respected. We're working onum some culturally diverse or some culturally responsive uh curriculumchanges and and uh additions to the community. We've done a lot of thingswithin the school. Like I said, the Habitat for Humanity, I'd like to seethat encouraged. Our act ourmies are wonderful. We've got a transfercurriculum that is the first I think in the state right now where kids are goingto be able to get a college careers started while they're in high school.We've got all kinds of good things. I just would like to keep it going the wayit's in in the positive direction. >> Okay, Charlie PZ.>> Yeah, we uh have just recently hired a super or hired a superintendent whorecently started and I think that that as we talked about during that process,the search for a superintendent is an outstanding opportunity to re-evaluatewho we are, uh what we what we stand for, what we value, what our prioritiesare. Um, and I love that we are starting to do that. So, my vision uh my visionis that the district uh and and its leadershipcan find the vision, right? And our job is to support that vision. Um, but Ifeel extremely comfortable with the work Dr. Graph is doing kind of built on theshoulders of uh his predecessors who have um who are still helping him uh inthis transition. And I think that that gives me comfort, that gives me hope.Um, as Kate mentioned, I my my sort of philosophical vision, right, is that allstudents feel seen and heard, as Kate mentioned, that all students areprepared for what's next. Um, and that they are given the opportunity to learnevery day. Um, and and to do that in a safe place. And so, um, yeah, my my hopeis that we support the vision of the district moving forward. Not necessarilythat we entirely set it by ourselves as a board. That's not our job. Um but toto include all stakeholders in the community and in the district uh to comeup with that vision together. >> Okay.>> Thank you. >> Uh Marcia Ramp.>> Charlie just kind of stole my first line there. Um I definitely have a vision formaking sure that the stakeholders in our community um help build that the vision.Um, you know, thinking about what I've heard from families, um, and communitymembers, you know, they want to continue to see the, um, wide array of classesthat we offer at St. Peter Schools and the opportunities that our studentshave. Um, they want to see those rigorous classes and our kids um, beingvery high achieving. Arts are extremely important to this community. Um, and I'dlove to see how we could expand. Um, our our our already wonderful arts programs.Um, another thing that is always a a winner for most people is small classsizes. We want our students to make sure that they're getting enough attention intheir classes and small small class sizes is always desirable.Um, we want students to love school. We want them to enjoy learning. Um, Ialways look at things from an equity perspective. Um, it's it's where mywheelhouse is. Um, and I think that I have seen in the time that I've beenwith uh the in the city of St. Peter, um, it's growing, but I would like tosee uh more diversity in those extra classes, in those extracurricularactivities. My my my kids got to participate. I would love to seeeverybody else's kids participate where they want to as well.>> Drew Dixon. >> U my vision for the district isvery similar and I I won't say clear but the elements areclear. Um access to quality education for all students,appropriate and equitable supports for all students.um uh that all students feel welcome, feelseen, are celebrated and affirmed, that have a community. Um and that wehave a well-aligned district um goals that align with our strategicplan from the superintendent to um uh our admin team to uh our teachers tothe students uh the staff the parents of the district. an alignment um along thatcommon goal is I think a high-minded uh goal achievement for us to to to to getto um and if done well and appropriately that ultimately is going to mean um highhigh and above average achievement for all students of the district. >> All right. Um that concludes ourquestions for this evening. We'll res we'll uh move on to the closing remarksand as I said earlier each of the candidates has uh two minutes uh toshare their their final remarks. We will proceed first with Charlie Pototts thenMarsha Ran, Drew Dixon and uh Kate Martins. >> Yeah, go right ahead.>> Great. Uh thank you again for this opportunity to be here uh and providingthe venue for this forum. Um, I have enjoyed my experience serving on the St.Peter School Board. Um, eight years of experience in total. And while sittingin a chair at the table, uh, does not necessarily translate to strength. Um, Irecognize that I do feel that I've been an active, engaged, committed member ofthe board during my time and have worked really hard to influence the board inpositive ways. Um, I'm proud of the things that our district hasaccomplished in my time on the board. Um, I feel I provide a critical eye, acalm demeanor, an honest approach, and possess the integrity required to servethe district and our community well. I appreciate listening and hearingmultiple perspectives. I place great value on observing before acting. I'mnot afraid to ask questions or seek understanding, and I am comfortablebeing decisive. Most importantly, I'm extremely hopeful and optimistic aboutour district. I believe in what we do. Thank you.