Meet Rochester School Board Candidate Melissa Amundsen
School Board Position 2
Official Bio:
I am a lifelong Rochester resident and a proud graduate of Rochester Public Schools, as are my two children, ages 20 and 22. I have a B.A. from Luther College, with a major in Management Information Systems and minors in Computer Science and Psychology (Child Development emphasis). I am running for Seat 2 on the Rochester School Board.
I am a strong believer in the importance of high quality public schools and I have been an advocate for children and education in Rochester for decades. My experience on numerous education-related nonprofits and school district committees provides me with the knowledge and qualifications necessary to be an effective school board member. I have a proven track record of leadership and dedication to education. A sampling of my long history of community involvement:
+ Rochester Public School Foundation Board of Directors, 8 years, President for 2 years
+ PTSA president at Elton Hills Elementary, Friedell Middle School, and John Marshall High School
+ Minnesota Department of Education Gifted and Talented Advisory Council, 8 years
+ GATEway Science Fair core planning team, 13 years
+ Aldrich Memorial Nursery School Board of Directors, 6 years
+ Superintendent's Budget Reduction Committee, 2008-09
+ Superintendent Hiring Committee, parent group facilitator, 2007
+ GATEway Board of Directors, 14 years, President for 7 years
+ MCGT State Board of Directors, 4 years
+ Alliance for Strong Rochester Public Schools Vice Chair, 2015
+ Gibbs Elementary building referendum committee, 2007
+ NAGC National Parent of the Year award, 2007
+ Recipient of Mayor's Medal of Honor, Schools/Education, 2012
When not busy with my volunteer commitments, I work part-time as a substitute teacher at Aldrich Memorial Nursery School and as a Certified Field Associate for Market Force Information.
I am deeply involved with educational causes because I believe in the value of education and I believe that I can assist in making public education in Rochester even stronger than it already is. I have been a constant presence in the Edison board room, attending the vast majority of school board meetings since 2005, closely following all school district business. I will bring knowledge, history, passion, perspective, and commitment to the Rochester School Board.
Your key platforms
1) Strong Public Schools
I believe that strong public schools are a vital component of our city and our country. Prudent expenditures toward education, when managed responsibly and efficiently, are a wise investment in our future. A highly educated populace benefits all of its members by strengthening our economy and improving our society. While private schools can certainly be a good option for some, it is not in our best interest to live in a community where people may have the perception that private schools offer the better quality education and public schools might be left to those who do not have the financial resources to attend private schools. We must ensure that each and every student has equitable access to the best educational opportunities we are able to offer.
2) Responsible Fiscal Management Representing the Priorities of our Community
School board members are charged with balancing the need to keep tax rates reasonable while ensuring that our schools are the highest possible quality within financial constraints. Rochester citizens have the opportunity to choose the degree to which they want to provide additional financial support to our local schools, if any, through their responses to referendum questions which periodically appear on the ballot. When expenses exceed allocated resources, budget cuts are necessary.
I have experienced several budget-cutting cycles in Rochester. I participated on a budget reduction committee in 2009 when we had to identify over $9 million in cuts. The committee included members of the community, like myself, so that the priorities of the community were included in the recommendations that were presented to the school board. The cuts were painful, but necessary under the circumstances. We are likely to require additional budget cuts in the near future if projections remain stable and if efficiencies and revenue enhancements cannot be found.
As a school board member, I will respect the wishes of the citizens regarding the amount of resources provided to our school district, seek input when cuts are required so that the priorities of the community are reflected in budget decisions, and be a responsible steward of public dollars.
3) School Board Effectiveness
Over the years I have observed a variety of people serving as superintendents and school board members. Different individuals bring with them different personalities and working styles. Some combinations of individuals have been highly effective, while others have been less so. Establishing consistent and effective decision-making models and procedures would be beneficial so that district business can continue on track, even when there is turnover in school board members, superintendents, and cabinet members.
