This text poll was conducted on January 1 via a text-based campaign. Response rates were lower than expected. I later learned via email that the message came from an 833 phone number, which some carriers flagged as spam. The service I use has limitations on available area codes.

This outreach is part of a learning initiative focused on improving how elected leaders serve their communities. At this time, I’m unable to respond directly to text messages. In the future, I may have access to contact cards so participants can share additional feedback with me via email.

All feedback on how I engage with the community is welcome. Future plans include creating a tracking board of community concerns, along with clear steps showing how we can work together to create meaningful change. This project is conducted independently of the Board I serve on and alongside a group called Good Party. The school district has access only to the feedback I choose to share; not to the identities of those who provided it.

This was the second poll I conducted, the results from my previous poll can be found here: https://elizabethhanke.com/2025/10/24/mankato-constituent-perspectives-on-education/

Results from the January 1st poll:

Student Safety

Citizens are frustrated with disruptive student behavior in classrooms, which they believe hinders the learning environment for other students. They feel that current disciplinary measures are insufficient and that both students and parents need to take more responsibility for bad behavior. There is a clear call for stricter enforcement of rules and appropriate consequences to ensure a productive educational setting. This directly relates to local governance as school boards and administrators set and implement disciplinary policies, impacting the quality of education and safety within schools.

Representative Comments

Make students and parents accountable for bad behaviors. Punish bullies.

No cell phones in classrooms and students need to essay exams.

There should be appropriate consequences for misbehavior in the classroom. The entire class should not have to sacrifice learning to one child’s misbehavior. Learning center should be able to celebrate holidays that other schools do. If a parent doesn’t want their child to participate, they have that option. However, I do not believe that 3 & 4 year olds should be denied the joy of learning through holidays our country celebrated.

Staff Compensation

Citizens are worried about the current compensation for teachers, including salaries and health insurance. They observe that low pay leads to significant teacher burnout and causes good educators to leave the school system. This directly affects the community’s ability to retain qualified staff and maintain a high standard of education for students. The messages highlight a clear connection between teacher compensation and the overall health and effectiveness of local schools, indicating a need for local governance to address these financial aspects to support the educational infrastructure.

Representative Comments

Hi! I would say paying teachers more. They are not paid enough and there is tremendous burnout and so the good teachers are pushed out of the school systems.

Teacher retention and raising their pay.

I love ISD 77. Kudos to the entire staff. I would like to see smaller class sizes. Increase salaries and health insurance. I think it is time to find another math curriculum. Everyday Math has run its course. Math scores have not increased with this curriculum. Thanks for serving on our school board.

Supporting the Arts

Citizens are concerned about a lack of exposure to arts and theatre within the community. They believe that engagement with these cultural forms can encourage critical thinking by addressing political, religious, and social issues. This suggests a desire for more opportunities for residents to participate in and experience cultural events that stimulate thought and discussion. The messages also highlight the importance of creating a welcoming community, which can be supported by shared cultural experiences and opportunities for interaction. These concerns connect to local governance through the potential for public funding, support for local arts organizations, and the creation of community spaces that facilitate cultural activities. Local officials can play a role in fostering a vibrant cultural scene that not only entertains but also educates and unites residents. Addressing these needs can lead to a more engaged and cohesive community.

Representative Comments

I would say, creating a welcoming community.

if its for school community im really unsure because i dont go out to the community much. but i am a theatre major, so an issue i see is people not being exposed to the arts or theatre very much. i dont think its top priority but its really important as alot of our theatre tackles politics, religion, and sex. – something to get people thinking and to start making small changes.

A Message to Our Community

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your concerns. I hear the frustration, and I agree with the core message across these comments: schools must be safe, focused places for learning, and we must take care of the people who do the work every day.

Student Safety & Classroom Environment

Every child deserves the chance to learn without constant disruption. When one student’s behavior repeatedly derails a classroom, it is not fair to the other students—or to the teacher trying to manage the situation.

We need clear expectations, consistent enforcement, and real consequences for misbehavior, especially bullying. Accountability should not fall on teachers alone. Students and parents must be partners in maintaining a respectful learning environment. Phones in classrooms, discipline practices, and instructional rigor are not small details—they directly affect learning outcomes and safety.

At the same time, schools should not lose common sense or joy. Young children should be allowed to celebrate age-appropriate holidays and traditions. Families who choose to opt out should have that option—but we should not remove meaningful experiences for everyone else out of fear of controversy. Balance matters.

Teacher Pay, Burnout, and Retention

Our teachers are stretched thin, and burnout is real. When good educators leave, students pay the price.

Competitive pay, affordable health insurance, manageable class sizes, and curriculum decisions grounded in results—not trends—are essential to retaining strong teachers. If a curriculum is not improving outcomes, we need to be honest about that and willing to reassess. Supporting teachers means respecting their time, their professionalism, and their ability to teach effectively.

The Role of Arts and Culture

Education is not just about test scores. Exposure to the arts; music, theatre, visual art, helps students think critically, wrestle with complex ideas, and understand perspectives different from their own.

The arts may not always feel urgent, but they are essential. They strengthen the same skills that drive success in science and engineering; critical thinking, pattern recognition, communication, and creativity. Supporting the arts helps build schools and communities where students are not only technically capable, but also thoughtful, collaborative, and inspired problem-solvers.

Closing

Strong schools require accountability, respect, and courage—from students, parents, staff, and leaders alike. I am committed to listening, asking hard questions, and pushing for policies that prioritize safety, learning, and the long-term health of our schools.

Thank you for caring enough to speak up. Please keep doing so and look forward to finding better ways of accomplishing these goals together.

— Elizabeth Hanke