MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
November-December 2015
Volume 68, No. 3
MSBA Delegate Assembly: The Great Grass-Roots Get-Together School Boards Should Encourage Hero-Friendly Culture in Schools and Workplace School Boards Must Push Academic Focus 95th Annual Leadership Toward Creativity and Entrepreneurship Conference January 14–15, 2016
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QUOTES OF NOTE MSBA Staff STRAIGHT TALK Kirk Schneidawind, MSBA Executive Director PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Kevin Donovan, MSBA President 2016 Leadership Conference preview MSBA Staff VENDOR DIRECTORY Pierre Productions & Promotions, Inc.
Articles 8 12 14 16 18
MSBA Delegate Assembly: The Great Grass-Roots Get-Together Bruce Lombard School boards should encourage herofriendly culture in schools and workplace Grace Clough School boards must push academic focus toward creativity and entrepreneurship Grace Clough 21st Century Design Jack Skelley MSBA Board Director Spotlight: Betsy Anderson Bruce Lombard
3 ���������������� Election Day (if applicable – no meetings or activities 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.) 5–6 ������������ MSBA Board of Directors’ Meeting 11 �������������� Veterans Day (no meetings) 12 �������������� MSBA Pre-Delegate Assembly Meetings 12–13 �������� MASBO Fall Conference 14 �������������� MSBA Pre-Delegate Assembly Meetings 15–21 �������� American Education Week 17 �������������� MSBA Pre-Delegate Assembly Meetings 17 �������������� Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund Plus Annual Meeting 26 �������������� Thanksgiving Day (no meetings) 27 �������������� Optional Holiday
DECEMBER 2015 4 ���������������� MSBA Board of Directors’ Meeting 4–5 ������������ MSBA Delegate Assembly Meeting 8 ���������������� MSBA New Board Member Orientation, Phase I, St. Peter 11 �������������� MSBA New Board Member Orientation, Phase I, St. Cloud 12 �������������� MSBA Phase II Orientation, St. Cloud 25 �������������� Christmas Day (no meetings)
JANUARY 2016 1 ���������������� New Year’s Day (no meetings) 4 ���������������� Terms Begin for Newly Elected Board Members 12 �������������� MSBA New Board Member Orientation, Phase I, Minneapolis 13 �������������� MSBA Board of Directors’ Meeting 13 �������������� MSBA Early Bird Workshops 13 �������������� MSBA Phase II, Minneapolis 13 �������������� MSBA Charter School Board Training, Minneapolis 14–15 �������� MSBA Leadership Conference 15 �������������� MSBA Board of Directors’ Meeting 18 �������������� Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Observed (no meetings)
The MSBA Journal thanks the students of North Branch Area Schools for sharing their art in this issue. COVER ART:
Danielle Toon November/December 2015 3
CONTENTS November/December 2015 VOLUME 68, NUMBER 3
Calendar
Officers President: Kevin Donovan, Mahtomedi Past-President: Walter Hautala, Mesabi East District Directors District 1: Kathy Green, Austin District 2: Jodi Sapp, Mankato Area District 3: Linden Olson, Worthington District 4: Betsy Anderson, Hopkins District 5: Suzy Guthmueller, Centennial District 6: George Kimball, White Bear Lake Area District 7: Melissa Sauser, Farmington District 8: Carla Bates, Minneapolis District 9: Kirby Ekstrom, North Branch Area District 10: Michael Domin, Crosby-Ironton District 11: John Berklich, Hibbing District 12: Ann Long Voelkner, Bemidji Area District 13: Deborah Pauly, Jordan Staff Kirk Schneidawind: Executive Director Kelly Martell: Executive Assistant Tiffany Rodning: Deputy Executive Director Greg Abbott: Director of Communications Denise Dittrich: Associate Director of Government Relations Denise Drill: Director of Financial/MSBAIT Services Amy Fullenkamp-Taylor: Associate Director of Management Services Sandy Gundlach: Director of School Board Services Barb Hoffman: Administrative Assistant to Government Relations/Finance/Meeting Coordinator Sue Honetschlager: Administrative Assistant to Management, Legal and Policy Services/MSBAIT Donn Jenson: Director of Technology Bill Kautt: Associate Director of Management Services Grace Keliher: Director of Government Relations Katie Klanderud: Director of Board Development Gary Lee: Director of Membership Services Bruce Lombard: Associate Director of Communications Cathy Miller: Director of Legal and Policy Services Sue Munsterman: Administrative Assistant to Board Development/Communications Jeff Olson: Membership Services Sandi Ostermann: Administrative Assistant to Association Services and Finance/Receptionist Tim Roberts: Production Room Manager The MSBA Journal (USPS 352-220) is published bimonthly by the Minnesota School Boards Association, 1900 West Jefferson Avenue, St. Peter, Minnesota 56082. Telephone 507-934-2450. Call MSBA office for subscription rates. (Opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent MSBA policy.)
4 MSBA Journal
Quotes of Note captures some of the more interesting statements MSBA staff have read in local, state and national publications.