Similarly, district goals and initiatives have often shifted tracks, or derailed entirely, when the district experiences changes in leadership. When great effort is expended by the district and its stakeholders to develop a strategic plan to ensure high student achievement, equal effort should be put into measuring and tracking the results. New and ongoing programs and expenditures must be supported by data and outcomes. As a school board member, I would like to see a return to continuous tracking of measurable progress through a structured framework that will keep the focus on the district's goals.
Why should Rochester vote for you?
I will contribute my years of knowledge and leadership experience to be an effective school board member and responsible steward of school district resources, promote two-way communications to engage Rochester's community and represent their priorities in decisions, and work hard to provide a high-quality public education to all students.
What do you envision for the future of Rochester schools?
A high-quality public school system is a valuable and essential part of any community. My vision for Rochester Public Schools is that it will effectively meet the learning needs of every student who walks through its doors, ensuring that our community has a well-educated population and workforce and that every student achieves his or her full potential.
What is your stance on school security?
School shootings and other threats to safety are one of the most serious challenges facing our country today. The school district has taken steps to ensure the safety of students and staff, including working with a school safety consultant and implementing additional safety measures, such as a school building buzzer entry system and a visitor identification system. The district continues to work with the Rochester Police Department to increase safety planning and preparedness. We need to continue to collaborate with community mental health service providers to prevent future safety threats by ensuring that mental health services are available to all who need it.
What is your stance on the potential referendum for new schools?
It is likely that a building referendum question will be on the ballot in the near future. Enrollment projections indicate that our school buildings are approaching their maximum capacity at the elementary and middle school levels. These projections are based on actual birth rates in Olmsted County and do not even factor in the potential for significant population growth created by the Destination Medical Center initiative. Our school district needs to be proactively prepared for growth so that we do not expend our limited resources hastily or inefficiently.
As a school board member, I will strive to ensure that the proposal for an additional school building or buildings will be based on valid information, realistic needs assessment, and transparent processes. My experience working on the Gibbs Elementary building referendum will be a benefit to the school district in its planning for new buildings.
What is your stance on student discipline?
A disparity exists in the discipline rates of students from different racial groups within Rochester Public Schools. This is not an easy issue to address and many other school districts across our country are grappling with the same issue. There are no simple solutions. However, the focus on the disparities and the reasons behind them are an important first step to addressing the issue.
No one likes to hear that a system or the people within it may be racist or have racial biases. But in order to get to the bottom of the reasons behind the disparity, we must examine all of the factors that may be at work. We must view the problem objectively. We must collect and share data transparently. We must strive to include and truly listen to all viewpoints in the discussion. We must have difficult conversations and brainstorm solutions. And we must work together with the community in the plans that we choose to implement.
The school district has taken numerous steps to begin to address the discipline disparity, such as utilizing the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) framework, improving the wording in the Student Handbook, and providing additional staff development on cultural competencies and other issues that may affect the disparity. The school board has been working with the Community Focus Team to identify additional issues that contribute to the disparities and potential responses. It's challenging and time-consuming work but it must continue. As a school district and as a community, it is our responsibility to remove all barriers to student success that are in our power to remove.
Favorite Rochester Moment?
My favorite Rochester moment would definitely be the way our community came together around my family during my daughter's illness six years ago. In particular, all of my children's schools, including our elementary school, even though my youngest child had been out of elementary school for over two years, offered tremendous support to us. In addition to tangible things like gift baskets and cards of support, we also experienced many gifts of time and concern. A teacher at my son's middle school volunteered her time after school to help my son with homework when we had little time available to give to him during the periods when my daughter required more intensive treatment. School administrators, teachers, counselors, and social workers at my daughter's high school helped us with creative solutions to keep her academic progress on track. Staff members from my son's middle school even helped him in his goal to raise money for the Eagles Cancer Telethon by organizing a "60 second fundraiser" to collect spare change and donations from families and staff. (One staff member even sent in a donation from her parents!) The support was truly overwhelming and demonstrates what caring staff and a strong sense of community we have in our schools.
What’s one thing you want the Rochester community to know about you?
I have spent years preparing for the role of school board member. I have put in the time required to get to know the district, its history, and its issues. I am a strong advocate for public education and I work for what I believe in. My proven leadership and ongoing dedication will benefit Rochester Public Schools.
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