The following questions were compiled by District 6 neighborhood organizations in collaboration with Melissa Whitler.

Lara Bergman

‍Neighborhoods: Talk about your personal experience as a parent in Minneapolis Public Schools.

Lara Bergman: As the parent of queer children, my work advocating for children in MPS began when my youngest was entering kindergarten. I understand that when I am advocating for safe, affirming spaces for my children, I am actually advocating for all children. I believe that when we have a system that meets the needs of our most marginalized students, we will have a system that meets the needs of all students.

As chair of the Equity Committee and vice president of the Armatage PTA, I have organized parents to  advocate to the Minnesota legislature about increasing funding for MPS by closing the cross-subsidies for special education and English language learners. The challenges facing our public schools require persistent and informed engagement of all community members. I am passionate about using my experience as an early  childhood educator, MPS parent, and proud MPS alum to continue to facilitate and amplify community led solutions.

Neighborhoods: Would you have voted for or against the most recent Minneapolis Public Schools budget? What would you have changed?

Lara Bergman: The effectiveness of the school board depends on our ability as directors to listen to each other and build consensus when making decisions. One of the most important jobs of the school board is to be responsible stewards of MPS’s finances, which means being engaged in the process of developing the  budget every step of the way and understanding the long-term impacts of each year’s budget.

I am disappointed that those who created this year’s budget did not spend more time intentionally engaging  principals, educators, caregivers, and students for input on how to make historically large cuts. As directors, we need to ask tough questions about how each budget is contributing to our strategic goals for student outcomes and using every challenge as an opportunity to build trust with our community.

Neighborhoods: The Minneapolis Public Schools Strategic Plan has four goals and five strategies under each goal. Which three of the 20 strategies are most important to you and why?

1. Provide standards-based core instruction with a focus on literacy and mathematics. MPS is failing too  many of our students because of a critical lack of foundational skill development. We need evidence based, culturally and linguistically relevant curriculum and instruction to ensure all students can be  successful in school and in life.

2. Strengthen pathways and reduce barriers for talented and diverse MPS employees and potential  employees to become teachers. Our district serves a global majority population and we have an incredible group of educators of color in MPS, a majority of them working as ESPs. Investment in them is critical to a thriving future for our schools.

3. Provide consistent opportunities for youth, parents and community members to provide feedback on  district policies and practices. We must earn and rebuild trust by bringing diverse voices to the table and  finding ways to move forward together.

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Greta Callahan

‍Neighborhoods: Talk about your personal experience as a parent in Minneapolis Public Schools.

Greta Callahan: My experience as a single mom in MPS has been incredibly positive, thanks to the village of educators who have helped me raise and shape my son, Morris, who just graduated from Southwest High School. I became a licensed teacher in 2011 and spent my entire MPS career teaching kindergarten at Bethune Elementary in North Minneapolis.

As I saw firsthand how poverty affects our children and schools, I became a leader not only in the classroom (Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2017), but also a leader of other teachers, as president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers from 2020-2024, so that I could advocate on a wider scale for our students. As a mother and a teacher, I love this district, and have an optimistic vision of what is possible. As a leader, I’m excited to continue the work I’ve already been doing to strengthen our public schools.

Neighborhoods: Would you have voted for or against the most recent Minneapolis Public Schools budget? What would you have changed?

Greta Callahan: I understand the gravity of this question. I sit on multiple governing boards. I cast votes that affect people’s lives. No, I would not vote for a budget that I was not involved in creating.

I’ve been paying attention to MPS finance for a decade, and there are things we can do better.

Each June, the Board approves the next school year's budget. However, in April the district starts implementing proposed cuts before the Board has voted on the budget. Sometimes the Board will stop the cuts from continuing, like 5th grade band and orchestra this year, but often the damage is already done. Parents pull their kids out, and educators leave the district. This creates chaos and distrust, but it doesn’t have to be this way. A more proactive and inclusive budgeting process, including a thorough review of third party contracts, could help stabilize our district and rebuild trust.

‍Neighborhoods: The Minneapolis Public Schools Strategic Plan has four goals and five strategies under each goal. Which three of the 20 strategies are most important to you and why?

Greta Callahan: I struggle to answer this as someone who has lived through countless MPS initiatives and strategic plans. In August, teachers are often told about a district-wide plan with a nice-sounding name and catch phrase: “Every kid college and career ready!”

Whatever the packaging, our shared goal is to have well-educated, well-rounded kids. There are things we can do at the school level: create safe spaces, differentiate learning, and provide individualized attention. I also know we need kids who felt safe last night, who have a bed to sleep in and food to eat.

When I first saw this strategic plan, I asked if students, families, and teachers were involved in its creation. They were not. If the community had input, the first two goals would be reversed. As written, the first is “Academic Achievement” and the second is “Student Well-Being.” We cannot accomplish the first without addressing the second.

Editor's note: The Armatage, East Harriet, Kenny, Kingfield, Linden Hills, Lowry Hill East, Lynnhurst, and Lyndale neighborhood associations are co-hosting a forum Sept. 23 with Minneapolis Public Schools District 6 school board candidates Lara Bergman and Greta Callahan. People can submit questions for the candidate forum online. Minneapolis Voices is the media partner of the Sept. 23 forum.