Monica Weber
Monica Weber
718 20th Ave N.
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Occupation: Grants Administration MN DNR
Share a little about your background.
My name is Monica Weber and I am running for re-election to the South St Paul school board. I live with my husband and black labrador, and I have been involved in many activities in South St Paul, my favorite being on the stage with SSP Community Theater. My educational background is a BA from the College of St Benedict in Social Studies Education and my master’s degree at the University of MN. I am a proud union member and have been worked for the state of Minnesota for the past 8 years. My favorite past time is watching Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx games.
What qualifications or experiences do you have that make you a strong candidate for the School Board?
Having served as a board member for the past four years I have learned a great deal about school financing, budget process, and district facilities needs. I have also support the "Pathways to Packer Promise" where students in high school are given more career pathways for their future including trades, health care, and traditional 4 year college preparation. In my day job I over see state money to grantees for environmental projects and over see budgets and activities to comply with state laws. I also love being out in the community and talking with folks about what types of goals they want our district to achieve for us to grow as a community.
What activities and organizations are you currently involved in?
Current South St. Paul School board member, Independent School District 917 (as the SSP representative), South St. Paul Community Theater, leader in my union, along with other nonprofits.
Why is serving on the South St. Paul School Board important to you?
I truly believe that educating the next generation of leaders is how we support the future of our community. I love the Packer ideals of "birth to earth" to create life long learning. From early childhood programs to running the senior programs at the Central Square. Our school district does an excellent job providing opportunities for all our residents with our school age programs and community education offerings. These are the type of services that need to be maintained for our community to be a welcoming and enduring area for all people.
What is your vision for the future of education in South St. Paul?
We can be a small yet nimble district that is able to provide the best educational opportunities for all learners from the babies in ECFE to the seniors who want to learn a foreign language and everyone in between. I truly believe in creating a community full of life long learners. I also want a district where all students feel welcome and where they have the opportunity to shape their education to meet their goals for after graduation with our career pathways. A district where students can be on the football team and in the Spring theater show while doing an internship to go into a health care field.
What are your thoughts on how the district should address equity and inclusion?
To start its by providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere that supports all our students and their families. By working with our partners to ensure that every student has the supplies they need to be successful from the start of school to graduation. I also think by encouraging students to join the affinity groups where they can meet with those of similar backgrounds. I would also like to see more social workers or other staff to provide extra support for students who may need services to help with reading and math. I love how at graduation students can express themselves with items from their culuture while being a part of the wider Packer community of learners.
What areas of concern do you have regarding the current state of South St. Paul Public Schools?
Declining enrollment and its impact on state funding per student is the biggest challenge. With the vast majority of our funding decided on a per student basis we as a district need to ensure we are serving all our students with the funding we have available. We need to leverage our voices as a community to encourage the legislature to change the educational formula knowing that a class of 23 costs the same to run as a class of 27 but with around $40,000 less dollars for that classroom. Also, our aging buildings and facilities are in need of long term maintenance or redesign to better meet the needs of students for the next 50 years and not relying on the infastructure of the last 50 years.
What specific suggestions do you have for improvement?
Encouraging families to enroll in South St Paul, advocating for fixes to the school funding formula at the state legislature, and thinking about our building maintenance needs and the future physical footprint and design of our district for the future.
Provide a brief candidate statement.
My name is Monica Weber and it has been an honor to serve on the South St Paul school board. I was sworn into office over zoom at the height of the pandemic, I was able to hire a new superintendent, support a levy campaign, and dealt with many other issues large and small. I belive I have kept the needs of the whole district and the community in mind while making governing decisions for our school community. I am committed to life long learning for all residents in our community and providing that access for them to participate. I support arts programing and athletics to enhance classroom learning while builiding upon the Packer Pride that runs through every fiber of our town. It would be an honor to continue to serve our community in this manner. Please elect me to a second term on the school board.