Governor Dayton selects state’s first School Trust Lands Director “This is a huge victory for all of Minnesota’s public school students. The students are beneficiaries of this trust fund. The state has finally appointed someone to look out for the long-term interest of our public school students and Minnesota’s trust land.” MSBA President Kevin Donovan (Mahtomedi School Board Member)
“This is a historic day for the schoolchildren in Minnesota. Finally, they will have an authentic trustee to provide oversight and accountability to the management of their trust fund. Thanks to all the school boards who passed board resolutions, testified, attended meetings, made phone calls and sent emails.” MSBA Associate Director of Government Relations Denise Dittrich
“I’m pleased to see that Gov. Dayton has taken the long-awaited step to appoint an independent director to advise the Legislature and the governor’s office on school trust management issues. We’ve been waiting nearly three years for this appointment, but nevertheless we are pleased it has finally occurred. The appointment of the director is an important step in providing oversight over Minnesota’s School Trust Lands.” Rep. Tim O’Driscoll
“I’m excited Gov. Dayton has appointed Aaron Vande Linde to be the School Trust Lands Director. Aaron has an amazing wealth of knowledge regarding not only Minnesota’s School Trust Lands, but school trust lands across the country. He will do a fantastic job helping maximize Minnesota’s School Trust Lands. I look forward to working with him.” Sen. Carrie Ruud, chair of the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission
Importance of broadband “To me it is the rural electrification of this era. If you go to rural Minnesota . . . if you are not wired there, it has all kinds of implications.” U.S. Sen. Al Franken
“For every child now to have access to a high-quality education requires technology. It is as important as textbooks.” MSBA Associate Director of Government Relations Denise Dittrich
“With grant requests nearly triple the available funding, it’s clear that the need for investment in rural broadband access is significant. The $10.58 million available this year is a start, but it’s essential that the Legislature provide sufficient funding next session.” Minnesota Lt. Governor Tina Smith on the increased number of applicants for Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development grants
National Blue Ribbon Schools “It is heartening to see Minnesota schools receive recognition on a national stage. Minnesotans should be very proud of the incredible work going on in our schools by our students and teachers.” Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, on U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognizing seven Minnesota schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015 based on their overall academic excellence
Impact of enrollment “The (number of) students that enroll in the district is tied directly to the funding we receive. The more students we have here, the more funding we get. That affects class sizes and how many teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff we have. It affects how everything is pulled together. When you graduate a large class and bring in a small kindergarten, that has an impact, too.” Pequot Lakes Business Manager Jenny Max
S traight Talk W ’ C
e don t need changes to oncurrent Enrollment credential standards Joint Higher Education Committee hearing that examined HLC’s intent on implementing those additional credentialing standards on high school faculty.
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Kirk Schneidawind MSBA Executive Director
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) – an organization that accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions in Minnesota and 18 other states – announced that high school teachers in dual-credit courses, along with all instructional college faculty, must have a master’s degree in the specialty they’re teaching, or they need at least 18 graduate-level credit hours within that specialty, effective in September 2017. On behalf of MSBA, I sent a letter to the HLC in September. Here is an excerpt: “Your approach will negatively impact all of our students – especially our high school students. This proposed policy will threaten the ability in many school communities to offer these highly successful research-based courses. More importantly, school districts want challenging academic options for their students in order to prepare their students to be ready for college or a career. … We urge the Higher Learning Commission to stop the implementation of those credentialing standards until input is taken from users of Concurrent Enrollment programs.” I made a similar statement to HLC President Barbara Gellman-Danley during my testimony on the behalf of public school boards October 8 at a
Back in 2007, MSBA led the charge in seeking funding for Concurrent Enrollment programs. The Minnesota Legislature allocated $2.5 million each year thereafter to provide modest support for school districts to provide Concurrent Enrollment programs on their high school campuses. In 2015, the Legislature reaffirmed their support for this program – a program that works for students, families and school districts – by investing an additional $4 million.
3. Among freshmen who continue to the second year of college, dualcredit participants earn a higher firstyear GPA. 4. Students who continue to the second year of college accumulate more college credits if they take dual-credit courses in high school. Requiring 18 graduate credits in the program field will mean fewer teachers to teach a program, fewer Concurrent Enrollment programs, fewer students taking college-level courses in the high school building, and increased higher education costs for families. Years of teaching experience should be considered when these Concurrent Enrollment agreements are evaluated. Knowing how to teach and having experience with the course materials can be just as valuable, if not more valuable, when teaching these courses in collaboration with college and/or university instructors.
School districts and parents want to keep their students on their high school campuses for these dual-credit courses. School districts win. Students win. Families win. And participation in this program has grown.
School boards and school districts want to plan with confidence – this change will create uncertainty around staffing, credit opportunities, arrangements with higher education institutions and school district budgets.
Districts want maximum flexibility and fewer barriers for this program. If districts are unable to offer – or have to reduce – dual-credit options, students will either choose Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) that will take them away from high school campuses or be forced to forgo advanced coursework. This creates financial and budgeting challenges for both school districts and families.
Finally, what problem is this clarification solving? Are Concurrent Enrollment students failing tests, falling behind other students, in need of remediation classes or dropping out of college? It seems that other motivations are in play with the issuing of this clarification.
Concurrent Enrollment helps increase the number of college graduates, making college attendance a possibility for the first generation of many families. A recent University of Oregon study highlights the importance of Concurrent Enrollment: 1. D ual-credit students have a higher college participation rate than high school graduates overall. 2. D ual-credit students who go on to college continue to the second year at a higher rate than freshmen who enter college without having earned dual credit.
We know school boards care about this issue deeply – evidenced by the nearly 30 legislative resolutions boards sent in to MSBA. We will consolidate those resolutions into a single resolution that will be heard during the MSBA Delegate Assembly in December (see Pages 8–11 for story about the Delegate Assembly). Tell your local legislators your stories and successes about Concurrent Enrollment. Tell the HLC President Barbara Gellman-Danley about the consequences her organization’s policy change would cause. She can be reached at bgdanley@hlcommission.org or 800-621-7440, ext. 102.
