Meet the Roseville School Board Candidates

Editor’s note: The Roseville Patch invited each of the six candidates for District 623 School Board to respond to a brief questionnaire listing their qualifications for the job and priorities for the district. Today we feature School Board Chair Lisa Edstrom, who is seeking a second term.

Roseville Patch: Where do you work?

Lisa Edstrom: I am the Director for Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care at North Memorial Health Care. I have been in the position for just about one month.  Prior to this, I was the Associate Director for the Center on Aging at the University of Minnesota.

Roseville Patch: What are your qualifications for the position you are seeking?

Edstrom: Beyond my four years of service on the school board (last two as chair), I bring a unique combination of experience and qualifications.

First, I have been a Roseville Schools parent and volunteer for over 16 years. In my role as mom and volunteer, I have navigated special needs, general education and advanced academic course work and opportunities for my own three children. Two are now in college and one will be a sophomore this year at RAHS.

Academically, I have enjoyed the opportunity to pursue my PhD in Educational Administration and Policy Analysis at the University of Minnesota. I will complete my coursework in 2012. 

Through this experience, I have engaged and studied with other students and research faculty working in K-12 and higher educational settings.

I am very energized by the opportunity to see the translation of meaningful research into good educational practice as well as the use of appropriate statistical analysis in reviewing academic outcomes.  Combined with my MBA, I bring a generalized knowledge in finance, operations and human resource issues to my board service.

My professional experience is in the area of health care operations and management with an emphasis on service development and evaluation.

I have devoted most of my career to ensuring the provision of health care to low-income and other marginalized populations. While not nearly as big as the district's annual budget, I am responsible for a large operating budget, over 200 FTE’s, various bargaining unit relations, and navigating the challenges of legislative mandates and public funding at both the state and federal levels. 

My many opportunities for civic engagement have included service on several not-for-profit boards and community task forces in health care, long term care, education, tax policy and local government settings.

Roseville Patch: What do you think are the most important issues facing District 623?

Edstrom: First, keeping the focus on academics: continuing to close the achievement gap through a concentrated focus on equitable access, opportunities and individualized supports for all students.

Secondly, maintaining the growing attraction of District 623: providing the resources and appropriate incentives for a continued high quality teaching and support staff.

Third, continuing to creatively, effectively and efficiently allocate resources to the above priorities in a time of fiscal instability.