Building Our Future: goals

During my campaign, I have been through all 16 precincts in St. Louis Park and knocked on nearly 2,000 doors.  I have appreciated hearing all your thoughts and concerns about the school district.  Based on your concerns, here are what I would make some of my top priorities on the school board:

I want to see St. Louis Park be among the first school districts to eliminate the achievement gap. One magic bullet will not achieve eliminating the achievement gap; there must be an ongoing effort to critically analyze what works and what doesn’t. Key components are strong preschool programs, effective early reading intervention, individualized attention to students and giving each child a sense of mastery in at least one area.

I want to guarantee a safe environment for all students and build on the efforts of the Anti-Bullying Task Force. I support more training for teachers and other school personnel to recognize and deal with bullying, effective remediation for students who bully, more support for students who experience bullying and ongoing education and consciousness-raising about bullying.

I want ongoing discussion on what makes for innovative and effective curriculum. I believe there needs to be more technological offerings in the high school, more options in the middle school, and I would like the arts curriculum expanded at all levels.

I want to maintain constant vigilance so that ill-conceived plans involving relocating freight trains to the detriment of our schools and our community do not come to fruition.

Many other thoughts and concerns were raised to me during my campaign, and I appreciate hearing all of them.  I guarantee as a school board member each concern you raise will receive my fervent attention.

Thank you for your support on election day, Tuesday, November 5th.  Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM.  If you need help finding your polling location, go to http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

Please also visit my webpage, www.jimbeneke.com. I would appreciate hearing from you. I would like to know your thoughts and concerns about the school district. You can do that by commenting here, using the contact page on the webpage, e-mailing me at jimforslpschools@gmail.com, contacting me on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/jimbenekeforslpschools, or calling me at (952) 926-5699