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Erik Brown
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Erik Brown was a member of the Wayzata School Board At-large in Minnesota. Brown assumed office in 2015.
Brown ran for re-election to the Wayzata School Board At-large in Minnesota. Brown won in the general election on November 3, 2015.
Biography
Erik Brown resides in Wayzata, Minnesota. Brown earned both a B.A. and an MBA in finance from the University of St. Thomas. He is employed as the chief financial officer for the Aaron Carlson Corporation.[1]
Elections
2015
- See also: Wayzata Public Schools elections (2015)
The election in Wayzata featured four of the seven seats on the board up for at-large general election on November 3, 2015.
The seats of incumbents Linda Cohen, Jay Hesby, Carter Peterson, and Cheryl Polzin were up for election. Cohen and Polzin faced challengers Erik Brown, David Craig, Bonita Lucky, and Bindu Moram for the four at-large seats. Cohen, Polzin, Brown, and Lucky won the four seats.
Neither Hesby nor Peterson filed to run for re-election.
Results
| Wayzata Public Schools, At-Large, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Linda Cohen Incumbent |
24.1% | 1,364 |
| Cheryl Polzin Incumbent |
23.1% | 1,306 |
| Erik Brown |
19.9% | 1,128 |
| Bonita Lucky |
12.9% | 728 |
| David Craig | 11.5% | 653 |
| Bindu Moram | 8.0% | 451 |
| Write-in votes | 0.51% | 29 |
| Total Votes | 5,659 | |
| Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Local Results in Hennepin County," accessed November 4, 2015 These election results are not official and will be updated when certified results are available. You can submit certified results by contacting us. |
||
Funding
Brown reported no contributions or expenditures to the Wayzata Public Schools administration during the election.[2]
Endorsements
Brown did not receive any official endorsements during the election.
Campaign themes
2015
Brown completed a survey conducted by the Lakeshore Weekly News:
| “ | What is your view of the state of the school district?
I believe we have the strongest district in the State. Our students continue to perform well in standardized tests, a testament to the teachers and staff in our district. Our achievement gap still needs to be closed, however, we have strong programs in place to close the gap over time and are making strides in the right direction. We need to come to a resolution on appropriate start times for all students, elementary through high school, in order to make the learning process as effective as possible. With the size of our high school, we offer widespread opportunities for our students to find their own individual passion for learning. While the size of the high school offers significant opportunities, we must continue to find ways to personally engage students and parents and to not lose sight of the individual student. What is the biggest issue facing your district right now? I believe the biggest issue facing our district is education funding. The recent Minnesota State legislature raised school funding just barely over inflation when presented with a record budget surplus. I'm concerned about how school funding will change when that surplus is not available, an issue extremely important to me as a parent and taxpayer. In order to maintain the excellent quality of education for our students we must find creative ways to keep budget dollars focused on classroom learning. Meanwhile, we must be cognizant of our expenditures and not raise taxes needlessly. What skills and expertise will you contribute to the school board? I firmly believe the strength of a school board is built upon the varied backgrounds of its members; including their expertise, experience, and personal backgrounds. As a father of an elementary student in the district and a future student, I am personally vested in the continued long-term success of the Wayzata School District. As Chief Financial Officer at Aaron Carlson Corporation, I bring to the board a financial background that doesn't currently exist on the board to help navigate school financing and monetary control in a time when school funding may become difficult. As a taxpayer, I want to ensure the district is appropriately managing expenses and focusing spending on the classroom. And as the son of two former teachers, I bring a passion for education to help focus our efforts to make sure every students has a successful education career at the Wayzata Public Schools. Why are you running? I am running for school board because I am passionate about education, I bring a unique financial skill set to strengthen the board, and I want to see our district continue to remain the top school district in the State. Why should you be elected? I should be elected because my unique perspective and experience will strengthen the board. I have served for nearly six years on the Wayzata Public Schools Citizens Financial Advisory Council, giving me extensive experience and understanding of our school district. I’m Treasurer of the Wayzata Public Schools Education Foundation and have been a part of providing funding for innovative approaches to education. I’m involved in the community through coaching hockey and tee ball. I have a strong financial education and financial work experience. And most importantly, I’m passionate about our district and its continued success.[3] |
” |
| —Lakeshore Weekly News survey (2015)[4] | ||
Candidate website
Brown published the following on his campaign website:
| “ | School Funding
Recently, the State of Minnesota had a record $2 billion surplus and was only able to provide funding for schools just over inflation rates. As the State budget comes back to a normal range, school funding will likely drop again below inflation rates. That creates a shortfall from current funding for schools and requires preemptive fiscal planning. More importantly, that planning must create ways to keep funds in the classroom. Direct Student Teaching The Wayzata School District has a long history of providing exceptional education to students. In order to continue that tradition, we must find ways to continue to support classroom learning by continue to focus on direct student teaching. School Start Times I did attend the Community Forum recently, which was helpful to understand the science behind school start time changes. The school board will decide on the school start times prior to the election. That being said, I'm interested to study the opportunity of a long-term plan to make a two-tier system that meets the needs of our students and manages transportation costs appropriately. I'd like to find a two-tier system that can provide start times around 8AM and 9AM, if feasible. Closing the Achievement Gap The achievement gap is an issue we must work to correct. I completely agree with the direction of the district in regards to every student's success is imperative to a successful school district. We must build upon our relationships within the district and community to help close the achievement gap and create a positive learning environment for all students. An improvement in this area may take time, but building upon strong ideas and programs currently in place will allow for continued improvement. Engaging Students in a Large High School I often hear people discuss the high school and immediately the size of the school is considered negatively. I completely disagree with this notion and embrace the size of our high school with the right attitude and planning. As a larger school, we have the opportunity to offer a broader array of classes that engage and enrich our students learning and passions. Furthermore, we must create an environment where each student is engaged in the school and their own success. As a district, we must make the infrastructure approachable for families and students. I believe recent changes at the high school to create more connections for the students during their high school career should be successful and expanded if successful.[3] |
” |
| —Erik Brown campaign website (2015)[5] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Erik Brown - Wayzata School Board, "Quick Facts About Erik," accessed October 25, 2015
- ↑ Wayzata Public Schools, "School Board," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Lakeshore Weekly News, "Erik Brown," September 28, 2015
- ↑ Erik Brown - Wayzata School Board, "Issues," accessed October 26, 2015
| 2015 Wayzata Public Schools Elections | |
| Hennepin County, Minnesota | |
| Election date: | November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Linda Cohen • Incumbent, Cheryl Polzin • Erik Brown • David Craig • Bonita Lucky • Bindu Moram |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