November/December 2015 5
President’s Column Board governance needs to make diversity and equity a priority
I
Kevin Donovan MSBA President
We need to celebrate our cultural and ethnic differences as an integral part of everyone’s education.
In 1968, I was a fourth-grade student at Linwood Elementary School in St. Paul. It was this same year that St. Paul Public Schools began integration. I was very naïve and was unfamiliar with the words “diversity” and “equity.” My best friend in fourth grade, and for the next couple of years, was a boy named Frank. The two of us would while away the hours of recess drawing pictures and having fun. It seemed to me at the time that we were both pretty oblivious to the fact that one of us was black and the other one was white. It didn’t seem to matter much at that time. A great deal has happened in the ensuing years since my fourth-grade experience – the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez and the grape boycott, Wounded Knee and Rodney King – all illustrating the painful realities of 20th-century race relations. Recently we are reminded in no uncertain terms that the work is still not yet done.
It wasn’t too long ago that Minnesota politician Wendell Anderson held up a northern pike for a photo for the cover of the August 1973 Time magazine. The article showcased Minnesota as being a great state to live in with a great quality of life. It was a great quality of life – but not for all of our state’s citizens. Another well-known Minnesota politician once said: “We all do better when we all do better.” Nowhere is this more true than in education. As we celebrate the 10th year of the highest ACT test scores in the country, we need to not forget that we also have one of the highest achievement gaps in all 50 states. That was then and this is now. At the MSBA Summer Seminar in August, we heard from State Demographer Susan Brower about the “Browning of Minnesota.” We are much more diverse today than at any time in our state’s history. Susan covered several major trends that are, and will be, affecting the demographics of Minnesota, and ultimately the success of our economy.
6 MSBA Journal
The first is the retirement of baby boomers and the second is our state’s growing diversity. Minnesota is becoming more diverse unevenly across the state. From 1960 to 2010, the state’s diversity has increased 17 percent. During the same period in the Twin Cities, the increase was 24 percent. Certain areas have experienced even greater jumps in diversity. The Worthington School District is 65 percent students of color. International immigration has increased in recent years and those populations are increasingly diverse. In 2010 there were 93 languages spoken in Minnesota. Your MSBA Board of Directors voted in April of this year to adopt three strategic goals, one of which is working in the area of diversity and equity. Our vision with this goal is to be culturally aware to the needs of all of our students. We would like to take a leadership role in promoting teaching as an exciting and rewarding career to students of color, so as to make our teachers more reflective of the communities they serve. Local school board governance should likewise be comprised of a diversity in its members. We need to focus on raising student achievement through strong local governance and by actively engaging the community. How do we challenge, engage and inspire all of our students, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic background and culture, to achieve at the very highest rates? I would maintain that these courageous conversations start at the top, with the school board and superintendent. School boards should consider working together to gain cultural competence. There are tools in the marketplace to assess a school board’s current cultural competence and diversity. We owe it to our students and communities to make equity a priority in all that we do in public education. A high-quality public education is a basic civil right for all students. We at MSBA want to be proactive and at the forefront of the conversation and action regarding equity in our schools. We need to celebrate our cultural and ethnic differences as an integral part of everyone’s education. We must value, cherish and celebrate all of our students.
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School board Delegates from across the state gather each December at the MSBA Delegate Assembly to vote on legislative resolutions submitted by school boards. Resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly help form MSBA’s legislative policies.
The Great
Grass-Roots Get-Together
School board members have driven MSBA’s legislative agenda for 90-plus years through the Delegate Assembly
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Each December, MSBA’s legislative positions are adopted through one of Minnesota’s most grassroots approaches.
Bruce Lombard
The MSBA Delegate Assembly is comprised of Delegates elected from public school boards. These Delegates discuss, debate and vote on legislative resolutions submitted by school boards and individual school board members. Resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly build MSBA’s legislative agenda, which guides MSBA’s lobbyists each legislative session. “While many differences exist among our individual school districts, the MSBA Delegate Assembly is the time when our board members come together to say with one voice that they have an underlying, common goal of making school a great experience and preparing their students for college or a career,” said MSBA Executive Director Kirk Schneidawind, who also served as a lobbyist for MSBA from 2000 to 2012.
8 MSBA Journal
Denise Dittrich, MSBA’s Associate Director of Government Relations, said participating in the Delegate Assembly can provide school board members with one of their most fulfilling experiences. “The Delegate Assembly is a meaningful way for school board members to get involved and influence the legislative process as it relates to public schools,” said Dittrich, who also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2012. “Lawmakers ask for resolutions that evolve out of the Delegate Assembly – they respect what board members think.” Robbinsdale Area School Board Member Patsy Green said it is important for school board members to help build MSBA’s legislative platform for the benefit of Minnesota’s students. “The Delegate Assembly process is the opportunity for statewide input, educating board members on the history of education laws and current issues and events, building consensus on
the issues, and setting the priorities for our school board advocates and MSBA at the state Capitol,” she said. MSBA President Kevin Donovan (Mahtomedi School Board) said the Delegate Assembly helps individual board members and school boards have a voice at the state level. “The Delegate Assembly definitely helps amplify the message that board members want to carry to our elected officials in St. Paul,” Donovan said.
