Dick Velner
Achievement Gap Committee Candidate
questionnaire
1.
The Minneapolis Public Schools have
struggled for some time to raise the achievement of low-income students and
students of color.
a.
What in your
opinion are the most important factors in raising student achievement?
Ans: There are 3 important factors. First; the primary relationship between
the student, parent and teacher.
Second; the teacher as Curriculum Principal. Third; technology, technology, technology.
b.
What measures
should the school board take to improve student outcomes?
Ans: Execution of the points laid out in the
Strategic Plan and commitment to the potential laid out in Policy #6010.
c.
If the school
board follows your suggestions, how soon would you expect to see significant
results?
Ans: Immediately. With a new leadership group in place we are positioned well
to witness dramatic change. The
Russian School of Mathematics I am proposing under #6010 will clarify what I
feel is solution focus.
2.
Some people are concerned that focusing on academic achievement for low-income
students may lead to insufficient attention being paid to the needs of average
and higher performing students. How do you respond to that concern?
Ans: Nonsense. Teachers understand that learning comes from within and
although low-income, high-income or no-income are social considerations, focus
on the individual strength and weakness of every student will maximize
outcomes.
3.
It has been suggested that certain provisions of the teachers' contract make
more difficult the staffing of schools adequate to meet the needs of all
students. What is your view?
Ans: This is true. My position is discussed under a proposal to Free the
Teachers. Teaching in the
classroom is the same as running a small business. You must do what you must do to keep the doors open.
4. One idea to improve student outcomes is to have a
longer school day or a longer school year. Do you favor increasing
learning time for students, and if so, how would you like to see that happen?
Ans: There is no correlation between seat time and learning. We must be convinced that learning is a
life-long process and in our age of technology learning time is a 24 by 7
proposal.
5.
Early childhood education is often
offered as an important strategy for addressing the achievement gap.
a. What are your views on investing in early childhood
education?
Ans: Where’s the money going to come
from? Dramatically improve the
system we now have for K-12, then bring up the idea of early childhood.
b. How can there be
better alignment between pre-k programs and the K-12 system?
Ans: See above.
6.
Some people suggest we need more flexible
or innovative models of delivering education.
a. Do you favor or
oppose charter schools?
Ans: Charter, contract or autonomous. These are legal terms for innovative
ideas. Look at the Russian School
of Mathematics and you will have an engaging vision of what is possible.
b. What should the
relationship be between the charter schools and MPS?
Ans: Again, look at RSM and how it will
function as a school within a school.
d.
Do you favor or
oppose self-governed (teacher-led) schools?
Ans: Would favor if they work but I have my
doubts.
7.
A group of Northside residents have formed a Northside Achievement Zone, aiming
to replicate some of the outcomes experienced by the Harlem Children’s Zone in
New York.
a.
How should the
School Board respond?
Ans: I am not familiar with the
concept.
b.
Is it appropriate
for the School Board to make special efforts or investments in a particular
portion of the city?
Ans: No. Invest only in the 3 primary entities; Student, Parent,
Teacher.
8.
With 65% students of color, the
Minneapolis Public Schools face significant challenges with regard to
integration. Some people prioritize integration efforts, while others argue
that that it is more important to improve the quality of schools in low income
neighborhoods. What is your opinion on this? Do you favor efforts to increase
integration in the city schools? If yes, what steps would you take
to make that happen?
Ans: This is about political nonsense and I
do not want to waste your time.
9. Improving governance of our public schools is a big
topic of discussion.
a. What in your opinion are the main governance challenges
for public education?
Ans: Understand leadership at the teacher
level; Curriculum Principal, Investment Principal and Learning Principal (see
RSM).
c.
Are there
different governance models that you believe are worth exploring?
Ans: Only one that makes any sense –
mine.
d.
The Governor has
recommended that the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts be managed by
the cities’ mayors. What is your opinion of this recommendation?
Ans: Here again, this is politics in its
finest form. I’m too busy teaching
to understand what mayors do.
10. Your role in the school board
a.
How do you define the role of a school board member?
Ans: As a visionary and advocate of
change.
b. How much time each
week do you expect to spend on school related matters?
Ans: Bad question.
11. Finally,
what does success in the Minneapolis Public Schools look like to you.
Ans: An
interesting and exciting challenge.
