There are nine candidates running for Osseo Area School Board, which has three open seats that each serve four-year terms. The school board chair receives $750 per month, the school board clerk makes $675 per month and the directors earn $650 per month.
Oduwa Aibuedefe Aganmwonyi
Address: 7968 Beard Court N., Brooklyn Park
Family: Esohe Aganmwonyi; five children
Education: B.A., Psychology
Occupation: Mental health practitioner
Years you have lived in the school district: Six
Community/civic organizations involvement: The Edo Association of Minnesota (TEAM); Brooklyn Park Lions Club; Parent volunteer – Palmer Lake Elementary School
Have you run for any other office in the past?: No
Contact: oaganmwonyi@gmail.com
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
First, have an understanding that all parents and community members’ concerns are important and must be treated respectfully. Ensure that all board activities and meetings are judged by what is being done to improve student achievement, which is the district primary responsibility and all parents’ main concern. As board member, it is important to have focus and align with the district mission if it supports all student achievement. Equally important, be a good listener and attend all board meetings and participate in all decision making process.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
The success of the reconfiguration will be assessed based on why it was established; boundary access, making credit transfer process a lot easier, etc.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
A parent who knows first-hand the challenges parents face in pursuing the best educational opportunities for their children.
An immigrant: I know first-hand how the American Dream depends on the quality of your education.
A business owner/executive: Experienced in setting priorities, managing budgets and making tough decisions. Collaborate with parents and other professionals to ensure client success.
Mental health background: Experienced in monitoring client progress in relationship to established goals similar to monitoring student achievement. Please vote Oduwa Aganmwonyi for School Board.
Pa Modou Ann
Address: 13647 93rd Place N., Maple Grove
Family: Wife, three boys
Education: MPA in Global Public Policy and Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management
Occupation: Consultant
Years you have lived in the city or district: 14
Community/civic organizations involvement: Community involvement on social construct issues to enhance human potentials
Have you run for any other office in the past?: Vice president, Minnesota Gambian Community, 2008-2010; Board member, Odyssey Academy, Brooklyn Center 2011-2012
Contact: 763-528-8948
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
I will examine the present mediums of communications established to evaluate its effectiveness, after which create forums with parents and community members to hear their concerns and possible recommendations to enhance this important facet.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
I would impress upon fellow board members to formulate an evaluation mechanism to be established to review the effectiveness of the grading reconfiguration.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
Firstly, I have been a committed parent, which creates an educating atmosphere for understanding the school system and build relations. I had been a leader as an officer, and involvement with my community.
Susan Brown-Whistler
The candidate did not respond in time to have the Voters Guide profile.
James E. Burgett
Address: 8168 Terraceview Lane N., Maple Grove
Family: Kerri Burgett, three children
Education: B.S., Electrical Engineering
Occupation: I am the senior principal design engineer of a local medical device company
Years you have lived in the city or district: More than 20
Community/civic organizations involvement: I am currently serving the community as a school board member. In the past, I have been a Cub Scout den leader, and was treasurer of a parent group advocating for schools
Have you run for any other office in the past?: I was elected to the School Board of ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools in the fall of 2010, and I am seeking re-election this fall
Contact: VoteBurgett.com
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
Currently, we have multiple advisory groups that gather valuable feedback and help guide the administration and school board. They include the Core Planning Team, District Planning Advisory Council (DPAC), Community Education Program Advisory Council (CEPAC), District Equity Leadership Team Advisory (DELTA), and more. Their members include community stakeholders as well as district employees.
However, I believe our schools need to respond more like a world-class customer service organization. I would like each phone call to get answered, and each email to get a timely response. We need to think of each student and parent as customers, and compete for their business.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
The grade reconfiguration is a big project with a lot of moving parts. It affects all schools in the district to some extent. As such, it requires that project objectives and milestones are defined, and success criteria are established. The Project Initiation Plan on the district website identifies key objectives, including: high school facility improvements, new middle level and high school program design, staff transition, student transition, and more. The plan includes a work breakdown structure, team assignments, timeline and budget.
See here for project details: bit.ly/1w9chT2 (link shortened).
I certainly expect that there will be challenges that arise along the way, but we have the team in place to meet them.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
I am currently serving my first four year-term on the school board, and have been elected treasurer each year. I have attended all four phases of the school board member orientation workshops provided by the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA). I have also attended the MSBA Leadership Conferences, and one National School Board Association (NSBA) conference. As a lifelong learner, I work to keep well informed of issues that may impact our schools and community.
