Paul Ellertson, staff writer

On Nov. 7, St. Paul Public schools will be having elections for their school board. According to the Sahan Journal, the candidates are focused mostly on inclusivity as well as safety, given several violent and tragic incidents in the last few years. One of the incidents being a fatal stabbing of 15-year old Devin Scott from another classmate at Harding High School in Feb. of this year. There is also a lot to prepare for schools financially, as COVID relief funding ceases. There are a total of seven candidates on the ballot, Chauntyll Allen, Zuki Ellis, Yusef Carrillo, Carlo Franco, Abdi Omer, Erica Valliant and Gita Rijal Zeitler. However, only four spaces can be filled.

Ellis and Allen, two incumbent candidates who both grew up in St. Paul and have served on the board for the past four years, plan on utilizing their past leadership experience to continue cultural educational advocacy for St. Paul’s schools. According to the Sahan Journal, in her last term, Ellis helped implement an ethnic studies requirement for 10th grade students. “My son is taking that course right now. To have seen its beginning, and then to see our students host their first critical ethnic studies capstone project, talking about what they learned and the impact that it had on them, that was pretty powerful,” said Ellis in a quote to the Sahan Journal.

Franco, one of the new candidates, has a lot of experience working with younger people through St. Paul’s Right Track Program. According to the Sahan Journal, Franco wants to help prepare kids for their futures, whether that be a career or going to college right out of high school. To do this, Franco wants to ensure students have financial tools and management skills to empower them to succeed. “We need to make sure our public services are aligned and our dollars are being spent well.”

Many of the candidates also have their own children within St. Paul’s district, including candidates Ellis, Omer, Valliant, Rijal Zeitler and Carillo, and they believe their parental perspective will serve them well if they are elected. Omer, in an interview with the Sahan Journal, said “I can be an ear for new things and new ideas.” Omer has three kids who are currently attending St. Paul Public schools. Omer is hoping to have African American students thrive by making sure they have what he calls “model mentors” for fellow students to look up to. According to the Sahan Journal, Omer wants to listen to teachers, parents and students alike. “Our schools have achieved a lot; for sure they can do a lot more,” he said to the Sahan Journal.

Valliant also has kids who are attending the St. Paul Public schools and said in the Sahan Journal that she “could bring a strong parental voice.” As someone who has faced poverty before, Valliant is adamant that students and their families have the financial resources they need to succeed. She wants more cultural inclusion and says the new East African School which opened in Minneapolis and is owned by the St. Paul Public school system helps with that.

Voting started Sept. 22 and will be closing Nov. 7. If you are a resident of St. Paul, be sure to cast your vote for the people you would like to see make proactive changes for St. Paul schools.