It's been a contentious year in Eden Prairie, with packed school board meetings, parents picketing, a threat of a lawsuit against the district over school boundary changes, and most recently, Superintendent Melissa Krull's announcement that she's stepping down after nine years.
Now the school district will have a chance to debate it all again as eight candidates vie for four board seats up for election on Nov. 8.
Eden Prairie is one of nearly a dozen west-metro school districts that have school board elections this fall. Last week was the filing deadline for candidates. Elected board members will start in January.
"You hope it doesn't get ugly," said Eden Prairie candidate Bill Lapadat, a former teacher who is one of five challengers running against three incumbents for four at-large seats -- which means the board will end up with at least one new member.
"I think it will be a mirror of our politics," Lapadat said. "There's nobody in the middle."
Incumbent Kim Ross said she's running for reelection in part to maintain continuity as the district undergoes major changes. Challengers David Espe said he's running to bring in new leadership to the school district while Karla Bratrud and Derek Gunderson said they want to get involved with the board as parents.
Gunderson, who is also serving on the Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, added that he hopes the controversial school boundary plan isn't the only issue people vote on. "Both sides have let the message get out of hand," he said.
Tim Fox, who served on the board for a two-year term eight years ago, said he's making another run because of the boundary plan, which he said he is supportive of but "it just seems like there is a need for someone to have communication skills and collaboration skills," he said. "The communication is why I think that became such a big issue."