Jessica Craig
Address: 9201 Garland Ave. N., Apt 140, Maple Grove
Family: Three daughters (ages 7, 5 and 1)
Education: Associates degree, pre-law student at SCSU
Years In District: More than one year
Community/civic organizations involvement: Co-vice president of the Fernbrook PTO; Head chair of the Fernbrook carnival committee; Art Adventures volunteer
Have you run for any other office in the past?: I have not previously run for office
Contact: jessicacraig.net
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
I believe as a board member we have a responsibility first and foremost to the members of our community to listen. By having monthly meetings on my own time with organizations in our community, I hope to build trust and to show a genuine interest in everyone’s ideas.
Input will always be welcomed and validated.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
We will need to hear from the teachers directly and other district staff to find out what issues may have arisen as a result of the reconfiguration. I anticipate this to be a successful endeavor, however, as most districts in our state already have this grade configuration.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
I have legislative experience working for the state in a nonpartisan department. I am familiar with legal language and contracts, having first-hand experience preparing documents for committee hearings and the House floor.
I understand the legislative process in a way that most citizens have not experienced. This will help guide me through the research necessary to understand the issues before me as a board member.
Delma J. Francis
Address: 12894 74th Ave., N., Maple Grove
Family: One daughter, age 15
Education: Master of Science in Community Development
Occupation: Substitute teacher
Years in the District: 17
Community/Civic involvement: Two Rivers Chorale; Edinbrook Church (Children’s, Worship and Care ministries)
Have you run for any other office in the past?: I have never run for office previously
Contact: francdj1216@gmail.com
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
I would like to join with one or more board members to host periodic question-and-answer sessions for parents and the public in a community forum format.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
It remains to be seen what the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration will be since it will not be implemented until the 2015-16 school year, but I have every confidence that it will be highly successful. Osseo is one of the few and the largest metro-area school district that has the junior-high format with grades 7-9. I believe that from a maturation standpoint, ninth-graders should be with 10-12th graders, not seventh-graders.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
I have special insight into our schools because I am a substitute teacher in the district. I have taught all grade levels – from pre-school to 12th grade – and I see what we do well and what we need to work on. The Osseo district does an excellent job of educating our children, but that doesn’t mean we’re perfect. For instance, we need to develop new strategies to close the abysmal achievement gap. Our responsibility as a community is to make sure all our students reach their highest potential, whatever that may be. It’s all about our kids.
Robert Gerhart
Address: 12001 90th Ave. N., Maple Grove
Family: Tiffany, four daughters
Education: Masters of Engineering Management
Occupation: Technology specialist and registered patent agent
Years you have lived in the city or district: 16
Community/civic organizations involvement: Community Education Program Advisory Council representative, District Website Redesign Advisory Group, Birch Grove and Rice Lake Parent Teacher Organizations
Have you run for any other office in the past?: Ran for school board in 2012 as well
Contact: electgerhart.org
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
I would make it a priority to always respond to any letter, email, or phone call I receive regarding school issues. I would also publicly release the results of every vote, and add any commentary that might help explain what is going on.
I also think the school board at large could be made more accessible and responsive by expanding the amount of meeting content that is recorded and broadcast to the community. I would also like implement a Q&A session as part of regular meetings, where comments and questions submitted by the public via email or social media could be addressed openly.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
My background and degree in management gives me the skills to not only ask the right questions with regard to the grade reconfiguration project, but to also properly understand the answers. The rollout of Standard-Based Grading a couple years ago was not handled properly, and I want to be personally involved with the grade reconfiguration in order to make sure that scenario is not repeated.
To evaluate the success of the reconfiguration, we first need to understand our goals, budgets and timelines for completion, as well as understand the consequences of failure. With that information in hand, we can keep a keen eye on our progress, identify any issues that arise, and make adjustments as needed in order to ensure success.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
First, I have four of my own kids who go to school in Brooklyn Park, Osseo and Maple Grove. I simply do not think that a person can have the proper motivation to be on the school board unless they have a hand in the game.
Second, I have been attending not just school board meetings, but work sessions and committee meetings as well for several years now. This is where the real business of the district takes place. I not only know what is going on today, I also have a perspective on the history of how we got here. Through this effort, I have already built strong personal relationships with members of the current board, the superintendent, and other key members of the administration.
Third, I have a formal background in management. The school district is responsible for over a quarter-billion dollars a year in taxpayer money. I know that this is not the school’s money; it is the people’s money, and the people want it used as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Radious Y. Guess
Address: 13130 55 Place N., Plymouth
Family: Sean, four children
Education: Master’s degree in Adult Education
Occupation: Educator
Years you have lived in the city or district: 2
Community/civic organizations involvement: Minnesota Department of Education Family Engagement Workgroup, ThinkAgainMN, African Immigrant Services (AIS)
Have you run for any other office in the past?: In 2008, I ran and lost in my bid for the Tulsa School Board in Tulsa, Okla.