Assembly required The Delegate Assembly was established in November 1921 through MSBA’s original Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws: “There shall exist within the Corporation a Delegate Assembly for the purpose of studying, formulating and adopting the legislative program of the Corporation.” The Delegate Assembly was originally held in conjunction with the Leadership Conference. The first Delegate Assembly conference convened in March 1922 in St. Paul. According to an account in MSBA’s archives, one of the early successes of the Delegate Assembly came in 1925 when “a law was introduced and passed that permitted any school board in the state, by a two-thirds vote, to become a member of the Association and by a similar vote to pay the expenses of one member to the convention (i.e., Leadership Conference) and to pay the annual dues from district funds.” Sometime prior to 1968, the Delegate Assembly split off from the Leadership Conference into its own stand-alone event held during Thanksgiving weekend. (In 1988, the date of the conference was pushed back one week to its current first-weekend-of-December schedule.) Bob Meeks served as MSBA’s Executive Director from 2003 to 2013 – but his overall experience with MSBA and the Delegate Assembly runs much deeper. Meeks’ first day at MSBA was November 1, 1975 – and his first Delegate Assembly was later that month. Back then, Meeks was the Director of Special Projects. “Which means I was a go-fer,” Meeks said. “I did anything they told me to!” Meeks attended his first MSBA Board of Directors meeting that month, where he observed the MSBA Board’s role in the weeks ahead of the Delegate Assembly. During that board meeting, the MSBA Board pored over each school board member-submitted resolution and made their recommendations based on advice from MSBA staff members. “I thought, what in the heck did I get myself into?” Meeks said. “At that time I had no background in this type of thing and found it so complicated, but I found it very informative, too.” Four weeks later, Meeks experienced his first Delegate Assembly meeting, an experience that left a great impression on him. “The meeting included all of the school board members that put the time in to learn the issues,” Meeks said. “They
knew what they were arguing for or against on whatever the issue was – funding, governance and employee-employer relations.” Meeks added that back in 1975, well before MSBA’s use of electronic voting pads, everything was decided by a voice vote. “If a vote was close, then MSBA staff was appointed as tellers to hand-count the votes,” Meeks said. Even though the Delegate Assembly was now a separate event from the Leadership Conference, the Leadership Conference still had some considerable influence. At that time, MSBA members attending the Business Session at the Leadership Conference had the power to overrule resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly. Meeks said the Business Session didn’t overrule the Delegate Assembly often, but “it happened one major time while I was here in the early 1980s and that was the impetus for the change,” Meeks recalled. “There were some board members from a certain part of the state that completely changed several issues related to funding that the Delegate Assembly had adopted.” MSBA members later voted to give the Delegate Assembly full authority over the legislative resolutions because the Delegates “were the people who actually debated and researched the issues,” Meeks said. “The Delegates were the ones who attended the Fall Area Meetings (now the MSBA Advocacy Tour), the Pre-Delegate Assembly Meetings and the Delegate Assembly conference. The people at the Business Session didn’t have the background, so it was more of a shot in the dark in how it came out.”
Resolutions Some of the early resolutions adopted by the Delegate Assembly in the 1920s look very familiar today: a call for increased state aid and an opposition to teacher tenure laws. Other early resolutions included a call for laws “pertaining to insurance which would safeguard school boards from personal responsibility when children were injured on school property and during athletics games” and “making the Teachers Retirement Fund workable.” During the past 90-plus years, the number of legislative resolutions submitted annually by MSBA’s membership for the Delegate Assembly varies. In 2014, 24 resolutions were on the docket. Some other years have seen at least 100, as Meeks recalled. “At one time, we’d get 100 resolutions or more in a year,” he said. “MSBA had to research every one of them. Back then, there were no computers, so I had to type the resolutions and then (former MSBA Executive Assistant) Barb Lynn had to retype it. Then we would proof it and then run it through the printer. Barb and I literally worked 18-hour days for more than a month.” MSBA Past President Walter Hautala (Mesabi East School Board) said it is important for school board members to be given the opportunity to introduce resolutions pertinent to their area and other schools in the state. November/December 2015 9
Delegate Assembly
MSBA
“Delegates give MSBA’s Government Relations Team direction for future legislative policies,” Hautala said. “The process is fair because Delegates vote on resolutions presented at Delegate Assembly. From past experiences, I feel resolutions that help schools all throughout the state have the best chance for passage at Delegate Assembly.”
local board and use personally in their own board actions.”
Election process
Delegates also attend Pre-Delegate Assembly Meetings each November to help them prepare for the Delegate Assembly Conference in December. At the “Pre-DA” meetings, Delegates review every proposed resolution in-depth with MSBA staff.
MSBA’s bylaws map the state in 30 Areas. The bylaws assign three Delegates to each MSBA Area for the first 12,500 students enrolled in an Area. From there, each Area gains an additional delegate for every additional 12,500 students. MSBA Area 16, which covers Dakota County school districts, has the greatest number of representatives, based on its collective student population, with eight seats. There are six MSBA Areas that each have the minimum three-seat assignment. Nowadays, MSBA Delegates are nominated online. If there are more nominees than open seats, a mailballot election is held. Prior to that process, Delegates had been elected directly at Fall Area Meetings. Back then, board members didn’t even have to be in attendance at the Fall Area Meetings to be elected as Delegates. “Once a board member was on the Delegate Assembly and understood what the responsibilities were, we had no trouble getting them to run for reelection,” Meeks said. “It was usually hardest to get them to run for the first time. That speaks to the strength of the Delegate Assembly. Once they get on, they would stay on, usually as long as they were on their local school board. There were some members of the Delegate Assembly who served for 20, 25, 30 years. They learned so much that they could take back to their
Eventually, MSBA’s membership approved a recommendation from the MSBA Board to change how Delegate Assembly members were selected, which led to the current online-nomination-and-mailballot system.
