[Mpls] 2 schools corrections

[Dennis Schapiro]

Before things get  too heated, corrections, on two fronts:

A.
The Peebles  story in City Pages includes without correction a  couple 
of rumors that are going around like crazy. To correct:

1. The windows were frosted BEFORE  Supt. Peebles was hired.
2. There is no 90-day probationary period in law nor in her contract.

B.
Doug Mann misstates  my school reorganization proposal...which I do not 
expect he would like if he had it correct.

He says that I support having the mayor appoint three school board 
members (true) and have the other four be  elected by geographic 
district (not true, although, in Mr. Mann's  defense,  it was, 
unfortunately,  so reported in Southwest  Journal). My proposal is that 
four members be elected to NUMBERED SEATS, much like judges. That would 
allow, for instance,  someone especially outraged by my work to 
challenge me directly rather than just  seek to be in the top 3 or 4  
vote-getters. Also the mayoral  appointees,  as I envisioned them,  
would not simply be CEO types, although the board would benefit from 
members with authentic experience in law, finance and organizational 
development. I was  looking for the mayor to address a lack of  
representation by race,  ethnicity, geography and, yes,  skill  set.

Rep Davnie has a proposal for geographic representation. Maybe there 
are other good ideas out there to. Bring them to Longfellow Center on 
Oct. 28.

Dennis Schapiro
Linden Hills
Minneapolis Board of Education