>> Thank you. Uh, Marcia Ram. >> All right. Thanks again for having ushere tonight. Um, I think the students and staff at St. Peter Public Schoolsare really lucky to have a lot of people who are so passionate about uh, makingsure that we offer our students and our families the best that we can. Um,I hope that I've shown you that my experience as a teacher, um, as acommunity leader, uh, particularly my efforts, um, with EC equitable efforts,um, has shown to you what I could offer, um, as a school board member, um, andthe perspective and the connections that I have within the community that goalong with that. Um, I also look forward to working as a team. Uh there are somany bright minds um in the community on the board already um that it would beenjoyable work for me um to keep doing the the service that I want to do forour community. Thank you. Uh Drew Dixon>> again. Thank you to the League of Women Voters for having us here tonight andhaving a fostering a a platform to have these discussions. UmI I'm thankful for the time that I have had on the board. Uh I feel like I havelearned a lot and um I we've we've gone through a lot of things and I've beensitting at this table for a a a number of them. Um and I happy to honoredreally to have helped in any way, shape or form bring those things tofruition. Um probably the most impactful thing any board member will do will bein hiring a new superintendent. Uh and we've done that a small number oftimes. Um that's the number one most impactful thing that we will do. Uh andI'm thankful for that experience. Um we've been through a number of majorbuilding projects, a new high school, a new uh uh um renewed middle school. Umwe've strengthened relationships within our own city, the community, um wthrough um the building projects out with the new high school, the communityspirit park, which is a joint um venture between the two entities.It's pretty rare for any any uh student or uh school and and city to enter intoa long-term relationship like that because I think often they don't workout. It's working out for us and it's going to be great for as long as I amaware and can think that's been great for us. Um so it's things like that,those kinds of wins that those that forwardthinkingum vision for uh making us a better placefor these students because ultimately that's the whole point is to educate ourkids and take them into the world um as better people and good citizens. >> Uh Kate MartinsI love I love to be able to go last like Drew does. This is an amazing thing. Therichness of the the candidates that you see in front of you is just anindication of what a terrific opportunity it is for our students herein uh the St. Peter School District and for everyone who works here and for thecommunity of St. Peter. Um we have a collaborative le uh energy at alllevels that is designed to engage students with what they feel as apassion. show them how they are involved and responsible for their own learningand to set them forth with the best support that they can possibly have intoa world in which they are um they are comfortable participating because ofwhat they've learned here. Um I'd love to see us continue the progress that wehave been making. I want to make sure that our budget is is as good as it canpossibly be. Our enrollment continues to grow. our our staff, our administrativeteam is par excellence. Um, you can't do anything better than what we're doingright now. I really do see a need for more legislative involvement by ourschool district in order to push the effort to get schools the the equitythat they need compared to businesses. That is something that's important tome. um our a lot of I'm going to just throw in a plug here. Uh this is BillCout's job usually, but he's not here tonight. But that is about the the theresponsibility of our families, our parents to continue to fill out formsthat we used to call free and reduced lunch forms, but there are forms that weneed to have that determine the kind of funding that we get. And they're allavailable and and everybody can fill them out. We derive a lot of benefitfrom those kinds of numbers that come in that support everything that we do. I amhappy to be running again for a schoolboard position.Thank you everyone. Um this concludes our forum. If we did notget to uh one of your questions, please contact the candidates directly. Contactinformation is available at the Minnesota Secretary of State's website,mnvotes.gov, under elections and voting candidatefilings. I want to thank our candidates for participating this evening. Thanksalso go to Tony Pragrren of the City of St. Peter for space and videographysupport, our co-sponsors, the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce and St. PeterHerald, as well as my fellow league volunteers.To our viewers of this recording, thank you for watching. For more informationabout voting and these candidates, please visit minvotes.gov orwww.vote411.org. And remember to vote. The election willbe held November 4th and early voting starts on September 19th.