Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

I have the opportunity to experience this district through many different lenses. I am a parent to three children in the district, all of whom started here in preschool. With my oldest now a senior, I have been involved for 15 years. I’ve been a classroom parent volunteer, PTO treasurer at JES and CMSE, and served on many school and district committees. I’m starting my sixth year as a building substitute teacher, giving me firsthand insight into our classrooms and daily school operations. I bring both a parent’s and educator’s perspective to the school board.

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

My top three priorities are student achievement, educator support, and responsible financial management. Every student deserves the resources, support, and opportunities needed to succeed. We must retain high-quality educators by providing the time, resources, and support they need. If elected, I will collaborate with students, parents, educators, and our community to make data-driven decisions, use resources wisely, and focus on student success.

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

My strategy would be to avoid cuts that directly impact the classroom.  Protecting classroom instruction and student supports would be my first priority.  I would engage with stakeholder groups, listen, learn and get feedback on areas where changes can be made.  Difficult decisions would be made transparently with the long term financial stability of our district in mind.

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Every student deserves equitable access to a high-quality education. We must work together to review data, identify gaps, and target supports and resources where they are needed most. When administration and educators work together with families and the community to remove barriers and build a sense of belonging, our students feel safe, valued, and seen. This creates an environment where every student can succeed.

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

I’m a parent of three children in the district and a building substitute at JES. I’ve also volunteered on school and district committees, giving me a strong understanding of how our public school system works. I approach conversations and decisions with an open mind and listening ear. I believe in reviewing data while also engaging students, parents, teachers, and community members to ensure their perspectives are heard and considered.

Carver County Local News

School Board Candidates

1. Name and age; community of residence

Tracy Rundell, age 48

Resident of Chaska since 2011

2. Professional and volunteer background.      

I am starting my sixth year as a building substitute teacher at Jonathan Elementary School in ECCS, spending a minimum of three days a week in the building. I have the opportunity to work with amazing students and educators and see the hard work happening in our schools every day. I have three children who have been in this district since preschool. I’ve volunteered in classrooms, served on PTO boards and advisory committees, and I’m currently participating in Future Forecast 2036.  

3. What makes you the best candidate in this race?

I have the opportunity to experience this district through many different lenses. I am a parent to three children in the district, all of whom started here in preschool. With my oldest now a senior, I have been involved for 15 years. I’ve been a classroom parent volunteer, PTO treasurer at JES and CMSE, and served on many school and district committees. I’m starting my sixth year as a building substitute teacher, giving me firsthand insight into our classrooms and daily school operations. I bring both a parent’s and educator’s perspective to the school board. Learn more at www.tracyfor112.com. 

4. What would be your top 3 priorities if elected to the District 112 School Board?

My top three priorities would be student achievement, educator support, and responsible financial management. Every student deserves access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed. We need to retain high-quality educators and give them the time, resources, and support they need to help our students thrive. If elected, I will work collaboratively with students, parents, educators, and community members to ensure we are using district resources wisely, making data-driven decisions, and focusing on student success and achieving our district goals.

5. Are there any programs you would like to see augmented or eliminated if you are elected to the School Board?

I’m hesitant to say I would eliminate any programs at this time. Those decisions should be data-driven and made only after consulting with students, parents, educators, and other stakeholders. If a program is not aligning with or helping us reach our district goals, it deserves to be reviewed. I support augmenting programs that benefit our students and educators, particularly those that align with district priorities and have the potential to increase student achievement and engagement. I look forward to listening to students, parents, and educators and considering their suggestions.

6. How would you address, if at all, ongoing property tax increases?

I recognize that property taxes are a significant concern for many families, and ongoing increases need to be carefully considered. I support adequately funding our schools, but I don’t believe taxpayers should automatically be asked to pay more without first making sure we are using existing resources as effectively as possible. I believe it’s important to evaluate the district’s budget, look for opportunities to improve efficiency, and prioritize spending that goes directly into the classroom to support students and educators.  Oversight, transparency and communication are key when asking taxpayers to fund our schools.  

7. Are you pleased with the progress the District has made over the past year? Why or why not?  

I believe the district is doing a good job preparing students, while acknowledging there are opportunities for continued growth. The district has been recognized at both the state and national levels for graduation rates, growth in test scores, and efforts to close the achievement gap. ECCS was recently named a “District on the Rise.” We should build on these successes by continuing to make data-driven decisions and evaluating what is working. Our focus should remain on ensuring every student has the resources, support, and experiences they need to succeed and reach their full potential.

Waconia Patriot

Biographical Details:

NAME: Tracy Rundell

CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chaska

OFFICE SOUGHT: ECCS District 112 School Board

EDUCATION: B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign

OCCUPATION: Building substitute teacher at Jonathan Elementary School in ECCS D112

Please limit responses to a maximum of 100 words for each numbered question.

Question 1: What prompted you to seek election (or re-election) to office?

I decided to run because I care deeply about our schools and our community. We moved to Chaska in 2011, and this is the 15th year our family has had children in the district. We have experienced this district from pre-school through high school.  Over the years, I have volunteered in our schools and served on various district committees, giving me a firsthand perspective on the strengths of our district and the opportunities ahead. Running for school board is another opportunity for me to give back, listen to our community, and help our district continue to grow and provide a strong education for every student.

Question 2: What is your long-term vision for the district?

I’m really excited about the work happening with the Future Forecast 2036 committee in our district, where I currently serve as a parent representative. This committee is looking ahead at the next 10 years and how we want to shape the future of our district. We are examining both the challenges facing our district and the exciting opportunities we have to ensure we continue providing the best education for our students. We will consider growth in our communities, responsible use of district resources, and how we can continue offering exceptional opportunities for all learners.

Question 3: How involved should the school board and/or parents be with curriculum development?

Curriculum development should be a collaborative effort among the various stakeholders.  The board should provide oversight to ensure the curriculum is meeting state standards and is aligned with the goals of the district.  They should be involved to ask questions and ensure they are providing the resources needed for implementation.  Educators along with teaching and learning staff should lead the effort in curriculum development because they have the expertise in this area.  The process should be transparent so parents have an opportunity to understand the curriculum and provide feedback.  The ultimate goal is to provide a high quality education for every student.

Question 4: Is the school district doing an adequate job of preparing students for the future? Please explain.

I believe the district is doing a good job preparing students, while acknowledging that there are opportunities for continued growth. The district has been recognized at both the state and national levels for graduation rates, growth in test scores, and efforts to close the achievement gap. ECCS was recently named a “District on the Rise.” We should build on these successes by continuing to make data driven decisions and evaluating what is working. Our focus should remain on ensuring every student has the resources, support, and experiences needed to succeed and reach their full potential.

Question 5: What in your background/experience best qualifies you for office?

I am starting year six of being a building substitute teacher at Jonathan Elementary School in ECCS.  I spend a minimum of 3 days a week in the building.  I have the opportunity to work with amazing students and educators.  I see the hard work going on in our schools and district.  I have 3 children who have been in this district since they began preschool. I’ve been involved as PTO treasurer at JES and CMSE.  Over the years I’ve had the chance to serve on various school and district level committees.  Learn more at www.tracyfor112.com