Issues

Pam Costain is committed to:

High Achievement for All Children

High expectations, adequate school support and excellent classroom instruction are critical for all children, regardless of family income, race or circumstance. As a community we cannot be content with a mediocre education for any child. We must recommit to delivering a world class education to students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

Due to glaring inequality in jobs, housing, health care and early childhood education, children enter school with a huge “opportunity gap”. The Minneapolis Public Schools must prioritize the education of children who have fallen behind, providing them with the skills and curriculum that will allow them to succeed. We must put razor sharp focus on the needs of children of color and those in poverty.

At the same time, the Minneapolis Public Schools must attract and retain middle class families of all races and circumstances. We must meet the needs of children who perform below grade level, at grade level and above grade level with an exciting and focused curriculum that challenges all students to do their best.

Finally we must understand that high achievement is not reflected in test scores alone, but in the ability to think critically, to create and enjoy the arts, and to engage in the world around us.

Classroom Stability

Classroom and school stability are essential for the success of children, yet in the last several years we have seen significant disruptions in the Minneapolis schools. Declining enrollment and a sharp decrease in state funding for public schools have caused major cutbacks in the budget of the Minneapolis Public Schools.

The cutbacks, in turn, have resulted in major staff reductions. Newer teachers have been laid off, well-trained teams have been broken up and reassigned, teachers are working in programs for which they are inadequately trained, and there is discouragement among families and professional staff. And in some schools, classes are seriously overcrowded.

We must find a way to stabilize classrooms and schools, while protecting jobs and ensuring quality instruction. A partnership between the board, the teacher’s union, administrative staff and parents is needed  to find creative solutions that put the needs of our children at the center of the equation.

Lower Class Size

Class sizes in several schools in Minneapolis, particularly our high schools, have risen to an unacceptable level. Some classrooms are so over-crowded that children don’t have sufficient books, equipment or in some cases, a place to sit. Teachers are expected to teach far too many students and the quality of instruction and individual attention is diminished.

Overall, class sizes have risen due to the extreme budget cuts the district has absorbed in the last several years as a result of insufficient funding from the state. This is the responsibility of the Minnesota legislature. However, some class sizes have risen due to poor management and planning from central offices of the district. This is the responsibility of the Minneapolis Public Schools. There must be an immediate solution to the over-crowding in certain schools, coupled with a concerted effort to organize the public to advocate for adequate state funding for our schools.

Board Accountability

The citizens of Minneapolis are asking for strong, focused leadership from the School Board. They want to feel confident once again that the board is “steering the ship” and creating a positive climate for success in our schools.

As the elected representatives of the people, the school board is responsible for governing the district, engaging in long range planning, setting policy and communicating regularly with parents, staff and the general public.

Members of the board need to be visible in the community – showing up in the schools, at public events and in collaborative settings. They must listen, learn, share their perspective and help the broader community understand their stake in the success of the Minneapolis Public Schools. There are wonderful things to celebrate in our schools and the board must do a better job as ambassadors for our district.

Shared Responsibility

Everyone has a stake in public education and the fate of Minneapolis as a city is closely tied to the success of its public schools. Public education is the great experiment of our democracy and the surest guarantee of equal opportunity for all people. Continuing to improve our public schools is everyone’s responsibility

• The state of Minnesota must step up and adequately fund our public schools. After a decade of strangling our schools, it is time for our legislators to put adequate resources back in the system so we can once again be a proud education state.
• The district administration and board must take good care of tax-payers money, manage the system well, demand excellence and provide leadership so that teachers in the classroom can focus on what they do best – helping children learn.
• Teachers and other staff must continue their commitment to excellence in their profession, accountability for learning outcomes and helping every child reach his or her fullest potential.
• Parents must do all that they can to support their children’s education, make sure their children get to school and are ready to learn. Students also must be willing to step up and do their very best.
• Finally our city officials, community partners, business people and the public must show that we truly do believe in the next generation of young people by providng them with what they need to succeed.

If we come together to support the Minneapolis Public Schools, there is nothing that can stop us from realizing our dream of a more fair, equitable and prosperous city that works on behalf of all its children.