Meet the Wayzata School Board Candidates: Carter Peterson

Plymouth Patch asked Wayzata School Board candidates five questions about their backgrounds and important issues facing the school district.

Check back with Patch regularly to see information on each candidate and feel free to ask your own questions of the candidates below each article.

Incumbent Carter Peterson is one of seven who have filed for the four open seats on the Wayzata School Board.  The four spots are each a four-year term. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Background: (Political experience, career/job experience, family, volunteer or other civic engagement.)

Peterson: "My husband and I have lived in Wayzata for 29 years. Our three children attended the Wayzata schools K-12. They have all graduated from college and are now launched in their careers. Before having my first child, I was a retail buyer and group sales manager for a large national retail chain. For the past 30 years, I guess I would best describe myself as a community volunteer.  I was first elected to the Wayzata School Board in 2002 and re-elected twice.  During my tenure, I have served as Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Clerk of the Board. I have also chaired our Curriculum & Instruction and Facilities committees and represented the Wayzata School Board on the Intermediate District 287 board, the Caring for Kids’ Initiative, Wayzata Education Foundation and others. Before I became a board member, I held numerous leadership positions in the school district, including President of the PTA/PTSO organizations at Gleason Lake Elementary, West Middle School, the High School and the district’s Liaison Group. I also was one of the founders of our 'Parenting Those Wonderful Kids' parenting conference."

Budget: How do you plan to address the school district's budget issues? What are the main issues with the district's budget? What can or cannot be done at the School Board level to address those issues?

Peterson: "Funding is always an issue, but thanks to professional and conservative financial management in recent years the Wayzata School District is in better shape than most of its peers. Prudent long-term decisions made over the past decade on matters such as facilities, labor agreements and benefits have given us operating flexibility not available to other districts. When changes are needed to the budget, the staff thoroughly briefs the School Board and the School Board takes their recommendations under advisement. Ultimately, the district budget requires the approval of the board before it is implemented."

Enrollment/facilities: How should the district address enrollment and facility use issues? What are the main issues with the district's enrollment and facility use?

Peterson: "Short-term, our major challenge is enrollment management and capacity planning. We are closed to open enrollment, which is a credit to the district’s quality and popularity but it is a situation which presents other challenges. At this time, there are no plans to build a new elementary school.  However, one possible solution to our enrollment is the addition of a few classrooms spread throughout the district."

Curriculum/testing: What do you think should be changed with what is being taught in the classrooms today? How do you think issues of meeting state and federal student achievement standards can be addressed? What is missing to improve student achievement in the Wayzata School District? (Or do you think nothing is missing?

Peterson: "The district’s current policy is to formally review each subject in the curriculum on a six-year cycle. However, the review process for each subject actually takes four years from start to finish. During a typical review, year 1 is devoted to fresh research on the subject; year 2 involves plans and development of any needed changes; year 3 is scheduled for actual implementation in the classroom and year 4 is devoted to re-evaluation of the changes and any additional modifications. Right now, the district is in the process of reviewing Social Studies, Art, Media, Elementary Media, Language Arts and Science."

"The district also has a process in place for examining individual student work. Through multiple assessments, teachers are using data to explore effective instructional strategies that improves teaching or re-teaching of skills or concepts to all students"

"All of these curriculum efforts are designed to prepare our students with 21^st century skills which they can use to succeed in higher education, careers and life in a global economy."

Image: How do you think the district is perceived by those who live in it and those who do not? What do you think can be improved for the district to better communicate with the community and others? How would you address issues with the district's image?

Peterson: "This past spring, the school district conducted a professional survey of our citizens with the following noteworthy results:  93 percent of those surveyed rated Wayzata’s education either excellent (75 percent) or Good (18 percent) and 91 percent felt that the district gave 'good value for the investment.' Another important indicator was that 91 percent said that they were 'proud' and would 'recommend.' Despite these encouraging results, we can do even better by telling the story of our academic results for our students and through expanded feedback programs from our students, staff, parents, guardians and our community. Finally, I believe there is an opportunity to improve our alumni relations through an alumni association."