To the editor:
The message from our district’s own perception surveys is hard to ignore: ISD 200 needs new school board leadership.
Carrie Tate and Jessica Dressley, our current school board chair and vice chair, are both up for reelection. I believe voters should look closely at the lack of confidence expressed by the people who know our schools best: our staff and parents.
Among district staff, the rating for “The school board is doing what it takes to make our district successful” plummeted from 2.99 to 2.19. It was the lowest- rated category among staff and placed ISD 200 in only the 2nd percentile of all districts surveyed. That is not a minor warning sign. It is a call for change.
Parents aren’t exactly giving the board a vote of confidence, either. Their rating of the school board dropped from 3.38 to 3.17, placing our district in only the 8th percentile.
And here’s what makes those results especially telling: parents’ second-highest concern (after safety and security) is recruiting and retaining high-quality staff.
Their highest-rated statement is that school staff treat their children with dignity and respect.
Our community clearly values our teachers and staff. So why is confidence in the board so low?
We need board leaders who will listen to educators, respect their expertise, communicate effectively with parents, and understand that supporting our staff is essential to student success. We need board leaders who understand they are to be governing leaders, not operations leaders. We need board leaders who are not focused on culture wars. We need board leaders who are concerned for the best interests of all our students.
We cannot expect different results while continuing with the same leadership. Our students, staff, and community deserve better.
It’s time for a change. I encourage ISD 200 voters to elect Mark Zuzek, Kendal Larson, and Melissa Kinneman to the school board.
William Spinelli, MD