Skip the commentary & cut to the chase, if you like.

Minnesota’s Office of the Revisor of Statutes issued the statutes reflecting law changes passed by the 2013 MN Legislature today, including Section 120B.11, the centerpiece of this board campaign.

Officially titled School District Process for Reviewing Curriculum, Instruction and Student Achievement; Striving for the World’s Best Workforce, the new law requires the state’s school boards to adopt, at a public meeting, comprehensive, long-term strategic plans to support and improve teaching & learning that is aligned with creating the world’s best workforce.

Also per Subd. 2, local boards are granted authority to identify the strengths and weaknesses of instruction in pursuit of student and school success, as well as the curriculum affecting students’ progress toward college & career readiness.

The Mounds View Schools’ 2013-14 comprehensive review of the middle school program (as stated in its District Operational Plan) would represent a good first step toward the implementation of the kind of plan the Minnesota Legislature expects from school districts.

Board-adopted strategic plans are also expected to include education effectiveness practices that integrate technology, among other things.  For 13-14, the District dropped its integration of technology to a secondary goal, but it is a position of this campaign it should remain a high priority goal.  At present, the Mounds View district permits student use of technological devices for educational purposes decided on by classroom teachers, who also employ technology to varying degrees in instruction.

What the district seems to lack, however, is a comprehensive approach for students to acquire the technological skills employers are calling for in the 21st century workplace.

Good news: As referenced in the YouTube video defining this campaign, the Mounds View district once utilized the kind of model being emphasized by the MN Legislature.  Approximately 1988-90, Supt. Burt Nygren and the Board designed a structure that tapped the expertise of both educators and community, similar to the District Advisory Committees 120B.11, Subd. 3 recommends that school districts create.

Apparently, Mounds View has a tradition of doing things ahead of its time.

A bottom line from all this: if elected to the Mounds View School Board, John Hakes would attempt to nudge the Mounds View School District back to the future by following the new, college & career critical  MN Statute 120B.11.