Meet the Wayzata School Board Candidates: Cheryl Polzin

Plymouth Patch asked Wayzata School Board candidates five questions about their backgrounds and important issues facing the school district.

Check back with Patch regularly to see information on each candidate and feel free to ask your own questions of the candidates below each article.

Cheryl Polzin is one of seven who have filed for the four open seats on the Wayzata School Board.  The four spots are each a four-year term. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Background: (Political experience, career/job experience, family, volunteer or other civic engagement.)

Polzin: "This election is my first time running for public office. I am a 24-year resident of Plymouth and hold a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom, I worked in purchasing for a contract design firm and before that was the office manager for a retail/contract lighting showroom."

"I am currently the citizen co-chair of the school district's Legislative Action Committee and am also a current member of the district's Liaison Committee (and past treasurer) and Community Education Advisory Council. I hold a department co-chair position for the annual Wayzata Community Church Rummage Sale."

"My organization membership includes Wayzata Music Boosters, Wayzata Athletic Boosters, West PTA and Wayzata High PTSO. I also support IOCP in the community. A complete listing of current and past involvement in our district and community can be found on my website: www.votepolzin.com."

Budget: How do you plan to address the school district's budget issues? What are the main issues with the district's budget? What can or cannot be done at the School Board level to address those issues?

Polzin: "The Wayzata School District currently holds the highest bond/credit rating offered in the state and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. We are in very good shape financially due to careful planning, prudent and targeted expenditures as well as solid support from our community for local levies. Our excellent financial administrators, coupled with an active and diligent Citizen Financial Advisory Committee form a solid foundation to keep our district’s fiscal house in order. We need to continue using this strategy, improve efficiencies wherever possible and continue a strong, communicative relationship with our parents and community members."

"More flexibility and local control over expenditures would also help our district manage a challenging budget more effectively. This flexibility needs to be allowed by the Legislature when they send funds to us from the state. Last legislative session, our district was granted early entrance to the alternative facilities program, which provides funds to do just that; allow more flexibility in our budget. The last education bill passed also provided some mandate relief as well as certain fund transfer allowances for school districts, all designed to allow districts more flexibility in managing their budgets. Working with our district Legislative Action Committee and legislators who represent our district can provide results, which allow us to use our money in a smarter, more effective way."

"The other consideration with our budget has to do with enrollment. Our district must pay attention to student enrollment because most of our funding is tied to the number of students attending. Our district does and should continue to strive for 'full buildings' without exceeding optimal capacity conditions. This can be done by carefully managing resident and open enrollment students; more on this in the next question."

Enrollment/facilities: How should the district address enrollment and facility use issues? What are the main issues with the district's enrollment and facility use?

Polzin: "The Wayzata School District is fortunate to be experiencing steady or slightly growing student population. As stated earlier, this contributes substantially to the sound fiscal state of the district. It can also create a challenge when managing a balanced population of students within all of our buildings. Our administration, staff and board have been working to relieve the overcrowding in some elementary schools by establishing a policy that limits open enrollment and by adjusting attendance boundaries. Recently, the district completed a detailed facilities study that will provide valuable information that will factor in as decisions regarding site expansions and district-wide facility planning occur. Any plan moving forward needs to take into account efficient use of current and future space, how these spaces are used and if they will support future technology and curriculum requirements. For example, will lab spaces support experiments included in a top-notch science curriculum; will classroom or public/shared spaces provide use flexibility so that more individualized instruction can be accommodated?"

"Concurrently, continued work with demographers to estimate as accurately as possible our anticipated growth through housing development as well as what affect housing stock turnover will have is also essential."

"Another consideration has to do with our changing demographics and overall community need. As our population ages, what increased demand for continuing education and adult and/or senior academic/enrichment courses may be in store for us? Will we need more gym space for youth and/or adult sports participation? How will expanding cooperative ventures with community, sports and higher education organizations present opportunities to better serve our district residents? Looking at all these factors are important in making smart, thoughtful decisions which will benefit students, staff and our district as a whole."

Curriculum/testing: What do you think should be changed with what is being taught in the classrooms today? How do you think issues of meeting state and federal student achievement standards can be addressed? What is missing to improve student achievement in the Wayzata School District? (Or do you think nothing is missing?)

Polzin: "Most of what is taught in the classroom today is dictated by existing state standards determined by the Minnesota Department of Education. That said, Wayzata’s department of Teaching and Learning strives to provide curriculum programs, which meet all required standards while also providing rigor and challenge that takes our students to an even higher level. Our district routinely reviews, updates and improves curriculum on a rotating schedule according to subject to ensure up-to-date, top-quality courses. Wayzata students continue to outperform Minnesota averages on state achievement tests and Minnesota typically outperforms other states nationally."

"To improve student achievement, teaching strategies are increasingly shared and improved by staff through recently expanded Professional Learning Communities. These programs help teachers individualize their teaching, improve techniques and incorporate strategies designed to ensure that each student is challenged and is succeeding."

"Testing for student achievement is increasingly complicated as we move toward more individualized teaching and learning. At present, standardized tests are necessary to meet state and federal requirements so we must continue to participate, gleaning as much information as possible to help direct students toward success."

"We are discovering a few key indicators consistent with student success: a higher level of 'readiness' upon entering kindergarten dictates higher student achievement; proficient reading by the third grade dictates higher student achievement; and high expectations with no exceptions dictates higher student achievement. These simple facts, backed up by increasingly consistent research data, should help guide our district as we move forward with curriculum, staff development and program funding decisions."

Image: How do you think the district is perceived by those who live in it and those who do not? What do you think can be improved for the district to better communicate with the community and others? How would you address issues with the district's image?

Polzin: "Wayzata Public Schools are widely known for providing an excellent education to students. Recent conversations with moms of open enrolled students indicate that many outside of the district regard our district and its offerings as being 'head and shoulders' above what their student can experience in their home district. During the years, conversations with resident parents confirms that families have either moved here specifically because of the stellar reputation of the district or have moved here for unrelated reasons yet have been pleasantly surprised and completely satisfied with the high quality education provided to their children. Further, conversations with residents who don’t have children in schools reveal their satisfaction with our district. Community education offerings and the overall great reputation of the district provide families without school-age children confidence that they have chosen to live in a district which provides many things to many people; taking into account varying interests and needs."

"This does not indicate that our district should rely on a reputation of excellence to ensure future success. The world of education is constantly evolving and our staff, administration and especially the board need to be cognizant that complacency is a threat to all that has been accomplished. Open, invigorating discussion between staff, administration, board and community along with thoughtful and wise district management will allow our district to thrive well into the future."

"Continued student and community achievement, including success of each and every learner will ensure that the Wayzata Public School District will be highly regarded and a high demand destination for learners of all ages and abilities for generations to come."