Richfield School Board Candidate Monica Holl Petrov: 'I Believe in Public Education'

Editor's Note: , Patch will be featuring individual Q&As with the candidates before the Nov. 8, 2011 election.

Monica Holl Petrov has lived in Richfield for 46 years. Her father was a Richfield elementary school teacher for 35 years and she graduated from (RHS). Petrov is running for election to the Richfield School Board this November.

Richfield Patch: Why did you decide to run for the Richfield School Board?

Monica Holl Petrov: I’m a firm believer that public schools are a key component in successfully preparing our next generation of workers and leaders. Richfield Public Schools provide a quality education and I want to ensure that continues. I am a very organized and proactive person; I believe sustained success is dependent upon creating and maintaining infrastructure versus mitigating damage. Serving on the school board would give me the opportunity to support and promote an excellent school district that, in some aspect, has always been a part of my life. As a parent and taxpayer, I will work to meet the needs of our students and staff while weighing fiscal responsibility.*

Richfield Patch: What do you see as your particular qualifications for serving on the Richfield School Board?

Petrov: I am a very organized, efficient and proactive person; I believe sustained success is dependent on creating and maintaining infrastructure versus mitigating damage. With that in mind, I will work to meet the needs of our students and staff while weighing fiscal responsibility.   

Richfield Patch: What do you think are the major issues facing the district in the coming years?

Petrov: I think the greatest issues impacting Richfield Public Schools are increasing demands in the wake of reduced funding.

Society and family norms as well as demographics have changed significantly since I graduated from RHS 30 years ago. These changes have required our schools to take on new roles and responsibilities in order to meet the needs of the more diverse student body. Our schools are often expected to fill societal gaps. Learning is more than just pure academics. For many students today, the non-academic interactions and learning are as essential as the academic.

Understanding Richfield Public Schools’ broadened role, I would like to see increased physical and/or financial support of RPS students by the entire Richfield population, whether or not a resident has children actively in the system. We need to continue to communicate the importance of strong schools and increase awareness of ways the greater community can become involved.

Society as a whole benefits from strong and successful schools. Successful students become self-sufficient, contributing members of society and our next generation of workers. Employable adults in turn reduce crime and make our communities safer places to live.

* Originally, there was a copy and paste error in this paragraph. It has since been corrected.