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Public speakers urge ISD 728 board to leave curriculum to educators and raise concerns about federal education changes
Summary
Two public commenters told the ISD 728 board Feb. 10 that the district's results show current curricula are working and urged the board not to assume control of curriculum; another speaker raised concerns about possible changes to federal Department of Education programs and local impacts.
Two members of the public used the board's public-comment period at the Feb. 10 ISD 728 meeting to urge the board to leave curriculum decisions to educational professionals and to caution the board about potential national-level changes to education programs.
Sally Anton, who identified herself as a parent of a freshman at Rogers High School and a long-time district resident, said she moved to the district for the quality of its curriculum and staff. She asked the new board to review the district's 2023 MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) results before changing curriculum oversight. Anton cited the district's press release (dated Sept. 24, 2024) reporting a 62.1% proficiency rate in math, a 60.7% proficiency rate in reading and a 50.6% proficiency rate in science, and said those results place ISD 728 among the top-performing districts in the state's largest districts.
'2023 MCA results show strong district performance,' Anton said, arguing that curriculum specifics are best managed by educators and that the board's role is more appropriately focused on fiscal stewardship and facilities.
Paula Benfer, a taxpayer speaking next, said she supports investment in children and urged the board to consider the potential consequences of national-level Department of Education changes. Benfer listed local services she said could be at risk if federal-level supports changed: special education with adaptive services, early childhood screening and Head Start, multi-language programs, career-preparation programs, GED-related supports, and student access to postsecondary financial aid processes such as FAFSA. She told the board she had researched the Department of Education and urged vigilance to protect local programs.
Both speakers framed their remarks as requests for the board to focus on oversight priorities such as fiscal responsibility, facilities and ensuring continued access to programs that support disadvantaged students.
What was said and recorded - Sally Anton (public comment): Cited district press release dated Sept. 24, 2024, with 2023 MCA proficiency figures: math 62.1% (about 16 points above state average), reading 60.7% (about 11 points above state average), science 50.6% (about 11 points above state average). She asked the board to defer curriculum-level control to educators. - Paula Benfer (public comment): Raised a list of federal/state programs that she believes should be preserved locally and urged the board to investigate the potential implications of national-level Department of Education changes.
Board response The transcript records the public comments and the chair's acknowledgment; there was no extended board discussion or formal board action in response during the same meeting.
Provenance Public comments were made during the public-comment block of the Feb. 10 meeting; Sally Anton spoke first, followed by Paula Benfer. Exact remarks are recorded in the meeting transcript excerpts for the public-comment period.