Assembly’s impact What was the single most important resolution passed by the Delegate Assembly? Even after attending nearly 30 Delegate Assembly meetings during his MSBA career, Meeks can’t pinpoint one resolution in particular. “None of them really stand out because all of them were important,” he said. “They were all important because in one way or another, every one of them had an impact on public school students.” MSBA Board Director Jodi Sapp (Mankato Area School Board) said the Delegate Assembly is grassroots democracy at its finest. “What better way to inform our legislators of what is important to us,” Sapp said. “It’s a great ‘insider’s look’ at what is going on statewide. You hear from so many different board members and how legislation affects each of us differently. Also, it’s a great way to meet people. I have friends in my life that I met at Delegate Assembly and I continue to meet new people each year. I like to hear what’s going on in other districts and communities, and everyone teaches me a little something.” MSBA Board Director Kathy Green (Austin School Board) said the Delegate Assembly is important because it provides a representative voice for school board members in the legislative process. “As board members, we experience firsthand the ramifications of statutes and the rulemaking authority of the Minnesota Department of Education,” she said. “It is our responsibility to be active in the process that sets the mandates that we are charged with.” Jeanna Lilleberg from the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board added: “The Delegate Assembly is a highly effective way of identifying deficiencies in educational policy and proposing systemic solutions.”
MSBA Board Director and Bemidji Area School Board Member Ann Long Voelkner takes to the floor to speak in support of a resolution during the 2013 Delegate Assembly in Minneapolis. The first Delegate Assembly was held in 1922 in St. Paul. 10 MSBA Journal
Meeks said that when he advocated for education at the state Legislature – which he did for 25 years as a lobbyist for MSBA – the most important aspect of MSBA’s lobbying efforts was its “statewide membership-adopted positions.”
Members’ memories
Delegates from MSBA Area 1 check out resolution language on a big screen during the 2014 Delegate Assembly in Minneapolis. The Delegate Assembly is made up of representatives from 30 MSBA Areas across the state. Area 1 is comprised of school boards from Fillmore County, Houston County and Winona County. “We used that term many times when we lobbied,” Meeks said. “When we crafted a bill based on Delegate Assembly action to the Legislature, we could say: ‘the MSBA membership voted in favor of this’ or ‘school board members across the state support this position.’ That to me is the most important thing about the Delegate Assembly.” “The Delegate Assembly gives us membership-adopted positions stating the will and desire of school board members across the state,” Meeks continued. “We are the one state organization that supports all school board members. Elected school board members adopt our positions.” All of those “statewide membership-adopted positions” are housed in one “MSBA Legislative Policies” document which MSBA updates annually. (The document was formerly known as the “Pink Sheets,” simply because the resolutions were printed on pink paper.) Members can view the MSBA Legislative Policies online by visiting: http://www.mnmsba.org/Portals/0/PDFs/ Advocacy/2015MSBALegislativePolicies.pdf. Meeks will get a different view of the Delegate Assembly this December – this time as a Delegate. Meeks is currently serving as a school board member for St. Peter Public Schools. He said he was grateful for the Delegate Assembly during his MSBA career. “It makes the job of MSBA’s lobbyists much easier to know that we had a strong Delegate Assembly that took its work very seriously to put together our legislative platform,” Meeks said. “The Delegate Assembly makes MSBA a force to be reckoned with at the Capitol because it was publicly elected school board members speaking. We were only passing on school board members’ thoughts and actions.” Schneidawind said school board members should naturally have a say in the legislative process, considering they are the ones who witness and experience the operational, financial and managerial challenges. “We would be crazy not to get their feedback,” Schneidawind said. “Input from board members who are in the field greatly strengthens our legislative positions.” Bruce Lombard is MSBA’s Associate Director of Communications. You can contact him at blombard@mnmsba.org. Special thanks to Bob Meeks for his contribution to this article.
“My best memory of Delegate Assembly is when I introduced a resolution from MSBA supporting a School Trust Land Director to manage approximately 2.5 million acres of state School Trust Lands that generate revenue for schools. The delegates voted 99 percent in favor of passage. It took a lot of hard work by MSBA’s Government Relations Team and others, but Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Aaron Vande Linde as the state’s first School Trust Land Director on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.” MSBA Past President Walter Hautala, Mesabi East School Board “My best memories of the Delegate Assembly have been the lively and passionate debates, when Delegates differ in opinion but are articulate in their personal reflection. When districts with farreaching needs and divergent experiences are brought together and enlighten each other.” MSBA Board Director Kathy Green, Austin School Board “There are so many great memories: learning about laws and the pros and cons has been huge – and at times frustrating when I can’t convince people of the need for change. I remember great floor debates – board members passionate about the presentation of platform issues, arguing as if they’re on the floor of the Capitol, all for the benefit of students. Also my own ongoing debate with former MSBA Executive Director Bob Meeks about the Teachers Retirement Association! I also remember the wonderful social times, getting to know other board members in my MSBA Director District and throughout the state, and robust discussions.” Patsy Green, Robbinsdale Area School Board “I truly enjoy the camaraderie and open dialogue amongst the Delegate Assembly body. It is as if they truly understand the vital task of impacting education policy for generations to come.” Jeanna Lilleberg, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board “Carol McFarlane – served on the White Bear Lake Area School Board and later become a state representative – told me that if I wanted to get involved in statewide education matters, I should definitely get involved with the Delegate Assembly.” MSBA President Kevin Donovan, Mahtomedi School Board “My best memory every year is the people I meet.” Jodi Sapp, Mankato Area School Board
November/December 2015 11
School boards should encourage hero-friendly culture in schools and workplace Jim Bearden will be the opening keynote speaker at the 2016 Leadership Conference Unlea the
shing
s Heroe
in yoUr
Midst
95th Annual Leadership Conference January 14–15, 2016 Minneapolis Convention Center
J
Jim Bearden
By Grace Clough
Jim Bearden doesn’t have to look at the latest Marvel comic book to find superheroes. Chances are, every school has several heroes right in their workforce. As the opening keynote speaker January 14 at the 2016 MSBA Leadership Conference, Bearden will present “Unleashing the Heroes in Your Midst,” which will explain specific steps leaders can take to improve workplace relations, efficiency and overall success. “The key role that I see school district leaders playing is consciously creating a hero-friendly culture,” Bearden said.
