St. Paul School Board elections have real contest this year

The St. Paul school district, the state's second-largest in terms of student population, has four seats to be decided. There are three incumbent positions with 4-year terms and one 2-year open seat up for a special election to finish the term of Tom Conlon, who has stepped down.  Six candidates are competing for the three incumbent seats, two candidates are vying for Conlon's position.

The three board members currently in office received the most votes in the September primary. They did not, however, secure the endorsement of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, the city's teachers union. The federation did endorse challenger Jean O'Connell, who finished fourth in the primary. The federation also endorsed Vallay Varro for the open seat race.

Like most public institutions, the St. Paul district faces a daunting economic challenge. Last year the district cut $25 million from the budget, eliminating more than 250 positions. The board voted to close two schools at the end of this school year. The district froze staff salaries and has yet to negotiate a contract with the union. The district is suffering declining enrollment and a persistent gap in achievement between students of color and their white counterparts.

The Candidates for four-year terms

Elona Street-Stewart  (incumbent), 58. Endorsements: St. Paul DFL. First elected to the school board in 2000. Current board co-chair. Occupation: administrator of Racial Ethnic Ministries & Community for the regional synod of the Presbyterian Church. Long-time St. Paul activist.

"I will get out from behind the board table to build connections between our schools and community, business, and organizational leaders."

John Broderick (incumbent),, 67.  Endorsements: St. Paul DFL. First elected to the school board in 2000. Occupation: Former teacher with the St. Paul school district.

"Ineffective or redundant programs should be eliminated. If cuts are made, we must adhere to our commitment to safe and welcoming schools."

Tom Goldstein (incumbent), 52. Endorsments: St. Paul DFL and several labor groups.  First elected to the school board in 2005. Occupation: Attorney and union organizer with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota. Active in local issues including fighting against a proposal to raise St. Paul sales tax to fund a new Twins stadium, concealed weapons legislation, the Minnesota Justice Foundation and public schools.

"Unfortunately, in a political environment where test scores often appear to be the only tool by which we measure school improvement or student success, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the significant progress that we've made as a district the past four years.

Jean O'Connell, 57. Occupation: retired executive for 3M, where she worked for more than three decades in various capacities. Chaired the St. Paul Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Large Scale System Change and worked on the Shared Accountability and Transitions Initiative Advisory Teams.

She also served on the Advisory Committee to the University of MN Office of Service & Continuous Improvement.

"This is a critical time for our schools. We need to make fundamental changes to improve student achievement and better balance the resources used to support their learning."

Chris Conner, 36. Endorsements: St. Paul Republican Party. Occupation: Lutheran pastor. Active in the failed attempt to keep the district from closing Roosevelt Elementary School, where his daughter goes.

"The people of St. Paul could not possibly do any worse than the district and Board of Education have done so far. The School Board has literally presided over the downward spiral of our schools the past 10 years."

John Krenik, 46. Endorsements: St. Paul Republican Party. Occupation: former teacher in the St. Paul district, most recently as a special education teacher at Murray Jr. High until he resigned last year under pressure from the administration. Former chair of the St. Paul Republican Party.

"There needs to be major changes in how St. Paul Public Schools is run. Our children, our most precious resource, are not being given the tools for future success."

Special election to fill seat open by resignation of Tom Conlon

Term: 2 years

Vallay Varro, 33. Endorsements: Saint Paul DFL, Stonewall DFL, Saint Paul Federation of Teachers, AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 and other labor groups) Occupation: St. Paul education policy director for Mayor Chris Coleman, former program manager for the Minnesota Literacy Council. Has had to defend her decision to send her child to a private school.

"It is imperative that we maintain and improve the things that are working well in Saint Paul - school choice, excellent college readiness programs, quality fine arts, music and extra-curricular activities. I have built relationships locally and nationally in areas of education reform."

Pat Igo, 67. Occupation: Realtor with Coldwell Banker Burnet. Served on various civic panels, including the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission, St. Paul Business Review Council, Ramsey County Special Board of Appeals and Equalization, and Ramsey County Blue Ribbon Tax Committee.

"I call issues as I see them based on my perspective of a concerned taxpayer, a civic leader, and an experienced professional."

Art Hughes

Art Hughes (email art@adhughes.com) is a freelance journalist in Minneapolis.