Two years ago, Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, successfully ushered in a bill that would enlarge Minneapolis public schools' board of directors from seven to nine members, with three elected citywide and six from geographic districts, similar to the city's Parks and Recreation Board.
On Nov. 4 city voters will decide the fate of that proposal in an environment where it's been largely overshadowed by the district's $60 million a year excess levy referendum.
When he was pushing the bill through, Davnie argued that the school board was unresponsive and needed to be reconfigured in a way that made it more accountable to residents. In addition, certain areas of the city, specifically northeast and north Minneapolis, had few of their own on the board throughout its more than 50-year history.
Minneapolis' school board has since become more stable and functional but supporters say the proposal guarantees representation from all parts of the city and gives parents just one member to contact. Yet critics argue it could decrease minority representation and lead to infighting and deal-making. Voters rejected a similar proposal in 1987.
Davnie said having a board member from each ward could help the district garner support for pressing issues such as levy issues or strategies to reverse declining enrollment. He said the only additional costs for the plan, which would be phased in over two election cycles, would be salaries for the two board members. The statute directs the school board districts to align to the existing Parks and Recreation Board districts.
"We know that Minneapolis has experienced sharp declines in enrollment and continues to experience those," he said. "The steepest declines are in areas of the city that have been historically underrepresented on the school board. If people don't feel heard and don't feel like board members are responsive why should they put their kids there?"
Anoka-Hennepin -- the state's largest school district -- divides its board into geographic districts. Bloomington's legislators touted a similar proposal at the Capitol last year but it was vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
In the past a disproportionate share of board seats have gone to candidates from southwest Minneapolis. It's historically had greater community involvement and more residents with professional backgrounds. The current board is among the most racially and geographically diverse boards in the district's history with four minorities and two North Siders. Northeast Minneapolis, however, does not have a representative on the board.
