Ken Morrison selected in unanimous decision

For about a month the School Board has been taking attendance with one empty seat. Now that seat has been filled by a unanimous mid-term appointment from the remaining board members.

Since member Pam Rykken chose to resign in September due to personal reasons, the remaining six board members have held a series of interviews with aspiring candidates. By last week the board had narrowed them down to five finalists: Susan Nielson, Bruce Cantor, Mary Tomback, Ken Morrison and Karen Waters.

In the end, after Q&A sessions on Oct. 15 and 16, Ken Morrison was appointed by a 6-0 vote to take over Rykken’s remaining two-year term.

Board chair Jim Yarosh said that they had to make some tough decisions, but there was never any doubt that they would find the right candidate for the job.

“We’ve had really good applications and a lot of really qualified candidates so it was tough to narrow the field,” Yarosh said. “I was looking for (a candidate with) involvement in the district, community participation (and) district participation. These are the informal criteria.”

Board member Nancy Gores said that the finalists all brought unique perspectives to the table.

“I think it’s exciting this community has so many well qualified folks willing to step up and serve,” Gores said. “I was looking for (a candidate with) experience at some level within our schools, and an understanding of what the issues have been and are.”

Morrison has lived in St. Louis Park for almost 26 years. He has three children currently in the school system and has coached various sports such as football, baseball and softball. He said that he will remain active in the West Side schools, particularly Aquila, where he is also a member of the District Parent Advisory Council.

“We’re a really fantastic, unique school and yet we have students that speak many different first languages,” said Morrison. “That whole cultural environment is really appreciative and enjoyable. We just want to make sure that those voices are being heard too.”

Morrison said there were several issues which he hopes his new position will allow him to remedy in coming years.

“With that different culture and background and things we have many economical difficulties, some disparities between other elementary schools,” he said. “We will also need to figure out how to adjust large class sizes.”

Morrison also said he is interested in strengthening the school community.

“I’d like to see all the elementary schools have the same achievement programs where they go to one environmental camp,” he said. “There they establish these relationships with the kids they’ll be going to school with the next year.”

Morrison said there was no single matter that urged him to act.

“I just really wanted to put myself out there as a voice for Aquila and the West Side schools,” said Morrison. “There’s no real huge agenda that I have sitting on the board at this time.”

Ken Morrison will be sworn in at the next School Board meeting Oct 22.