As mentioned last week, we invited the four candidates who expressed interest in and/or support for our group and goals to share their thoughts on our 47-page report, For the Health of Our Children, An Analysis of the Wayzata Public Schools Culinary Program and Wellness Policy, and how they would support our goals if elected. Our fourth candidate is Linda Cohen. This is her response (comments in italics added by blog manager):
"I am quite excited in that I think we have some crucial pieces in place now to make headway on many of the recommendations of the quite impressive report, For the Health of Our Children. Thanks to all who worked so hard on it.
I, and Cheryl Polzin, met with Michelle Sagedahl, the new Director of Culinary Express, earlier this week and today (10/26/19) we met with the following 4 members of the Healthy Food + Healthy Habits group: Rochelle Dotzenrod, Karla Lemmon, Joel Spoonheim, and Lani Willis. Michelle used terms like “working collaboratively with parents, forming partnerships, communicating openly, and transparency.” In our meeting, Michelle seemed ready (in fact, perhaps already has to some degree) to work on reducing the “harmful” ingredients in some lunches, to consistently have 4 “Try It Tuesdays” (with some of our high school students helping—great collaboration!), as examples. Certainly the parent group is ready for a plan, and some action steps to be laid out and then pursued. The Board recently re-confirmed our Strategic Road Map for another 3 years. One of the 4 strategic directions (what we work on, pay close attention to) is Health and Well-Being. I, as a Board member, am interested in how we measure that, what we are going to measure, how we move forward on that area. The Board is going to discuss that topic THIS MON (10/28/19). At our work session (anyone can attend work sessions and observe).
Those 2 meetings give me a lot of hope and an expectation that many of the recommendations in the report will be addressed. The big questions will be an implementation plan, where do we start, what is emphasized first, what is measured, who is in charge. I am eager to be part of that conversation and as a sitting Board member (and I hope a re-elected one!!) will make sure it is on agendas.
Now for a little about me—please go to my website: https://www.reelectlindacohen.com/ for a lot more information. I’ve lived in the district for many, many years—all 3 kids went k-12 through Wayzata. My husband practiced medicine for a long time in Wayzata. I care about our community.
Education has been a life-long interest. I served on the University of MN Board of Regents for 12 years (2 as Chair), ending in May. I have been on the Wayzata Board for 20 years (5 years as Chair). I went to Wellesley College for a B.A. in chemistry, Harvard University for a Masters in the History of Science (on a Woodrow Wilson scholarship) and have a Ph.D in Educational Psychology from the University of MN. Had a Bush Summer Fellowship to study Organizational Leadership at Harvard. I care deeply that each of our students has great academic opportunities that fit for them—and that they are healthy!! (Physically and mentally).
It would be my great pleasure to use some of the expertise I believe I have gained to serve on the School Board for 4 more years."
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