Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/sarahlahm/page/2/)
A new “leader letter” from Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson’s office landed in my inbox recently. Let’s just say I was intrigued by its contents. Continue Reading
At Brooklyn Center High School, a couple of years ago, a small room was transformed into an optometrist’s examining room. On the first day it opened in January 2013, 18 students were seen, and 15 of them needed glasses. At last, those who needed eyewear had access to it.
There is one final pre-primary candidate forum for this year’s Minneapolis School Board candidates, but incumbent citywide candidate Rebecca Gagnon will not be there. Continue Reading
Who is hosting the August 6 “People’s Forum,” billed as a Minneapolis School Board candidate forum, and why is a New York City-based PR firm sending out the media advisories for it? Continue Reading
A young woman from the group Students for Education Reform (SFER) just knocked on my door and asked for me by name. She was out promoting Don Samuels for Minneapolis School Board, on behalf of SFER (and the 50CAN Advocacy Fund, I might add). Continue Reading
“I think I found I am a Democrat,” said Minneapolis District 5 school board candidate Jay Larson. Democrat or not, Larson, who announced his candidacy at the beginning of the year has been battling rumors over who he is ever since.At the April 26 Minneapolis DFL City Convention, where school board candidates seek party endorsement, Larson said “things got ugly” when rumors began to spread involving his past experience as an employee of KTMS, a Christian radio station, and The Patriot, a conservative talk radio station.There was “a lot of name-calling,” Larson said, and people telling his supporters that Larson “wasn’t their guy.”“I completely respect the delegate process,” Larson said, “but I won’t participate in it again.”Larson said he felt dismayed that DFL members were quick to attack and dismiss him because of his past work record, while ignoring his more recent deeds as a parent, volunteer and community advocate with Minneapolis Public Schools.“I worked at The Patriot eight or nine years ago,” Larson said, but he left the station because their confrontational talk show format was not a “comfortable” fit for him.He said he began working there partly because of his background in radio and because of a friend who worked for the station that wanted Larson to work with him. But he is proud of the work he did in the promotions department at Christian radio station KTMS, he said, because he is “more Christian, and less conservative.”A public servant “in all aspects”Despite his background, Larson said he still believes in the separation of church and state and that his Christianity would not influence him as a school board member. And he believes his active role at downtown Minneapolis’ First Baptist has prepared him well to serve on the school board, he said.Through First Baptist, Larson said he has been the chair of many committees, and that those are elected positions that have taught him how to represent constituents properly, govern boards well and handle difficult decisions involving things like budgets.Larson said that in all aspects of his life he sees himself as a public servant. When he left The Patriot, he began a career in the funeral industry, he said, where he works today. Continue Reading
Today is Mary Turck’s last day as editor of the Twin Cities Daily Planet. I can’t believe it. Continue Reading
Lisa Love vividly recalls watching the documentary film “Bully” with her sixth grade daughter in the fall of 2013. About halfway through the film, which features the experiences of young bullying victims, Love says her daughter broke down sobbing, saying, “This is what my life at FAIR is like.” Love knew then that she had to pull her daughter from the Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource School (FAIR School).
High teacher turnover. A climate of fear and silence. Children put in dangerous situations. A lack of oversight, governance, and responsibility. Extremely poor leadership and communication. Continue Reading
So, what’s it like working for the clampdown?
For the past few weeks, I’ve wanted to pose this question to my friends and contacts who work for the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS).