See where St. Cloud school board candidates stand on distance learning, Apollo referendum and more
Jenny BergST. CLOUD — More than half of St. Cloud school board's seats are up for grabs Nov. 3.
Four of the seven seats — now filled by Al Dahlgren, Shannon Haws, Jeff Pollreis and Mónica Segura-Schwartz — are up for election.
Dahlgren, Haws and Segura-Schwartz filed for re-election. Also on the ballot are Scott Andreasen, Hani Omar-Jacobson, Omar Abdullahi Podi and Andrea Preppernau.
Voters can vote for four candidates. The elected candidates will serve four-year terms, beginning in January, and join Zachary Dorholt, Les Green and Natalie Ringsmuth on the board.
The annual compensation for the board chair is $9,240. The annual compensation for other board members is $8,040.
The candidates shared with the Times their thoughts on the pandemic and distance learning, a potential referendum to update Apollo High School and why voters should support them in the election.
Here are the candidate's responses; some have been edited for clarity and length.
Scott Andreasen
Age: 71
City of residence: St. Wendell Township
Education: Bachelor's of science with a major in social studies education and a minor in business administration
Job: Semi-retired licensed private detective, owner of Scott Investigations
Elected or public service experience: Community member serving on St. Cloud school board finance committee, chair of St. Cloud school district community education advisory committee
Al Dahlgren
Age: 61
City of residence: St. Joseph
Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Minnesota
Job: Owner, Once Upon a Child
Elected or public service experience: St. Cloud school board, eight years
MORE: College of St. Benedict, St. John's tamp down to reduce recent spread of COVID-19
Shannon Haws
Age: 55
City of residence: St. Cloud
Education: Bachelor's degree in business management and human resources, St. Cloud State University
Job: General manager, Comfort Keepers Home Health Care
Elected or public service experience: St. Cloud school board member, four years
Hani Omar-Jacobson
Age: 35
City of residence: St. Cloud
Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing, St. Cloud State University
Job: Registered nurse and community public health specialist at CentraCare
Elected or public service experience: Social advocate and community organizer for health and wellness issues
Omar Abdullahi Podi
Age: 40
City of residence: St. Cloud
Education: Studying political science at St. Cloud State University
Job: President, Waite Park Somali Community Association
Elected or public service experience: Former member of Missouri attorney general's hate crime task force
MORE: Walz urges compliance with masks and distancing to keep students in school, playing sports
Andrea Preppernau
Age: 45
City of residence: St. Cloud
Education: Bachelor's degree from University of California, Los Angeles; master's of public health from San Diego State University
Job: Program coordinator at Princeton Public Schools
Elected or public service experience: Volunteer for Hands Across the World, Tech High School SADD adviser
Mónica Segura-Schwartz
Age: 48
City of residence: St. Cloud
Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering Pontifical Xavierian University, in Bogotá, Colombia; master's degree in social responsibility from St. Cloud State University; master's in advocacy and political leadership from Metro State University
Job: Business development associate, Latino Economic Development Center
Elected or public service experience: St. Cloud school board, four years; GREAT Theatre board, nine years; Great River Children's Museum, two years; Minnesota Latino Affairs Council, four years
Voter's Guide: St. Cloud City Council candidates share thoughts on priorities, whether city is welcoming
Top priorities
What is your top priority if elected to St. Cloud school board?
Andreasen: The board’s job is governance. It sets policy. The superintendent’s job is operational. He presents a situation to board committees and they provide guidance. There are several committees. The board chair will assign me where he/she likes. While I do not have a specific agenda, I hope the chair will recognize my years of service on the finance committee and the expertise I have developed there. My top priority is to do the best job I can with honesty, integrity and transparency.
Dahlgren: I am not a single-issue candidate and the only agenda I am driven by is ensuring that we have the people, facilities, curriculum and supplies in place to educate all students to their fullest potential — all within a balanced budget. Other priorities are challenging the special education cross-subsidy, expanding career and tech opportunities, expanding gifted and talented programming, improving participation in extra-curricular activities, and early identification and education of dyslexic students. I also believe we need to do a better job of communicating the exceptional education we provide: Our test results are equal to or better than surrounding districts when comparing students in similar demographic groups. St. Cloud needs to be known as a go-to place for housing development and real estate prices.
Haws: The safety of our students, staff and families must not be compromised. This school year will not look like any of our past years. We need effective and equitable academic delivery while keeping a close watch on finances. I believe in-person learning is generally a more effective delivery style, and I want to see the district return to normal as soon as safely possible. I also believe after examination of this year's atypical teaching methods, we may want to continue some aspects which result in academic enhancements.
Omar-Jacobson: My top priority consists of student achievement and equity in student performance. Although Minnesota traditionally ranks very high in terms of education, we also have one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation for students of color. If I get elected, I will push for programs that promote these issues.
Podi: If I get elected, I want make a town hall and ask parents and community leaders to come together and ask what they expect from me. I am a good listener and I will listen to all communities, not only communities of color. We need to help all of our children.
Preppernau: If I am elected to the St. Cloud school board, it will be a top priority for me to contribute to innovative thinking and creative solutions to help guide the work of the district’s strategic plan. I will always be analyzing what we are doing — and asking if what we are doing is the most effective way to be doing it. I will always ask how students have been part of the process since they are the ones experiencing the school system on a daily basis.
Segura-Schwartz: To continue to support the administration and community in schooling during these trying times. Schools must prioritize capitalizing from this experience while supporting the most vulnerable. COVID-19 has exposed more than ever all kinds of disparities, which has forced many types of institutions to really work to address them. It has also forced educational institutions to create other ways of teaching which may better suit children who struggle with traditional settings. We still have a long way to go but our district knows what the work is ahead and we all need to give them our support.
Voter's Guide: St. Cloud mayor candidates Kleis, Schiller talk 'defunding' police, spending priorities
COVID-19 response
How do you think the school district is responding to the pandemic?
Andreasen: Our mission is to educate. But the safely of our students and staff is paramount. Striking the proper balance is difficult. The school district follows the law.
Dahlgren: We were asked to change the way we deliver education and to do it in a very short time. I believe the response from our educators and even more importantly, parents, has been exceptional.
Haws: The district is responsible for following state and federal guidelines while creating the best education possible for our students. I believe the district has done an excellent job in creating pathways within the provided guidelines that will provide safe and effective education options for both students and staff.
Omar-Jacobson: I believe that our school leaders are doing the best they can with what information they currently have available to them. I know they are working tirelessly to provide quality education to our children while also prioritizing the health of our students, teachers and staff.
Podi: The district has never faced such a pandemic before. Leaders are trying their best but it is not enough. I want to create a team of teachers and parents to share more information with our communities and for the district to hear frustrations from parents. Social workers can play a role in sharing information.
Preppernau: The district provided several opportunities for families to give feedback (listening sessions, town halls, thought exchange conversations, etc.). As the parent of a junior at Tech, I participated in some of these options and have appreciated receiving regular communications from both the superintendent and the school principal.
Segura-Schwartz: I have been very proud with the district response to the pandemic. Everyone in our district has done their best to plan and adapt to very rapid changes. The most vulnerable are always in the front of every discussion. People have been willing to make, admit and correct mistakes very quickly and face challenges with optimism and hope.
Voter's Guide: Waite Park mayoral candidates talk road improvements, crime and spending
Back-to-school plans
What do you think about the district's back-to-school plan and the state's guidelines?
Andreasen: The state has decreed the rolling average of new cases per 10,000 population in a county controls a school district’s response. A change in number of cases requires a change in response. The district has developed a grid of responses. It’s amazingly complex. I hope it works.
Dahlgren: The district's back-to-school plan is well thought out, yet a temporary solution to this crisis. I am sure we will experience some hiccups along the way. We all want to get back to full-day classroom learning every day. I wish the states guidelines gave more certainty to parents and educators on what the school year will look like. I would imagine the board and administration will be faced with making decisions on how often we want to flip between models as it seems to me each flip will be stressful.
Haws: I appreciate the district offering options for families. While we are restricted from returning to full in-school learning, the district has created detailed safe in-school opportunities. They have plans in place for daily screening of students and staff. There is a comprehensive safety plan for transportation, lunches, classrooms and extracurricular activities. The district is committed to getting one-on-one devices to all students and provide internet access to families in need. They have worked diligently to serve free meals. Administration is monitoring pandemic numbers and is dedicated to returning to normal as soon as possible.
Omar-Jacobson: I am happy that the district is offering in-class learning for grades K-2 because I believe these are critical times for them. So much of the learning that goes on in those early grades relates to learning how to cooperate with others and how to be good friend towards others. I am also happy that they have provided options for high-risk families through the distance learning academy. It is encouraging to see that school administrators are remaining flexible to changes as new evidence comes out regarding this deadly virus.
Podi: The district is doing what other districts in the state are doing so teachers and children get what they need to pass the tests at the end of the year. We know there are more challenges, but we have faith and we will pray all our teachers, parents and administrators survive this crazy pandemic.
Preppernau: As I review the district’s back-to-school plan there is a lot of information that has been shared over the past month for students and families (and it is being updated frequently!) It can be very easy to get overwhelmed by the information, but I would recommend anyone who has questions to reach out to the school and/or district office to ask questions and get the answers you need. Everyone wants our students to succeed in whatever learning environment they experience this fall.
Segura-Schwartz: I believe everyone is working their best with very unprecedented circumstances. I appreciate the flexibility the state has given districts, highlighting student and staff safety. In turn, district staff are doing their best to be creative and adaptable. This is a period of adjustment for everyone. Many families are trying to figure out life with the hybrid education model for their children and work schedules. Not every employer is as flexible. Our district understands this and looks at each case to try and help families. This is not just a district issue but a world issue that demands change, flexibility and imagination from everyone.
A referendum for Apollo?
Do you support asking district residents to approve a referendum to renovate Apollo High School? If yes, when?
Andreasen: I support equity between schools. The new Tech is fabulous. Apollo is 50 years old and needs remodeling. This can be done at one-third the cost of building new. I served on the high school solution committee. I actively supported bond referendums in the past and will do so again. The referendum should be rescheduled as soon as the economy normalizes.
Dahlgren: Yes, within the next two years. The world has changed and so must Apollo. We need enhanced career and technical learning spaces to align curriculum with our community needs and to create parity with Tech and other area schools. With the changes in our community and demographics, how teachers teach has changed. We need flexible learning spaces for individualized learning.
Haws: I believe our school district has a responsibility to request a referendum for Apollo. The school district and voters would be doing a disservice to the community if location of residency results in inequitable academic opportunity. As for a timeline, hopefully the discussion can resume in a year.
Omar-Jacobson: Yes. As we are growing as a district, it will be critical to upgrade our facilities to provide our students with the best learning opportunities available. As a community, we have a responsibility to all of our children to invest in their futures and education. We will reap the long-term rewards as a community by committing to adequately preparing the current generation to be our future leaders.
Podi: If elected, I will only support a logical plan because the money we spend is taxpayer's money. Higher taxes may cause frustration. If I get elected, I will be careful and make sure nothing bad happens. We cannot decide what we want to do now while we don't yet know how our communities will be impacted economically by the pandemic.
Preppernau: What is needed today in 2020? If I think the most appropriate path forward is a referendum after thoughtful analysis and discussion with Apollo students, staff, families and community members, I would support it. I believe any well-planned investments in education is a benefit to the entire community regardless of whether a person has a child attending school.
Segura-Schwartz: Yes, we must, as soon as the economy is again stable and families have gone back to some level of certainty. We need to do this to continue with our commitment with equity for north side children.
Voter's Guide: Council member Anne Buckvold takes on longtime St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz
Distance learning
The district is using distance learning much more frequently due to the pandemic. Once the pandemic subsides and in-person learning returns, would you like to see the district continue to offer more distance learning options? Why or why not?
Andreasen: In-person learning is preferable for student socialization, parent freedom and reduced teacher preparation time. Continued distant learning would require sufficient demand and additional funding.
Dahlgren: Yes. I believe the distance learning academy should be a continuing effort. I also think we should remove snow days from contracts and immediately convert to distance learning days when the weather becomes a safety issue.
Haws: I think in-person learning is generally a more effective instructional delivery method. However, online learning provides flexibility and can result in cost-savings, which, in turn, can provide funds for additional small group, one-on-one and specialized learning opportunities.
Omar-Jacobson: Many of the lessons we have learned through accommodating students during this pandemic will be useful for future trends in learning. For example, on days with inclement weather, distance learning will be useful to continue to provide students with a quality education while also keeping them safe.
Podi: The district should follow the CDC guideline before deciding. When the administration and elected officials work together, good things are going to happen. We cannot predict what is coming tomorrow but we will listen our scientists and take the best option.
Preppernau: Yes, I think it will be important to continue distance learning options. Both of my children (students at Tech) took online AP classes through a different provider due to scheduling conflicts. Many districts have distance learning options so it would be important to continue that after the pandemic. One option could include partnering with surrounding districts to offer regional programming where costs and resources could be shared.
