Three school board candidates seek a seat in the ISD 200 school board election. They are incumbent Elaine Mikel-Mulder, Simone Rendon. and Marty Weber.
Journal reporter Graham Johnson earlier gathered background and responses from each to help ISD 200 residents in South Washington County with informed voting.

Elaine Mikel-Mulder
“I think about education more than anything else. Further, I believe that when one stops learning, one stops flourishing. I think education is one of the most important gifts a community can offer its youth. I am not partial to any form of education. Whether it is public, private, or at home, I believe in any form that is offered well and in a manner that leaves students feeling confident in their ability to read, write, speak well, and engage with the problems they face in the world. I am not wired to be an educator by any means, but I do think I have a capacity to ask the right questions and steward an educational culture. Our public school serves the greatest number of children in our community; therefore, I believe it’s our responsibility to sew there.
“My goal is to ensure that the energy and resources of the district go towards fostering an atmosphere where students can genuinely grow in a love of learning, critical thinking, problem solving, and confidence in their ability to communicate well. My goal is to ensure that our district stewards every taxpayer dollar towards this end. Further, I would like to assist in bridging the gap of misunderstanding between the efforts of the board, the district staff and the community through transparency and intentional communication. I do not claim to know all that it takes to accomplish a thriving school district, but I am committed to asking questions and probing into how to continuously refine and improve the great system we already have in place.”

Simone Rendon
“I put my name in for the school board for a few reasons.
“I like that the position is supposed to be nonpartisan. Which means the school board is supposed to think about every student, not just kids whose family votes the way they do.
“I also believe in keeping public schools open for the public. Which means everyone is welcome and should be supported.
“I am Ojibwe and Lakota. This allows me to bring a completely different perspective to the board. One that is neither left nor right, white nor black. I come with an open mind about our children and what they can learn.
“Being a public school means every kid is allowed to go. It’s where our children get to meet children not like them. Its where curiosity happens.
“And it’s the parents’ job at home to remind their children what their values and beliefs are. So if a kid learns that another kid has two parents of the same gender, it is not the school’s responsibility to shelter either kid from learning about the other.
“Public school is where children go to learn how to be good humans to people who are not like them. All while learning all the academic skills for working as an adult.”

Marty Weber
“After working with students for more than 15 years, I am deeply devoted to student success and their family involvement in their education opportunities.
“I advocate and work to accomplish the best outcomes for students every day and I want to continue that work to strengthen District 200's success and build for a future based on student success and teacher well-being. This is not about the next four years, but the next 40.
“Recent years have shown divisions throughout our community. I believe a School Board Director's job is to listen to community, families, and teacher concerns and help solve those issues. It is my intention to serve on Hastings School Board with an open mind and an open heart to solve problems and make our district the strongest district possible.
“We will build unity through community and I am committed to running for students to tackle the real issues: Declining enrollment, safety and bullying in our schools, building trust with our teachers, dealing with copious state mandates, and actually keeping politics out of our district. My campaign will unite around our shared values as community members. Everything I want to accomplish is for our students and teachers. Unity through community.”

Early voting starts Friday, Sept. 19, with Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.