12 MSBA Journal
A hero-friendly culture can help raise the level and quality of employee engagement and improve internal processes, which results in less internal dissention and less of an adversarial sort of relationship between management and staff. This works to the advantage of school board members and, ultimately, the students. Bearden said there are two ways in which school board members can use setbacks as leadership opportunities. First, setbacks give leaders excellent opportunities to model emotional accountability, as opposed to victimhood. The key to dealing with setbacks is to not surrender to them or turn them into insurmountable obstacles.
Second, setbacks can be analyzed to discern mistakes we made that contributed to those setbacks. What lessons can be learned from the mistakes, and how can these lessons be applied moving forward? With the right mindset, any setback can be transformed into a leadership opportunity, he said. Bearden has a six-step process school board members can use to create a culture that reinforces and supports behavior essential to their school district’s success. His first and most important step is to ensure that others understand what you expect from them. Bearden said, “If you look at any school board’s mission statement or documents, the words in those documents all have two things in common. First, they all sound good, and second, sadly, is they have little or no impact on employee behavior. The reason behind this is that employees are left to their own devices to interpret what these goodsounding words mean in terms of behavior.” Example: Many organizations have some reference to “collaboration” in their mission statements or core values. If we put the word “collaboration” in front of every board member and ask them if they think collaboration is a good thing, they would all say yes. If we put that same word in front of 10 faculty or staff members and asked them to describe it in terms of their behavior – what are they expected to do in order to manifest collaboration – we’d get 10 different descriptions.
This willingness sometimes needs to be matched by skills. For example, they may demonstrate a propensity for – or an interest in – moving into a leadership position, the skills necessary to function effectively in that position. “It’s short-sighted if we create a culture that encourages heroic behavior and we don’t have a provision by which we identify those members of the team who are expressing interest and who we feel have the potential to function effectively in these higher positions without also providing them with training, learning, and mentoring to move into those positions,” Bearden said.
His advice for school board members is that they should be willing to consider and try alternatives to the status quo in order to sustain a collaborative culture.
“There are gaps between what sounds good and what gets done because no one in leadership positions takes the effort to close the gap. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that others understand what you expect from them,” he said. Bearden also encourages additional training, learning, and mentoring into building heroes. “If we create a culture that supports heroic behavior, all members of a team are more willing to step up and to participate actively in crucial district processes,” he said.
His book, The Relentless Search for Better Ways, encourages people in leadership positions to facilitate collaborative processes with an eye toward finding ways to improve upon the status quo. One of the better ways is to find people who are capable of functioning in higher or different positions and then providing them with the proper training they need to function effectively in that role. His advice for school board members is that they should be willing to consider and try alternatives to the status quo in order to sustain a collaborative culture.
Bearden draws his extensive leadership experience from serving as a Marine combat unit commander; a corporate vice president; founder of his own successful business, Bearden Resource Group; author of more than 300 feature articles; and producer of a radio program, The Competitive Edge. Besides his keynote, Bearden will also be presenting a workshop “Unleashing Heroes – Theory to Practice” later that day. Grace Clough is a student intern in communications for MSBA. She is currently a senior at Gustavus Adolphus College. To comment on this article, you can email Grace at gclough@ mnmsba.org.
November/December 2015 13
School boards must push academic focus toward creativity and entrepreneurship University of Oregon Professor Yong Zhao will be the closing speaker at the 2016 Leadership Conference
Yong Zhao
Unlea the
shing
s Heroe
in yoUr
Midst
95th Annual Leadership Conference January 14–15, 2016 Minneapolis Convention Center
14 MSBA Journal
Y
Yong Zhao, one of the keynote speakers for the 2016 MSBA Leadership Conference, wants school boards to stop comparing and worrying about standardized test scores, and instead, offer a broad and flexible curriculum that allows education to emphasize the strengths of each and every child.
By Grace Clough
Zhao’s main focus is improving student success by ending common, homogenous and standardized educational experiences; pushing teaching creativity; and shifting from employee-oriented education to entrepreneuroriented education. For proof of the damaging effects of standardized testing, Zhao recommends a book by David Berliner called Collateral Damage: How High Stakes Testing Corrupts American Schools. “First of all, you generate an idea among people that standardized test scores measure teacher effectiveness and students’ future successes, when in fact, they don’t,” Zhao said. “But once everyone becomes misguided by this idea, they work toward it by narrowing their curriculum and teaching to the tests.”
