Thank You Robbinsdale!
John was Re-Elected thanks to YOU! Now, Let’s Get to Work!
EXPERIENCED . DEDICATED . PASSIONATE .
I am John Vento – and I decided to run for a 3rd term on the Robbinsdale Area School Board because I felt my work was not done.
I believe it is my responsibility to consider not just what is best for the 2 children in my home, or the 2000 children in the high school my daughters attend(ed). I believe it is my responsibility to consider the needs of all 12,000 students in District 281.
I will continue to work to do this through a lens of equity, teacher support, legislative advocacy, and financial accountability.
ABOUT JOHN VENTO
JOHN AND HIS WIFE SHANNON ARE PROUD ROBBINSDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENTS.
I am an 18 year resident of Golden Valley along with my wife, Shannon.
We have raised two daughters in the school district starting at Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion and Plymouth Middle School. One daughter is a junior at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School and the other daughter is a 2020 graduate of AHS and currently a freshman in college.
I have a parent’s perspective plus a vested interest in the successes and challenges of our schools.
JOHN'S COMMUNITY SERVICE
JOHN WAS ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN 2012 – AND RE-ELECTED IN 2016 AND 2020. HE IS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF.
I am now in my 3rd term as a Robbinsdale Area Schools School Board Member having served two years as board chair, two years as vice-chair, and one year as treasurer.
I currently serve as the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) representative on the MN Department of Education’s finance working group which addresses education finance issues facing the state.
I am a 10 year member of Robbinsdale Area Schools Legislative Action Coalition and have advocated for federal support for the MN School Lands Trust Fund, and pushed for levy equalization, the elimination of the special education funding cap, and school funding increases every biennium as well as fought against unfunded education mandates at the legislature.
JOHN'S PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
JOHN HAS 25 YEARS OF PRIVATE SECTOR I.T. EXPERIENCE – AND UNDERSTANDS THE IMPACT TECHNOLOGY CAN HAVE.
With over 25 years working in the IT industry, I understand the importance of technology. My professional experience is in business and technology.
I have a proven record of building relationships, as well as identifying needs and implementing creative solutions. It is vital that our children are provided with equitable access to technology which helps create 21st century skills they need for success in the future.
I believe my technical knowledge is beneficial to the District as it evaluates its needs and works to increase proficiency and access for both staff and students.
JOHN'S DEDICATION & PASSION
JOHN KNOWS OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGE.
We have had to rethink not only how we deliver education so that our school community remains safe and healthy, but also how to ensure an equitable experience and education for all.
Now—more than ever—our administrators, teachers, parents and community leaders must work together to provide an equitable education for all students of Robbinsdale Area Schools.
After serving eight years on the School Board, my commitment and passion for public education has only grown stronger.
My involvement with the Minnesota Department of Education’s Finance Working Group has facilitated my comprehensive knowledge of how education is funded in Minnesota and in our community.
Now in my 10th year on District 281’s Legislative Action Coalition, I continue to push for legislation that supports both student and educator success.
And, with 25 years working in the IT industry, I have a deep understanding of the importance of equitable access to technology and how it facilitates student achievement.
I have the breadth of experience to bring forward the solutions District 281 needs to successfully support the achievement of all of our students.
It is my honor to be elected to serve a third term on the Robbinsdale Area School Board! Let’s get to work serving and advocating for our Students, Teachers, and Staff!
RAS School Board Member from 2012-2020
- RAS Chair (2018-2019)
- RAS Vice chair (2016-2017)
- RAS Treasurer (2015)
- Community Connect committee member
- Legislative Action Coalition member – 10 years
- Special Education Advisory committee member
- YES 281 Co-Fundraising Chair (2014)
- YES 281 Co-Treasurer (2018)
- YES 281 Sign Chair (2018)
- Chair of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD; 2017)
- AMSD Representative (2012-2018)
- AMSD Executive Committee Member (2015-2018)
- Systems Accountability Committee
- District Technology Planning Committee
- World’s Best Work Force Committee
- Community Education Advisory Committee
- Student Advisory to the Board of Education
- Former PTO President and Secretary
- MDE ESSA Advisory Committee on Accountability (2017)
- Member – Beneficiary Stakeholder Group – Office of School Trust Lands: School Trust Strategic Plan (2018-2020)
- MDE Finance Working Group – MSBA representative (2019-present)
JOHN'S OBJECTIVES & PRIORITIES
Re-Elected!
WE MUST SEE ALL, SERVE ALL, SUPPORT ALL.
The School District must commit to addressing Equity throughout the system and adhere to sound Financial policy, governance, and accountability. John will do the hard work to ensure the district succeeds.
JOHN'S BELIEVES ...
School districts are where Equity work must start.
By confronting inequity and systemic racism through policy and governance, school board members can guide change and make a significant impact.
COVID-19 has exposed the academic, digital, and social/emotional opportunity gaps that exist in school districts across the country.
These gaps will continue to grow unless we truly commit to do work to change its trajectory. This is work I am committed to. I have advocated to ensure the pathway to learning is equal for all learners.
As a school board member, I have supported a memorandum of understanding to retain underrepresented teachers.
I have supported the new Teacher License Board (PLSEB) to allow recruitment of out of state teachers without the restrictions and limitations of the previous licensing system.
I was on the subcommittee to draft and adopt the district’s current Equity Policy and advocate for change in the District’s Student Handbook to better reflect our diverse student population.
I helped establish the ad-hoc committee for Re-Imagine MN which is a group of fifty superintendents working on equity issues.
I am committed to removing barriers to student’s access and success and will continue to work tirelessly for all 12,000 students in our district. I believe All means ALL.
JOHN BELIEVES ...
We must have sound Financial policy, governance, and accountability.
Education funding hasn’t changed in decades. Through my work on the MN Department of Education’s Finance Working Group, I know firsthand the challenges that public education faces.
State revenues, the primary source of K-12 funding, are not keeping pace with inflation requiring local levies to make up the difference. This has a direct impact on the District’s ability to maintain critical staffing levels, important programming, and vital resources which has led to significant financial challenges for all school districts.
I have worked hard, along with my board colleagues and district administration, to implement a better system to monitor and review budget vs. actual expenditures, aligning the budget code with state guidelines to ensure that expenses and revenue are being tracked correctly.
As we move forward in these unprecedented times, I am advocating at the state level to ensure that districts are not adversely affected by the state’s COVID orders, orders that could have a significant adverse impact on our budget.
It is critical that we continue to implement the recommendations from the ‘Baker Tilly Instructional Report Review’, focusing on enhanced operational efficiency, reducing expenditures, and optimizing organizational effectiveness.
I believe the board needs to align budget planning with the district’s Financial Advisory Council and keep a strong eye on budget vs. actual. I firmly believe that success lies with administration and staff collaborating to identify cost reductions where needed.
JOHN WILL …
Work to reduce the opportunity gap and diminish the digital divide in our schools.
JOHN WILL …
Apply his comprehensive knowledge of school finance at both the district and state level.
JOHN WILL …
Advocate for an equitable, safe educational experience for ALL students and staff.
Re-Elected!
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