Jean O'Connell for St Paul School Board

“For schools, start with O’Connell”

We are looking for urgent approaches and strong leadership skills for the St. Paul School Board. Jean O’Connell, a retired business executive with a passion for her hometown’s public schools, fits the bill. We strongly endorse her for a four-year term on the school board in Tuesday’s election…..Of the six members seeking four-year terms, Jean O’Connell strikes us as the strongest candidate. Her background in community affairs, manufacturing and business operations for the 3M Co. and her volunteer work within the St. Paul school system give her both experience and perspective. As a Central High grad and lifelong St. Paulite, she has convinced us, as she convinced other groups in the community, that she would be the kind of independent leader the board needs.”

http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_13670654

The Star Tribune endorsed Jean on Friday, October 23 saying:

“One of the most impressive candidates in the field is newcomer O’Connell, 57, a retired 3M executive. Among the first female engineers at the company, she is a smart, strategic thinker with a track record of successfully managing change. The St. Paul native, who is running as an independent, has a long history of community service, including volunteering in the schools. She led advisory teams for the schools and helped develop the district’s current five-year strategic plan. She would bring a much-needed independent, business perspective to the board.”

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/65684067.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UthPacyPE7iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

A forum hosted by the Highland High School PTA was held Monday, October 19th.  About 65 people were in attendance and the discussion focused to a great extent on the PTA’s question of equitable Title I funding for schools.  Currently Highland and Central High Schools are not eligible for Title I federal funds due to the School Board’s funding formula.  The parent’s concerns centered on large class sizes (over 40 in many classes this year) and what having the Title I funding distributed to all high schools might do to alleviate that situation.  I was surprised that no other candidate had taken the PTA up on their offer of a tour of the school prior to the forum,  I visited Highland last week and saw the overcrowding first hand.  Having 35-45 students in an IB science course which includes lab time is almost impossible for a teacher to deal with.  Something needs to be done in this school year for these students and the incumbent board members responses were focused on making changes in the next couple of years.