Contact: radious@mac.com
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
I am a skilled community organizer and enjoy designing experiences that allow people from all parts of the community to work on an issue of shared concern. I have experience creating public discussions that builds understanding and explores a range of solutions.
My engagement experience includes mobilizing staff and volunteers, assigning tasks and opportunities, and developing an understanding of the many challenges facing communities that are struggling with achievement and opportunity gaps. My master’s degree in adult education and bachelor’s degree in mass communications have been instrumental in sustaining family, school and community partnerships.
I have experience managing comprehensive strategies and engagement experiences that bring together all of the stakeholders when implementing strategic planning initiatives in schools and communities. I have directed staff to interact with and involve stakeholders in all stages of large, multi-state program planning, design and implementation without exceeding budget.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
I give it a C-. The district’s grade reconfiguration was a done deal before it reached the community. I didn’t like that. I was disappointed with the district’s decision to disband the campus model as a strategy towards reconfiguration. I believe eliminating the campus model served to resegregate schools in the district. The majority of the listening meetings offered by the district were held on the west side of the district and not accessible to largely lower-income families of color on the east side. Secondly, there was no mention in these meetings of the district’s plans to eliminate the campus model.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
I have practical knowledge working in an educational setting (Colorado Department of Education in Denver for five years, Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska for seven years, and nine years of experience working on behalf of our nation’s largest and oldest child advocacy organization, National PTA.
I have a track record for charting newer and higher-impact courses. I am experienced in connecting the school with community resources and empowering parents to enhance the work of the school district. I have been awarded a master’s degree in adult education and human resource development, which has enhanced my ability to build and maintain school-community partnerships with diverse audiences. My volunteer knowledge includes leadership with the U.S. Olympic Committee, Board of Directors, Budget and Finance Committee and Chair of the Athletes Advisory Committee. I believe my educational background and volunteer-work related experiences qualify me for a seat of the Osseo Area School District, and I welcome the opportunity to service.
Collette Guyott-Hempel
Address: 9277 Trinity Gardens, Brooklyn Park
Family: Husband Bill, one child
Education: B.A., Psychology
Occupation: Paraprofessional special education in Minneapolis
Years you have lived in the city or district: 23
Community/civic organizations involvement: Boy Scout Troop 579 volunteer; St. Alphonsus Catholic Church parishioner; previous District 279 DPAC/Edinbrook PTA member
Have you run for any other office in the past? I have run for school board director.
Contact: cmguyott@aol.com
In your role as a school board member, how would you ensure that all parents and community members’ concerns and questions about district matters are addressed?
I believe that we need to have more community involvement in board meetings and work sessions. Too many decisions are being made in work sessions or on the consent agenda without discussion that are not televised and meeting times are not convenient for residents. Board meetings used to rotate to various buildings. I realize that this would not be easy but listening sessions should be at buildings.
The technology levy was promoted as ensuring that all classrooms would have the same equipment and servers would be updated. Board members said that individual iPads for students was not in the plan. Now, students are getting iPads and Mini-iPads. I don’t believe that senior citizens and others should be forced to buy equipment when we have buildings with varying amounts in classrooms.
How would you evaluate the success of the district’s grade reconfiguration that begins in the 2015-2016 school year?
The grade reconfiguration is important for parents that are involved in the Northwest Suburban School District and for our magnet programs or open enroll in or out of the district. My concern is that Brooklyn Park students will once again face limited open enrollment to middle schools and high schools on the west side of Highway 169, segregating students in poverty and further dividing our district. In 2005, no students from Edinbrook Elementary were allowed to open enroll in Osseo Junior High or Maple Grove Junior High.
What experience or knowledge makes you qualified to be a school board member?
I have been actively involved in public comments at board meetings, legislative town halls, Brooklyn Park City Council, listening cafes, community events regarding race, poverty, or education and written letters to the editor voicing the need for smaller class sizes, more educational opportunities through electives and advanced courses, facility and technology inequities that are segregating the district and continue due to choices made by the board in the last 12 years.
The ending of the campus system now results in the Fair Oaks Elementary students being in a school of 94 percent poverty their entire elementary years. Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center have filed a formal complaint against the Met Council regarding poverty concentrations/affordable housing ,in part saying that it has impacted our schools negatively and they are under-performing.