This ultimately encourages cheating in many forms – excluding students who might not do well on tests, holding students back for grades, or fabricating data at different levels, he said. “In essence, you are totally distorting the education experience of the students,” Zhao said. School boards can combat some of the issues that arise from standardized testing, Zhao said: “As long as you have high-pressure and high-stakes testing among students, there will be corruption. School boards need multiple indicators for teacher evaluations. For example, if a teacher helps a student to find a passion and gain confidence, that counts as well. We need to broaden this idea and try to reduce the reliance on a single measure of test scores for teacher evaluations.” State laws mandate many of the standardized testing laws, but Zhao believes that school board members, as publicly elected officials, have the right and obligation to help modify those policies to become more meaningful and productive, instead of harmful to our students. He said that if school boards allow educators to focus on student creativity and engagement and enable students to pursue their passions and interests, students’ long-term test scores would not fall behind. Focusing on creativity and strength-based education enables students to find something meaningful for them at school and become more engaged. If they’re more engaged, students are more likely to learn and retain information. When asked about what school boards can do to alleviate inequalities among students, Zhao explained that school boards should consider how to define merit. Right now, schools are trying to define success based solely on the test scores of a few academic subjects. “We need a broader definition of success to create a lot more opportunity to celebrate individual students,” he said. Focusing on math and science ends up with districts cutting out music, art, and other important subjects, and discriminating against students who may be strong in those areas. School boards need to think about allocating resources to make sure the schools create enough opportunities for everyone to succeed in their own way and pursue their own talents. Technology can be a helpful tool in educating students. Zhao affirms that
social media – Twitter™, Instagram™, Facebook®, Google Hangouts™ and Skype™ – are great tools. “We just need to figure out how to use them effectively,” he said. Right now, these technologies have unfortunately been constrained to boosting test scores. If technology doesn’t boost test scores, some schools don’t think tech is valuable. But it would be good to engage students in more creative and authentic work while making use of these technologies, so that students can learn more and work more easily with others. Zhao is adamant that the public education system has to move away from employee-based education to an entrepreneur-oriented solution. He believes we need people to become job creators, not job seekers. This entrepreneur spirit comes from a school experience, not just an entrepreneurship course, he said. It comes from having unique strengths, being great at what you do, and the idea that everyone should have a start-up mindset. Zhao thinks our curriculums and our school experiences should be focused on training students to achieve those characteristics. His main recommendation for school boards is that they can start by asking the students what their strengths and passions would be. If students have a problem they want to solve, or a passion they want to pursue, schools should be there to support that. Many schools can develop the resources for this – such as a school that created a Friday “Student Interest Day.” “The first big step is recognizing that education has to be about enhancing every student’s talent and helping them find and develop their passion,” Zhao said. Zhao currently serves as the Presidential Chair and Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education, University of Oregon. He has published more than 100 articles and 20 books that explain the issues with homogenizing students and that offer creative solutions to these problems, including Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World and Catching up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization. Grace Clough is a student intern in communications for MSBA. She is currently a senior at Gustavus Adolphus College. To comment on this article, you can email Grace at gclough@mnmsba.org. November/December 2015 15
21st Century Design
The Community Commons serves multiple purposes.
New Alexandria Area High School’s open floor plans, mobility and transparency highlight model education environment
O
By Jack Skelley
For Cuningham Group Architectural
Open floor plans, daylighting, mobility and flexibility lead the dramatic environments of the new Alexandria Area High School. The school, which opened in fall 2014, evolved from a large-scale public process among the community, students and administrators. The result – in which reconfigurable spaces replace classrooms and desks – is adaptable to the future of education and vocation. It is a model for the Alexandria School District and for schools across the country. Alexandria School District Board of Education involvement in the design began with a community charrette workshop. “The school board listened carefully to what the community envisioned,” says Director Alan Zeithamer. “They then brought that insight back to the budget/facilities committee level, where the project vision was molded and refined to fit within the project budget. As a member of the budget/facilities committee, [I can say] we were committed to a very specific construction budget and considered carefully the features desired in a new high school project to arrive at the project square footage that fit within our budget.” The $73.24 million, 283,000-square-foot Alexandria Area High School serves 1,400
16 MSBA Journal
students in grades 9–12. Four wings – one devoted to sports activities, one to the performing arts and a 1,013-seat performing arts center, the other two housing learning spaces – flank the school’s three-story Commons, which is flooded with light. “The school is a poster child for flexible learning environments,” says Cuningham Group Design Principal John Pfluger. “The community didn’t want a building locked in to any pre-ordained future. Rather, it wanted to adapt many possible strategies. So the spaces are organized into flexible learning neighborhoods.” Zeithamer says the most memorable part of the project was the successful passing of the bond referendum: “Up until then, it was just a series of thoughts and ideas on paper,” he observes. “The passage of the referendum affirmed the strong community support for the project, and that the public felt confident with the direction we were heading.” Extensive school board and community involvement insured that all along there was very thoughtful planning and intention around how the building would support the board’s long-term vision for academic programming.
Furniture is easily rearranged and relocated.