Segura-Schwartz: I believe this pandemic is going to change education, work and life forever. We need to learn from every experience we have. I believe this is an opportunity for making a system more flexible and able to accommodate different learning styles.
Voter's Guide: See side-by-side responses from Waite Park City Council candidates
Why should they get elected?
Why does your background or life experience make you a good candidate for this role?
Andreasen: I am an Eagle Scout. I graduated from Mankato State with a teaching degree. I worked for Hennepin County human services, where I gained some understanding about what it is like to be poor. I traveled abroad for a year and developed an appreciation of other cultures. I worked as an insurance adjuster helping people in trouble. As owner of Scott Investigation, I developed an understanding of business and the law. I am father of six graduates of District 742. Most things eventually come through the board finance committee; as a member I know the issues and the players.
Dahlgren: I have a business background and that makes me unique among candidates. The school board is entrusted with nearly $140 million each year from our community. Understanding budgeting and finance is a critical part of being a strong board member. I am not agenda-driven. I believe in letting professional educators educate. I do not pretend to have all of the answers but when we need an answer, I help to ensure we get one.
Haws: I believe my education, work experience and personal life make me an excellent candidate for school board. I am a mother of four children who have attended District 742 and this has provided me a realistic perspective into the day-to-day life of our district's classrooms and schools. My family has experienced the successes and the struggles of our district and this is invaluable insight for a school board member. In addition, I have both education and work experience in business management. I am also a former Head Start teacher and swim coach.
Omar-Jacobson: First, these matters affect us directly as my husband and I are currently raising four children in District 742. We are personally invested in this community and the success of our public schools not only for our own children but for all children served in this district. In addition, professionally I have committed my education and career to public service. As a public health nurse, I have been instrumental in advocating for the equal treatment of all patients during this pandemic. I have also pushed to make our healthcare system more equitable for all Central Minnesota residents.
Podi: I am from a well-known family back home with many political and economic experts. I grew up in a refugee camp; it was a diverse city where people from different backgrounds came together. I was in student government and brought together the students and school district. I know how to build relationships between people with different backgrounds.
Preppernau: I have worked in public education for the last 20 years, 13 of those years for St. Cloud school district. I truly believe that a thriving educational system is the lifeline of a community. I am a parent of two children who have been educated by the St. Cloud system since kindergarten. I have seen many positives and some areas where I think the system could be improved. I want to contribute to the continuous improvement of the St. Cloud educational system.
Segura-Schwartz: I bring to the board very relevant life experience for our district. I am an immigrant, a woman and a family advocate. I have experience in public policy through the Minnesota Latinos Affairs Council, the MN Association of Directors of Color and my master’s in advocacy and public leadership. Finishing my first term has given me experience dealing with real-life district issues that will help me be able to understand and tackle upcoming issues better than someone without board experience. The school board is not about what one person brings alone, but a sum of collective qualities of each member. Having a balance of experiences on the board is important.
Voter's Guide: St. Joseph City Council candidates talk budget priorities, pandemic
Presidential preferences
Who will you vote for in this year's presidential election?
Andreasen: I vote for candidates of good character, people of integrity who are honest and trustworthy, and people who can work with others to solve problems. The position of a school board member is non-partisan. No mudslinging required.
Dahlgren: I will proudly support Donald Trump.
Haws: A school board member is a nonpartisan position. I seek to understand, respect, and work together to build a stronger community for everyone. I am committed to a safe school culture for all of our students and I believe all students deserve equitable access to a quality education.
Omar-Jacobson: I am looking for a candidate who will bring us together as a nation, serve all constituents and work tirelessly to bridge gaps and work across the aisle to move us forward and benefit all Americans regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, abilities or who they voted for in the last election.
Podi: I will vote for the candidate who can bring us together. We are better than this. The world is looking at us and China is looking to be the world's superpower. If our country continues to be divided, we will fail.
Preppernau: I participate in democracy by using my voice to vote for politicians whose platforms help to reduce societal inequalities, support education, ensure access to healthcare, and protect the natural environment — all while balancing the economic impact of these issues.
Segura-Schwartz: I will vote for the person I consider the best choice for the job. I will urge you and everyone else to do the same, as in any other election at any other time.
Jenny Berg is the cities and schools reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-259-3680 or jberg@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @bergjenny.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to sctimes.com today.