Thank you!

I will be the first to admit that I am not the most technologically "advanced." That is one reason why this site has been kept simple, and why it has taken more than a month to have a thank you posted.

I truly do thank everyone for your help this year. I am energized by the support that was shown. More importantly, I am motivated to continue my work, and to address the concerns and challenges that were raised during the campaign. I am confident that, together, we can do great things in St. Paul.

Thanks again, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

A little more about why I want to continue the fight.

Below are the questions, and my answers, recently published in the Highland Villager regarding my campaign. If you have any questions, please email me. And please tell your neighbors to vote on November 3.

1. What are the greatest barriers to St. Paul Public Schools students reaching their full potential academically? What can the School Board do to help students overcome those barriers?

Many of our students are not performing at the level that they should and the achievement gap between certain groups is very large. Some of the obstacles that create this situation can be overcome by strategies implemented by our schools. Identification of individual student learning problems and addressing them with intervention, support, and best practices will increase achievement. However, many of our challenges are the result of poverty and family instability. In these areas the school district must partner with all of our community to ensure the well-being and education of our children.

2. The St. Paul Public Schools are considering a host of Large Scale System Changes? Which if any of these changes are necessary and why?
   

In order to ensure a wealth of programs and choices for our families, we transport a very high percentage of our students on buses. As we look at Large Scale System Change, we will need to balance transportation costs with our desire to provide students with experiences that will allow them to be successful. Suggestions to modify the choice system have included going to a regional model, replicating successful programs and providing additional support to neighborhood schools. Any of these changes need to be evaluated in terms of economic cost and the impact on students and their families.

3. Faced with the need for budget cuts, where would you look in the school district’s budget to reduce spending?
   

The prevailing rule is always to keep cuts as far away as possible from students and their classrooms and activities. Ineffective or redundant programs should be eliminated. If cuts are made, we must adhere to our commitment to safe and welcoming schools. The entire process must be transparent.

4. What distinguishes you from your opponent(s) in the race? Why should the voters elect you?
   

The school district is currently in a time of transition. The Board will need experience, stability and the skills to work with the community. I believe I have these strengths. I am a product of the Saint Paul Schools. I taught and coached here for over 30 years, and my daughters graduated from our system. During my time on the Board I built relationships with my colleagues and other elective officials. I also pride myself on being accessible to constituents and willing to listen. If I am re-elected, I will listen to the community and work hard for the students.

Look at this Ad recently published in the Villager!

I am lucky to have thousands of St. Paulites supporting me, and honored that these four, Toni Carter, Ian Keith, Juanita Lewis and Joe Maternowski, have allowed me to use their names and these quotes.

Thanks for all of your support. Only two weeks left, and I will need your help, and your family, friends and neighbors, to continue my work on the School Board.

Mancini's Event

Wow! Thanks to all of my friends who have agreed to host a great event at Mancini's Charhouse on October 1. This is an impressive list, and I am very thankful to everyone involved. Please join me and my friends!

Fundraiser for Brodrick
Mancini's Charhouse
531 7th St W
4:30pm to 7pm
October 1
map
Contribute: $300, $100, $50 or whatever you are able.
Click for a copy of the invite

Hosted by:

JOHN CHOI, JOE MATERNOWSKI, JIM MOGEN, M.KATHLEEN MURPHY, SIDNEY FARICY, FMR. STATE REP. RAY FARICY, MARTY STRUB, ST.PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DAN BOSTROM, STUART ALGER, PATRICIA EAVES, MICHAEL LEWIS, BOB HUGHES, RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER TONI CARTER, MARY PARSONS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ANNE CARROLL, BERNIE HESSE, STATE SEN. SANDRA PAPPAS, BRIAN JOYCE, BOBBY LYONS, ANDREA SACHS, FMR. ST.PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DEBBIE MONTGOMERY, KEN SCHULTZ, RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER JANICE RETTMAN, RICK WINTERS, SHAR KNUTSON, FMR. POLICE CHIEF BILL FINNEY, VALLAY VARRO, MARGARET LOVEJOY, MARK DAVIS, STATE SEN. ELLEN ANDERSON, FMR. STATE REP. ANDY DAWKINS, JACKIE COOPER, ST.PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RUSS STARK, STATE REP. SHELDON JOHNSON, GEORGE JOHNSON, DAVID A. BERG, JOANN CLARK, ST.PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LEE HELGEN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELONA STREET=STEWART, JAYNE LALLIER, FOUNG HEU, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TOM GOLDSTEIN, STATE REP. MICHAEL PAYMAR, DOTTY DANLEY, STATE SEN. RICHARD COHEN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER KAZOUA KONG-THAO, LYNNE LARKIN-WRIGHT, DAVID WRIGHT, STATE REP. CY THAO, MARYANN ECKLUND, STATE REP. ALICE HAUSMAN, GRETA AND ERIC BERGSTROM, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER KEITH HARDY, SAGE HOLBEN, RAY HESS, RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISIONER VICTORIA REINHARDT, STATE REP. ERIN MURPHY, STATE SEN. MEE MOUA, ERIC MITCHELL, JOAN AND WAYNE WITTMAN, AL OERTWIG, MARK HELGERSON, BETH AND JON COMMERS, STAN GARDNER, DANN DOBSON, SANDRA GILBERT,CONNIE LEWIS, KEN PETERSON, CHUCK REPKE, GLORIA BOGEN, VICKI SHIRTS, BOB SPAULDING, AL ZDRAZIL, KEN IOSSO, TED DAVIS,CORY TENNISON, ANGIE KLINE, PAT SELLNER, ALICE AND BRUCE FARIBAULT, FMR. STATE REP. TOM OSTHOFF, ABE ROSENTHAL, TERRANCE O'TOOLE, DAVID LEITZKE,JOANN ENOS, ANNE WHITE, JOHN FILTER, ROY MAGNUSON, MARY DREW, JOHN AND MARY THOEMKE, DAN AND SERENA WARD, RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISIONER JIM MCDONOUGH, JAN WILLMS, MATT BOSTROM, STEVEN YOUNG, DOUG HARTFORD, KRIS FREDSON, RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER RAFAEL ORTEGA, JAMES HAGGAR, PAM MARENTETTE, ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID THUNE, STATE REP. JOHN LESCH, FMR. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BECKY MONTGOMERY, STATE REP. TIM MAHONEY, JACKIE OSSELL, JENNY BRODRICK, ST.PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER KATHY LANTRY, IAN KEITH, GAIL DANEKER, MARK FRIEDL, ANGIE STEHR, MEGAN THOMAS, HARRY MELANDER, CAROL WALSH, JAMIE FITZPATRICK, TAMMY TESKE, ERICA SCHUMACHER, BOB LONG, ST.PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAT HARRIS, FMR. ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JACK CHRISTENSEN, MARGE CHRISTENSEN, FMR. SCHOOL BOARD MEMEBER NEAL THAO

Rice Street Parade 2009

Another parade, another opportunity to spend a gorgeous summer night meeting new St. Paulites. The whole DFL team showed up with me at this one, and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Trust me, I don't always wear the campaign colors.

John Gets Endorsed!

Thanks to all of the great St. Paul DFLers that turned out to endorse me for St. Paul School Board. I am regularly humbled by the support that you show to me, and I hope I can make you proud as we move towards the Primary in September.

Grand Ol' Days - '09

As much as I love a smalltown parade, there is nothing like Grand Ol' Days. This is really a celebration of St. Paul, and how we here in the Capital City kick off summer.