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Writer's pictureShayla Owodunni

Recap: League of Women Voters School Board Candidate Forum

It was an honor to participate in the League of Women Voters Minneapolis School Board Candidate Forum, alongside candidates for the district six and at-large seat. The forum offered an opportunity to dig into some of the most pressing issues facing Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and lay out thoughtful, solution-oriented approaches for the future. Read on (or watch) for a few highlights!




FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND SOLUTIONS

One of the most critical discussions during the forum revolved around the ongoing financial challenges within MPS. I will focus my next few blog posts on the newly confirmed 84 million dollar deficit...and I am also breaking down definitions on social because:

Planet Illustration with hands up saying Finance should not feel like rocket science

In response to questions about fiscal responsibility and transparency, I emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making:

“We need to start by asking the hard questions, modeling the decisions by district, and showing the community exactly what these decisions look like not just for one year, but for five to ten years down the line. I feel that a central place that we have to start is with transparency, and with that, it's making the [financial] decisions easy to understand. I would love us to take a look at how we are, year over year, planning around our students’ ability to thrive...It's not just about reaching for the low-hanging fruit when it comes to budget cuts.”

I also highlighted the need for a comprehensive, community-driven approach to these decisions, bringing voices from across the city into the process.


 

PRIORITIZING ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

Attendance and engagement were another key topic. I shared my perspective on engaging both students and families in saying:

“When we talk about absenteeism, it’s not just about getting kids physically into the classroom—it’s about making sure they’re excited to come to school. We need to focus on building that relationship between the home and the school so that parents are engaged and children feel that connection. I think engaging the community, making sure parents have a connection to the school, and making education exciting for our students are ways to reduce absenteeism.”

Drawing on my experience as an Early Learning Corps tutor, I also discussed using culturally relevant assessments to connect students to the curriculum, particularly in early education.


 

ADDRESSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

One of the most significant challenges facing Minneapolis Public Schools is the achievement gap, especially for students of color. The stark reality of Minneapolis’ achievement gap was a focus point during the discussion. While the district has long acknowledged this issue, we need to ensure that our strategies are truly effective in bridging these disparities—beginning from early learning.


completed counting puzzle

One solution I believe in is the use of authentic assessments (...and not using terminology like "interventions" or assessments)—approaches that meet students where they are by incorporating real-world examples to amplify learning, through finance and day-to-day life scenarios. As I shared during the forum:

"I would love to see more authentic assessments for our children. Whether it is incorporating real-world examples, like finance, that they would experience in their day-to-day... Once we started incorporating authentic assessments into [my Early Learning Corps] classroom, we saw both excitement from the students and more engagement because they didn’t know whether it was an assessment or not—it was an ongoing part of their day. Minneapolis is in the bottom five in the nation for Black male graduation rates, and that’s something that was truly eye-opening for me. We need to focus on getting our children excited about attending class, staying in school, and being equipped to graduate."

Numerous studies show that when students see themselves and their experiences reflected in what they’re learning, they’re more likely to stay engaged, attend regularly, and perform better academically. I am eager to explore more meaningful, and proven strategies to assess and support student growth. By offering assessments that better reflect the realities of our students’ lives, we can help foster a more engaging, supportive, and culturally responsive learning environment. After-all, who doesn't enjoy being able to accurately count, spend, and invest cash?


 

ENGAGING FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY


Puzzle illustration saying our students need your piece

When asked how I would engage families and teachers in decision-making, I spoke about the importance of being present where families already are:

“It’s not about waiting for families to come to us. It’s about going where they are—whether that’s at church events or community gatherings—and being a known, accessible face in those spaces.”

Overall community engagement was another key focus of the forum. I highlighted the need for open communication:

"It's really about encouraging feedback, building relationships, and then showing proven strategies on how we will act on that feedback. While I may not have students in MPS, I represent that you don’t have to have children in the district to care about the future of our scholars and our community. Education is a pathway to opportunity, and being a partner for the community is something I’m deeply committed to."

 

To dive deeper into the full conversation and watch the forum, click here. This discussion is one you won’t want to miss!


Until next time!

Shayla




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