I am a passionate believer in fairness, especially when it comes to representation in government. For too long, the majority running the Duluth School Board has been beholden by special interests.
I believe in voting my conscience and the will of all of my constituents. Consequently, I have not solicited nor accepted any labor endorsements. It's not because I'm anti-union. I served my union brothers and sisters as a steward for nearly 12 years. Our community has a legal responsibility and a moral imperative to provide the students in our district the best education possible. This is not a partisan issue. I will represent my friends and neighbors - the taxpayers and, most importantly, the students.
I believe the district has three emergencies. They are the budget, inequity, and the achievement gap. These are not new problems, but the current board leadership has struggled to make meaningful progress toward solving them.
I propose an independent audit of the district's finances and selling our vacant buildings as ways to start getting our fiscal house in order. These savings could help address the inequities in course offerings and class sizes and would help lower the achievement gap by getting money to those who need it most.
As for not selling surplus properties to our "competitors," I think this is an outdated policy. I think it does a disservice to our staff, which is second to none, and it limits parents' choices in what public schools their children attend. We should meet individual student needs with great customer service to help parents and students want to seek us out.
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There are also some systemic inequities.
Most of the district's policies have not been updated since the 1990s, and they don't necessarily reflect current societal trends.
Another item is compensatory money. It is based on a school's free and reduced lunch population. Poverty is as big a barrier to education as a learning disability, and this money is intended to address these challenges. However, we are taking money away from schools that need it most and sending it to schools with less need. Is this fair? Are these the values of our community?
Transparency is key. Showing the public that the district is solving problems and where the tax dollars are going instills trust and shows honesty and respect. I will encourage open dialog between staff, the board, students, parents, and the community. Board members should be willing to respond and work with community members. Customer service is more important than insincere public relations. We need to be ambassadors for our schools and be responsive by listening, returning phone calls, and helping.
I will represent you and all the community in board decisions always.
Kurt Kuehn is a candidate for School Board in eastern Duluth's District 1.
