Are you a Delegate or Alternate for the DFL City Convention?

Lori Norvell is not seeking re-election, so District 5 is an open seat.

So far, the candidates for District 5 are me and Becca Dryden.

Bigger picture, five of the nine School Board Director seats are up for election this fall. They are: District 5, District 3, District 1 and two At-Large seats.

✔ Safety and Freedom from Fear for our everyone in our schools–students, educators and staff.

Gun Violence. We know the toll on students. Gun violence and active shooter training also affects our educators and staff. As a Moms Demand Action volunteer, I am keenly aware of the steps we can take toward thwarting gun violence in all its forms: mass shooting, suicide death, and accidental shootings.

Violence and discrimination in all its forms. We must strengthen protections for our students, and keep students and families safe from the kind of brutality our city experienced under the ICE invasion.

✔ Leadership through Crisis. Oversight that Never Quits. The long-dreaded MPS financial crisis is here. I have the financial rigor, organizational background, and tenacity to see us through this crisis.

Boards are meant to oversee the Administration, not be an extension of it. Our parents and educators deserve speedier access to information. We all need a Board that’s prepared to ask detailed questions that matter.

More than that, the Board is meant to layout an actionable vision that the whole city, as well s the state legislature, can rally around.

✔ Open Communication. My commitment to transparency includes hosting a constituent listening session between every monthly Board meeting.

I listen carefully and answer plainly.

✔ Investment in MPS. A Clear Path to our Future. Cuts to our educators, counselors and librarians does not solve our problems. Worse, it undermines our purpose.

The path to our future requires working together on multiple fronts. There is no one solution. But we’re not the first to confront a crisis like this. There is no better timing than right now to pull together in pursuit of a broader, brighter vision.

As a Board, we must present a clear, multi-approach path that our city and state can believe in.

Minneapolis is built for this moment, and I am built for this moment. I’m a radically honest nerd with big vision and a love of spreadsheet details. I see the story that within complex financial statements and presentations.

My track record demonstrates ability. More than that, it shows my genuine love for gathering community to solve extremely challenging problems together.

I’m a tenacious and skilled leader who believes deeply in Minneapolis Public Schools.

The school board is my destination, not a stepping stone to a political career. My daughter is enrolled in Kindergarten. Our MPS journey is just beginning. Whatever my role, I am determined to keep working until MPS is out of our current crisis and thriving on solid ground.

I have the right skills and experience to address the current crisis. Among them:

• deep understanding of complex financials.

• experience as both a leader and a board member; clarity on the tough questions that oversight requires.

• skilled in bridge-building, including directly advocating for important causes at the Minnesota Legislature

(See qualifications, specific examples, and testimonials for more.)

So glad you asked! A strong public school system benefits us all.

I’m sure you’ve heard: Schools are the heart of community and essential for a functioning democracy. Children are our future. 100% true, but abstract.

Less abstract, we have to ask ourselves:

• Are we okay living in a city that doesn’t value our teachers? That continues to pile on mandates, and demand that teachers be the last line of defense for our social safety net. And we also ask our educators to brace all day every day for the possibility they’ll need to put their bodies between students and a shooter. Can’t we do better than this?

Meanwhile, as with our health care system, our public schools are often undermined by large corporate interests and political forces.

• Charter school licensors in MN have a direct financial incentive to renew licenses regardless of how well the charters under their management are serving students.

• Tech companies are pushing AI as a solution to large class sizes.

• In cities and towns in Minnesota wide, MAGA candidates are flooding elections for school board seats. That may seem far away in Minneapolis, but the critical mass of this movement can and will affect us if we don’t take steps to shore up our schools.

We can’t lose sight that companies and some political factions have significant financial incentive to undermine our public institutions’ success.

Whether it’s Hennepin County Medical Center, our libraries, or our public schools–we must protect public institutions that are the backbone of our city.

My whole thing is that I don’t quit. So it’s hard to agree in advance that I’ll give up just a few weeks after I’ve launched my campaign.

That said, I’ve served as a DFL delegate, and I know what it’s like to sit in a school auditorium for many, many hours. For a candidate to declare they won’t adhere to endorsement–well, that really sucks to hear.

So I’m holding off on making a decision. I am always interested to hear people’s thoughts on THE question that defines all questions at the DFL conventions.

Three of my core values are transparency, communication, and providing way too many options.

• Let me know how to text, call, or contact you when it’s most convenient.

• Text me at:

• Email me at: hello @ mollyforminneapolis.com

• Send me your feedback and priorities via this survey.

Amazing – thank you!

If you haven’t already, could you fill out this brief form? It will be a huge help.

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