Meet School Board Candidate Jim Beneke, an Engineer Supporting the Arts

In just a few short weeks, St. Louis Park voters will be able to weigh in on three open four-year seats on the school board.

The election will be held Nov. 5. All school board seats are at-large, meaning the entire school district will be able to vote for each seat.

Board chair Bruce Richardson and former chair Jim Yarosh are both seeking re-election. Christine Johnson, Karen Waters and Jim Beneke are also looking to join the board. (Board member Ken Morrison will run unopposed for a two-year seat.)

Today, we meet Beneke, an engineer with experience as vice-chair of the city's parks and recreation committee.

Which neighborhood do you live in? Minnekahda Vista 

Website, Facebook page or other contact information: www.jimbeneke.com

What unique perspective, experience or expertise would you bring to the school board? 

My wide breadth of roles in volunteering for the schools and the community is unmatched. As vice-chair of the Community Education Advisory Committee, I am involved in ensuring that there are quality preschool opportunities for younger kids, after-school activities for older students, and life-long learning opportunities for adults. As vice-chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, I am involved in ensuring quality recreational activities for all ages, and my relationships developed with city staff would aid with the school board working collaboratively with the city. As a member of the District Strategic Planning Committee, I have been involved in all the key planning of the school district for the last several years. I am also a member of the community group Safety in the Park, the group considered about freight trains. I have coached soccer, been a leader in the YMCA’s Voyagers Program, and coached a Lego League Robotic Competition team.

What are the top challenges facing the St. Louis Park School Board?

First, maintain quality programming with limited funding. In the short term, maintain being an attractive target for grants by continuing to be innovative. Money follows innovation. Keep administrative costs down. Look for creative, smart ways to run programs, as an example consider offering some online classes for students who would do well in that environment.

Secondly, as discussed below, close the achievement gap. I believe we can be the first district to not just narrow the achievement gap, but totally eliminate it.

What role does a school board member play in helping raise academic achievement for all students and close the achievement gap?

To raise achievement, the school board must insist on continual review of what makes for innovative and effective curriculum. I believe there needs to be more technological offerings in the high school, more options in the middle school, and I would like the Arts curriculum expanded at all levels.

St. Louis Park can be the first school district to eliminate the achievement gap. One magic bullet will not achieve eliminating the achievement gap; the school board must lead the ongoing effort to critically analyze what works and what doesn’t. Key components are strong preschool programs, effective early reading intervention, individualized attention to students, and giving each student a sense of mastery in at least one area.