Cathy Cella, Matthew Fox, David Goldstein, Randy Meyer, Lonni Skrentner,
and Leny Wallen-Friedman

September 22, 2022

To the Editor:

As former school board members, including one currently serving an appointed interim term, we strongly endorse Regina Neville for the one-year term on the Edina School Board. Experience always matters, but when electing someone to one year for the school board, it is critical. Even when knowledgeable about education issues, the learning curve for new board members is steep. Regina served on the Edina School board for eight years, from 2010 through 2017 and continued to represent Edina on the board of Intermediate School District 287 until June of 2022. This extensive experience in Edina school governance, strategy, policy and finance will allow her to immediately function as a strong, knowledgeable, contributing member of the board.

Regina’s commitment to the Edina school community goes well beyond her school board service. She has been actively involved in committees and leadership roles at the individual schools since 2000, has served as a long-term substitute teacher, as a teacher in the Elementary Success Centers and currently directs the Theatre program at Valley View Middle School. She has also served as a board member and the board chair of the Edina Education Fund, where she has been a strong voice in support of literacy and mental health and wellness. The breadth and depth of her different perspectives on the issues facing our district will be invaluable as a board member.

We have all served directly with Regina on the Edina School Board, some of us for a few years and some for her entire eight years. We know her to be an exceptional school board member, always willing to listen, to engage in respectful debate, to work to consensus and keep the needs of all students as her first priority.

Sun Current policy limits the number of signers for a Letter to the Editor to five, so although only one of us signed this, all six of us, Matthew Fox, David Goldstein, Randy Meyer, Lonni Skrentner, Leny Wallen-Friedman and Cathy Cella support Regina Neville. Please join us and vote for her for Edina School Board on November 8.

Cathy Cella, Edina

Molly Rice

October 12, 2022

Letter: Neville helps make Edina strong

I am writing in support of Regina Neville to fill the one-year vacancy on the EPS School Board. I think it is beyond fortunate there is someone with Regina’s experience and knowledge who can and is willing to literally step in and support our current School Board members and new Superintendent.

Regina is an outstanding community leader with a proven track record and approach that is thoughtful, measured, fair, diligent, supportive, inclusive and calm – she asks questions and listens. These are all qualities we need in a community leader. I know this because I have been fortunate enough to have seen her in action when she was previously on the School Board, and when we were both involved with the Edina Band program, the Edina Thespian Boosters, the Edina Education Fund, Edina Give and Go, the new transportation center, and many other community programs and initiatives over the past several years. Regina is one of those people that makes this community strong and what it is today because she puts in the hard work to make it happen. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Molly Rice, Edina

Meg Rodriguez

October 12, 2022

Letter: Neville will move mountains for Edina students’ education

To the editor:

One of our most committed community members, Regina Neville, is stepping up once again to serve Edina as a candidate for the Edina Board of Education. With eight years of prior experience on our Board of Education, Regina has established a wellearned reputation as a collaborative and dedicated leader whose high intellect and tireless work ethic highly distinguish her work. Young people have always been the center of Regina’s focus, and countless Edina students have been the beneficiaries of her long-term service. Beyond our students, though, ALL of us who prioritize high-quality public education as a pre- eminent Edina community value, are fortunate that Regina can once again provide steady and visionary stewardship of one of Edina’s most valuable assets: our public school system. This fall, I urge you to cast your ballot for Regina. At this moment, public education systems everywhere are facing new and complex challenges that require expertise, creativity, and integrity. Regina’s deep and wide knowledge of public-school policy, coupled with her vast experience, her unquestionable sense of ethics, and her open-mindedness make her a perfect leader for this demanding time. Best of all, Regina remains confident, enthusiastic, and optimistic about the future of public education and its power to help all children reach their full potential. Quite simply, Regina will move mountains to ensure that Edina students have access to the outstanding educational experiences they deserve.

Early voting at Edina City Hall has already begun, and in-person ballots for Regina Neville can be cast on Nov. 8th. Please join me in confidently and gratefully supporting Regina Neville for Edina Board of Education!

Meg Rodriguez Edina