MANKATO — Mankato area school board incumbents and hopefuls sat without an audience in the West High School cafeteria Thursday evening and provided their positions on everything from bullying to enrollment declines.
They answered questions about the district’s past and future in the St. Peter League of Women Voters’ latest candidate forum.
There are four four-year seats up for grabs on the Mankato board this year.
Incumbents Liz Ratcliff, Christopher Kind and Erin Roberts along with new filers Joel Hollerich of Madison Lake, Tim Flynn of Eagle Lake and Elizabeth Hanke of Mankato were in attendance Thursday.
New filer Tracy Frederick Corcoran, of North Mankato, was not in attendance but submitted opening and closing statements that were read by the moderator.
Candidates kicked off the forum with their opening statements in the format that was not a debate style.
Corcoran’s read that she is in favor of a safe and supportive learning environment and that she is dedicated to advocating for policies that address immediate needs.
“Let’s transform our schools together,” the statement said in part.
Flynn said he is an advocate of mental health and wants to address the issue of bullying in schools.
“Bullying is a root that can cause many issues,” he said.
Hanke said she wants to bring additional transparency to the district while Hollerich said his biggest concern is increasing reading levels, adding that he’s focused on fundamental early education.
Kind, meanwhile, discussed his experience in higher education and said he’s learned how to collaborate with colleagues and people in the community while on the board.
Ratcliff said she believes the school board is governing the district effectively and efficiently.
“We’re just getting started. We’re focusing on the future,” she said.
Roberts, who is the only person of color on the current board, discussed the importance of representation for marginalized communities by mentioning the district’s new equity committee and touted the new strategic roadmap.
Some candidates, like Flynn, then said their top priority is the safety of kids in school.
Flynn said he wants to see policies that address kids who don’t feel safe.
Hollerich said his priorities are academic focused and that he wants to see improved test scores and graduation rates.
He added that he’d like to see more reading intervention staff.
Candidates were then asked what they thought the current safety and security concerns were.
Flynn addressed having secure school doors and questioned the policies in place to handle disruptive kids in the classroom.
Roberts said the new secure entrances at some schools is a good first step in the district.
“I’m really proud that we were able to do that,” she said, adding that keeping kids and staff safe is a priority.
“When I think about behaviors, I think about it as an effect and not a cause. When we see problematic behavior … I always want to ask the question, ‘Why?’”
Hollerich talked in favor of having school resource officers.
“I think it acts as a deterrent. The presence of mind that there is someone there,” he said.
Ratcliff said it’s also important to create a climate where kids feel like they belong.
Candidates were then asked how training could help identify students with mental health challenges.
Hollerich said it’s important to know the warning signs when someone is struggling and also build a community effort so kids feel comfortable asking for help.
Flynn said he would like to see more peer programs like the Hope Squad where kids are trained to help each other.
Hanke said the district needs to consider the environment it’s creating for students and that there needs to be emotionally and mentally safe atmospheres.
Some of the final questions involved enrollment and staff recruitment.
Kind said staff recruitment comes down to job satisfaction and making sure there’s long-term support.
Ratcliff said the district is taking part in initiatives to recruit students to go into teaching and is building relationships with universities.
“A big one for me is creating an environment where teachers feel appreciated,” she said. “I think teaching is a very noble profession.”
Flynn said the district needs to make sure that when teachers bring up a concern, they acknowledge it.
Roberts said the strategic plan has initiatives to modernize teaching and hopes the district’s goals to get creative with lessons will energize passion.
Regarding enrollment, Hollerich said the district needs to celebrate its wins more.
“Let’s get riled up about the good things,” he said.
Kind said the district needs to find out why students and families are leaving.
“That’s a big decision,” he said.
And Hanke said the district needs to make sure parents and community members feel heard.
The full forum is expected to be up on the League of Women Voters’ website in a few days.