OAK POINT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL LOOPING ISSUE
WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE!

We created this site to provide information to the community about recent changes in our school district, and how these changes will affect parents, teachers and most importantly students.


We are parents in this district who care deeply about the education that our children receive and want to be involved when major changes are being made.

We are committed to providing the community with information about how our school board operates and why "major changes" can be made without the school board member's approval or our knowledge of the changes before they occur.

OUR GOALS:

  • Educate the public on Governing Policies
  • Provide relevant information
  • Build support for students, parents, and classroom teachers
  • Initiate public conversations on pressing topics
  • Not to give up our voice when it pertains to the education our children receive
  • Create inclusive civic space where ordinary citizens can:
    • Raise questions
    • Share ideas
    • Alert others to their concerns
    • Collaborate on solutions

WHO WE ARE:

We are citizens who believe the best way to arrive at solutions to local school issues is through meaningful, constructive and responsive dialogue between all parties involved; school board members, administrators, teachers, parents and the wide community of support.

We are an entirely volunteer support group of parents, teachers and community members.  In our first six months, over 11,000 different individuals have visited this site, despite our having no paid staff to make regular updates.

WHY CREATE THIS WEBSITE:

We believe school boards exist to represent the community's values, to be the link between us and the education of the next generation.  We believe nothing can replace direct dialogue for connecting schools with community support.

We have been frustrated with the lack of opportunities for non-staff members to talk directly with the Eden Prairie School Board, and have found the school board meetings an unsatisfactory way for us to be heard. 

The Public Comment section of each meeting has become by default our only option for "talking with" the board.  Not only are 3 minute speaking slots too brief for raising substantive concerns, these are one way presentations with no chance for two-way dialogue.  As a result Board members tend to view those who keep coming back as "special interests" or "squeaky wheels".

We all bring different perspectives to the table.  Citizens and parents can disagree on the benefits of looping or the value of sustained long-termed relationships, but most of us agree on the importance of dialogue - sitting down together.  As citizens, students, parents, teachers, administrators and board members - it is only by sharing our different perspectives that we can create truly collaborative problem solving strategies and effective partnerships.

WHAT DO WE PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH?

  • We want our school board to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy independence from the administration it supervises.
  • We want board members to be diligent on our behalf in seeking a range of opinions on substantive issues that involve Ends Policies, rather than simply deferring to staff opinion.
  • We value positive relationships and appreciate the benefits of "teamwork" but we also believe the public must be part of that "team".  Policy Governance itself demands frequent check-ins with the "owners" of the system.
  • We think that adopting a more straightforward, less defensive communications strategy will go a long way toward restoring levels of trust. (durangoschooltalk.org)












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Contact the Administration
and School Board Members with your comments, concerns, questions, etc.


Administration

mkrull@edenpr.org
abell@edenpr.org
mvanden@edenpr.org


School Board Members

cbomben@edenpr.org
jeian@edenpr.org
jestall@edenpr.org
kross@edenpr.org
hparker@edenpr.org
jmortenson@edenpr.org
jscholtz@edenpr.org







CLICK HERE TO VIEW LETTER FROM DISTRICT REGARDING START TIMES


THANK YOU TO THE
130+ PARENTS
AND 30 TEACHERS/STAFF  WHO COMPLETED OUR SURVEY!

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE TAKE TWO MINUTES TO COMPLETE OUR SURVEY.

CLICK ON THE LINK THAT APPLIES TO YOU.

PARENT          TEACHER/STAFF


SURVEY RESULTS (as of 11/6/2008)

Parent           Teacher/Staff

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