Letter of Support: Kris Smallfield
“Incumbents Embrace Diversity, Inclusion”
Published October 15, 2023: Sun Current
I write to express my support for the three incumbent school board members who have shown exceptional commitment to our educational community.
As an engaged citizen and Bloomington Public Schools staff member, I believe it is crucial to highlight the positive impact of these individuals.
Nelly Korman, Mia Olson and Heather Starks are dedicated to fostering a positive educational environment for all students. Their consistent presence at school events and regular visits to our schools during the school day, help them to gather information firsthand. It is reassuring as a teacher to see their support for extracurricular activities and active engagement in our community.
One of the greatest attributes that Nelly, Mia and Heather all possess is their willingness to listen and learn. They consistently attend work sessions and take staff input seriously when making critical decisions, such as those related to class size and support needs. Their collaborative approach ensures the best interests of our students and educators are at the forefront of their decision-making process at both the local and state advocacy levels.
These board members embrace diversity and inclusion within our schools. They recognize the importance of celebrating ethnic and cultural backgrounds in our community. Their dedication to providing opportunities for all learners strives for equitable access and differentiated learning.
As our nation continues to face challenges of teacher and staff shortages, it is reassuring to have dedicated individuals like Nelly, Mia and Heather, who all have firsthand experience teaching. Experience with curriculum, our inner building needs and the challenges staff face are of genuine interest in their lives.
As we head to the polls, I urge my fellow residents to cast their votes in support of Nelly, Mia and Heather. They have the support and endorsement of both the Bloomington Federation of Teachers and the Bloomington Federation of Paraprofessionals, and deserve the support of our community. Let us continue to benefit from their commitment to the growth, development and future success of our students.
Letter of Support: Paige Rohman
“School Board Incumbents are Strong Advocates”
Published October 8, 2023: Sun Current
I write to recommend Nelly Korman, Heather Starks and Mia Olson for the Bloomington School Board.
They are strong advocates for our children, for families and for excellence in public education.
I see them out and about, listening to parents, students and community members. Their belief in our schools’ future is evident in hiring our new superintendent and the recently adopted strategic plan, which sets a clear vision for what success looks like. Their advocacy at the capitol resulted in historic investments in education.
Oct. 1-7 marks the annual observance of Banned Books Week. We’ve seen historical images showing piles of books being burned in the streets. Today’s reality is less graphic, but no less a threat to freedom.
I recently talked with a media clerk (librarian) from one of our schools who shared that multiple books have been “challenged” already this fall. Our children’s freedom to read, freedom to be exposed to new concepts and freedom to understand the world around them is under attack.
Advocacy groups promoting modern day book bans also seek to ostracize kids and families who don’t fit a “Leave It To Beaver” version of our community. Some have endorsed candidates they hope will deliver this kind of future to Bloomington, a future where families like mine and kids like mine are silenced and shall not be spoken of.
School board elections typically have low turnout, making it easier for these groups’ endorsed candidates to be elected, and drastically reshape education our children receive.
Fortunately, we have leaders already in place who believe our kids’ futures are bright and that we need not lead from a place of fear. There is a clear choice between nurturing the incredible schools we expect for our kids or allowing the kind of divisive awfulness we’ve seen in other states. There is a clear choice between preserving freedom to read or restricting access to books and knowledge.
Do your homework. Show up at the polls. Vote to return Korman, Starks and Olson to the Bloomington School Board.
Letter of Support: Dick Bergstrom
“Starks is a Proven Leader”
Published October 1, 2023: Sun Current
Teamwork, empathy, prepared, thoughtful, dedicated.
These are all words I would use to describe a person I would like to work with. They also describe characteristics of an elected official.
Heather Starks displays these characteristics to a tee. From our time together on the Bloomington Parent Advisory Council, to her work on the PTSA Council, I have had the opportunity to watch, listen and learn from her. Heather’s style of teamwork and dedication fit perfectly with the demands of board work.
Over the past four years, she has proven herself to be an excellent fit on the Bloomington School Board.
Heather has earned my vote and I hope she will earn yours.
Letter of Support: Bridget Drummond
“Starks is a Dedicated Board Member”
Published September 24, 2023: Sun Current
With election season quickly approaching, it’s time to start doing your homework to understand who the candidates are and what they stand for.
I’d like to share my thoughts on one particular candidate for Bloomington School Board, Heather Starks.
As a mom of two kids in the Bloomington district, knowing that our school board members are thoughtful and passionate about our schools is very important to me.
Heather is both of those, she cares deeply about engaging with the families within the community and hearing their concerns to make sure those voices are heard in school board discussions.
She’s thoughtful in the topics the school board needs to make decisions on, asking questions to get the full perspective of the issue and how it impacts the students, families, teachers and staff at the schools.
Heather has played several key roles with the National and Minnesota PTA. She was the Minnesota PTA President from 2017-21, working with chapter PTA’s around Minnesota to build strong communities and advocate for all students. And she was part of the National PTA Family Engagement Committee from 2021-23.
Her dedication to service and community over many years, shows her commitment and passion she has for making our schools accessible, fair and connected to our communities.
I encourage you to take some time to visit the school board candidates’ websites to learn more and be prepared to make an informed decision at election time. Heather’s past four years of experience on the school board are a testament of her commitment to our school district and the students, families, teachers and staff that continue to make Bloomington a great place to live and learn.
Letter of Support: Dennis Kane and Lynne Scherer
“School Board Incumbents are Dedicated”
Published September 17, 2023: Sun Current
As chair and vice-chair of the Bloomington Public Schools Advocacy Council, it is an honor to endorse three incumbents: Nelly Korman, Heather Starks and Mia Olson for our Bloomington School Board.
We have firsthand experience with these outstanding professionals. They are knowledgeable of the needs of our community, hard working and dedicated to service.
Their depth of experience assures great consistency, well-informed, efficient team-based expertise and experience sustaining the highest quality cost-effective instruction, staff and imperative resource materials on behalf of our community’s learners.
Endorsements
