SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES' FORUM
We hosted eight candidates running for three Eden Prairie School Board seats: Lauren Crandall, Elaine Larabee, Holly Link, Esra Riggs, Kenneth Robinson, John Scheid, Terri Swartout, and
Barbara West. Irene Kelly was our moderator and she posed 5 questions that each candidate had the opportunity to answer.
Barbara West. Irene Kelly was our moderator and she posed 5 questions that each candidate had the opportunity to answer.
Elaine Larabee is a 20-year Eden Prairie resident with two children that are Eden Prairie graduates. She has served on the PTO and as President of the PTO. She has been on the School Board this past four years.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? Don’t know enough yet to make a decision. Need to know more about initial and long-term costs and will this academically benefit the students? Is there broad community support?
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Served on the Family Center advisory board, PTO, Youth Hockey, Pax Christi Community Board.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? Don’t know enough yet to make a decision. Need to know more about initial and long-term costs and will this academically benefit the students? Is there broad community support?
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Served on the Family Center advisory board, PTO, Youth Hockey, Pax Christi Community Board.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Review data and progress; work with Superintendent to improve. We need more teachers that look like kids in the classroom.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Have a leader in our Superintendent that models a culture of welcoming diversity.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Look broadly at what schools and learning will look like in the future. Think long-term.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Have a leader in our Superintendent that models a culture of welcoming diversity.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Look broadly at what schools and learning will look like in the future. Think long-term.
Holly Link is currently serving on the School Board as treasurer. She noted that it is a great district as a result of the Superintendent and School Board working well together. She is focused on wise use of
the budget and referred to a five year referendum stretched to eight years and perhaps more as evidence. She likes to survey constituents to stay in touch.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6 th Grade to Central Middle School? We must ask if voters want this and also allow preschoolers into our neighborhood school.
the budget and referred to a five year referendum stretched to eight years and perhaps more as evidence. She likes to survey constituents to stay in touch.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6 th Grade to Central Middle School? We must ask if voters want this and also allow preschoolers into our neighborhood school.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Various school activities, school board and committees.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Reduce K-2nd Grade class size in order to ensure students enter the 3rd Grade reading at grade level.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Diversity is exciting! Make the most of “Welcome Center” to help families learn what to expect in EP schools.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Reduce K-2nd Grade class size in order to ensure students enter the 3rd Grade reading at grade level.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Diversity is exciting! Make the most of “Welcome Center” to help families learn what to expect in EP schools.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Consider helping out-state schools with AP classes, changing ways teaching and learning occurs.
Lauren Crandell is a five year resident of Eden Prairie. She has a daughter in kindergarten. She soon became a classroom volunteer, got involved with the PTO and Read-a-thon. Her passion to serve Eden Prairie schools and the school board grew out of her involvement.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? This is a way to help Eden Prairie be more competitive. 75% of schools and those surrounding our district have the 6th through 8th model. 6th - 8th is a good mix for kids.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? This is a way to help Eden Prairie be more competitive. 75% of schools and those surrounding our district have the 6th through 8th model. 6th - 8th is a good mix for kids.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Focus has been almost completely on schools and PTO.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Have students learn at their own pace and interest.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Reach out to families and host meetings.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Becoming more competitive and celebrating our success and what makes Eden Prairie different.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Have students learn at their own pace and interest.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Reach out to families and host meetings.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Becoming more competitive and celebrating our success and what makes Eden Prairie different.
Esra Riggs came to the US to work on her Master’s Degree and stayed. She has been a resident of Eden Prairie for the past seven years. She loves it here and is very passionate about public schools. Her background is corporate finance and accounting.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? There is advantage of 6th grade students learning from middle school educators. Some concern about mix with older students.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Volunteer to read and decorate doors at schools, and family involved in charitable fundraising.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Take an individualized approach as each situation is unique.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Reach out to each community.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Students need to learn technology and even coding along with social responsibility, arts, and humanities.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? There is advantage of 6th grade students learning from middle school educators. Some concern about mix with older students.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Volunteer to read and decorate doors at schools, and family involved in charitable fundraising.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Take an individualized approach as each situation is unique.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Reach out to each community.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Students need to learn technology and even coding along with social responsibility, arts, and humanities.
Kenneth Robinson has lived in Eden Prairie for the past 11 years. He has been a classroom parent representative, participated in Read-a-Thon, and worked on two school referendums.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School?
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Leadership Council at Pax Christi.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Get preschoolers into public schools and focus on students reading at grade level by 3rd grade.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Reach out to each group and welcome them.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Technology is evolving. Stay with it and lead.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Technology is evolving. Stay with it and lead.
John Scheid has resided in Eden Prairie for the past three years. He moved here for the schools. John has kids ten, seven, and five years of age. He is running for the board to ensure continued success of the district.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? We need to answer what is the value to students and the return on investment before a decisions is made.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Created a scholarship foundation to support children in Guatemala to continue education beyond the 5th grade.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? We need to answer what is the value to students and the return on investment before a decisions is made.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Created a scholarship foundation to support children in Guatemala to continue education beyond the 5th grade.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Improve connections between students and teachers. Focus on special needs programs as there is room to improve.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Encourage diversity.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Encourage diversity.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Education tailored to individual needs and learning styles.
Terri Swartout is a lifelong Eden Prairie resident with family roots going back to early farming in the area. She has three children in EP schools and has served on the PTO. She has a passion for public service and youth health and well-being.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? We need more input and to understand better the rationale. Is there room to do this?
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Volunteer with youth sports, teach vocational bible school, and PTO.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? We need more input and to understand better the rationale. Is there room to do this?
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Volunteer with youth sports, teach vocational bible school, and PTO.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? More diversity in staff and teachers, engage public.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Make connections with kids, better understand each child’s background and issues faced.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Focus on communication and leadership skills.
Barbara West sees the Eden Prairie schools as the best in the nation and wants to ensure their continued success through all working together as a team.
Question # 1. Thoughts on moving the 6th Grade to Central Middle School? This will help K-5 with smaller classrooms, though still needs more research.
Question # 2. How have you served the broader community of Eden Prairie? Getting to know neighbors and involved in local politics.
Question # 3. How would you address the achievement gap? Focus on hierarchy of needs—ensure kids have adequate housing, food, and feel safe.
Question # 4. With increasing diversity, how will you ensure all students are welcome? Embrace it.
Question # 5. What do you see as the next educational leap forward in the future? Focus on continued success.