Design Highlights
• Open floor plans, increasingly popular in new commercial office “creative space,” serve the school’s flexible approach. “The open floor plan is happening everywhere. You see it in health care, office and retail where everyone seems to want a mashup between an Apple® store and a Starbucks™. Here it offers a sophisticated mixture of mobility and transparency.” • Movable walls allow learning spaces to be quickly reconfigured. Teachers do not have their own classrooms: “Even the circulation spaces are transformable into formal and informal learning. For example, the informal Learning Stair is the social heart of the learning neighborhoods, that transforms into a space for formal presentations at a moment’s notice.” • The transparency includes modular glass walls installed on top of carpet and under ceilings: “The glass not only lets you visually connect to the learning going on, but it’s also another surface to write on and share ideas.” • Furniture is easily rearranged and relocated. There are no desks and no formal classrooms; instead, there is a huge variety of reconfigurable tables and chairs: “Rather than a room with a fixed arrangement of rows of desks, we have learning settings that can be reconfigured quickly to support whatever is happening in the learning process.” • The central Community Commons – with ceilings three stories in height – serves many purposes. “It is the heart of the school where students can’t help but run into each other. It is a pre-function space where people come together for events at the theater, fitness center or large gym. Food service is also integrated here, not as a traditional school cafeteria, but with a resort hospitality feel important in the community.” • Educators have initially organized the learning spaces into four academies, a big departure from their previous departmental structure. One is for freshmen. The other three are grouped around interdisciplinary subjects: business, communication and entrepreneurship;
The Learning Stairs shift from social space to formal presentation area.
engineering, manufacturing technologies and natural resources; and health sciences and human services. • The environment is both bathed in daylighting and drenched in technology. “The connection between daylight and learning is well established. Schools that employ this demonstrate a 20-percent increase in learning retention.” “As the process evolved, I think the entire school board would agree that the end result is beyond what we envisioned,” says Zeithamer. “The building very much supports the curriculum program at the high school. The community has received the building with great enthusiasm. They see it as a well-conceived, well-thought-out addition to the community.” The project team was recently awarded Silver Status for LEED certification for the project. Please visit https:// vimeo.com/112750785 for a video showing more of the new school. Cuningham Group® is a full-service design firm with a world-class portfolio reflecting a diverse mix of client and project types. Photos by Cuningham Group
November/December 2015 17
MSBA Board Director
Sp tlight Betsy on Board “You are an ambassador for what is happening in your public schools.”
ANDERSON:
B
By Bruce Lombard
Betsy Anderson hails from the Hopkins School Board and was elected to the MSBA Board of Directors in 2011 for MSBA Director District 4, which covers the west metro part of the state. MSBA caught up with Anderson to find out what inspired her to run for her local school board, how being a school board member set her on the path to meeting her spouse, and what advice she has for new school board members. MSBA: What made you run for your local school board originally? ANDERSON: I am a product of Hopkins Public Schools. I felt really indebted to the education I received when I was a student there. I wanted to pay that back by running for the school board. Also, about 10 years ago my best friend, Laura Ness (wife of Duluth Mayor Don Ness), was running for county commissioner in St. Louis County. I was so impressed with my friend, this young woman stepping forward and saying “I will do something to contribute.” She was an inspiration as well. MSBA: What year did you get elected for school board originally? ANDERSON: 2005. I am halfway through my third term.
18 MSBA Journal
Betsy Anderson (right) with Hopkins High School student Katherine Swenson at the MSBA Leadership Conference. Katherine served as a student board representative for three years at Hopkins. Betsy said giving students their diplomas is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a school board member.
MSBA: How can school board members make the biggest impact on their districts and their students? ANDERSON: I think one of the biggest impacts they can make is by being a positive communicator for the school district. You are an ambassador for what is happening in your public schools. You need to get out in your community and talk about the good things that are happening with public education. That’s going
to have the biggest impact over time – not just at the ballot or the polling place, but for goodwill in the community. You might inspire your neighbors to be volunteers, attend one of the football games or to be kind to a kid down the street – to have a stronger connection to the schools. MSBA: What’s the biggest challenge for school board members? ANDERSON: When your neighbors approach you at the grocery store and complain about something [laughs]. Also, I would say a majority of school board members probably don’t have a degree in education. It can be daunting trying to feel confident in your position as a public servant not coming from an education background.
The graduation ceremony, the springtime, the celebrations – those are extremely rewarding. We tell our newbie school board members: “This is why you do the hard work.” You do the hard work and you sit through the meetings so you get to experience the joyful parts of the community. Also, because of my school board service, I was able to meet my husband, Jeff. He and I were both volunteers for Amy Klobuchar’s U.S. Senate campaign in 2006. Klobuchar’s camp had reached out to me to provide counsel on education issues. This is how I met Jeff. MSBA: What advice do you have for new school board members?
My first year on the school board, we did a lot of controversial things. I look back to that year as a “baptism by fire” experience. I was conflicted a lot that year and tried to decide: “Am I doing the right things? Can I look myself in the mirror the next day if I’ve closed an elementary school that has displaced this whole community?” It’s a lot of pressure.
ANDERSON: One of the things I always talk about is the “hat.” You never take off your “school board hat.” You might think you are at the grocery store buying potatoes, but your neighbors see you as a school board member who is right in front of them. You have to look at your interactions in that way using that filter because people always see you as a school board member.
Another challenge is the perpetual need to advocate knowing that our job is never done. If we think we don’t know enough, then the Legislature knows even less [laughs]. We need to continue to knock on doors and make phone calls and send emails. Our job is never done as advocates.
Back when I started, one of the veteran board members told the story about how they were doing a tour of a school. That board member went to get a drink of water at the water fountain and the water sprayed him in the face. He then made some comment about it: “Oh my gosh, that water fountain sprayed me in the face.” The next day, there was a repair team there fixing the water fountain – because of what the school board member had said.
MSBA: Is school finance the hardest thing to learn about as a new school board member? ANDERSON: When I joined the board at age 26, the biggest financial thing I had ever done was balance my checkbook. Going from my checkbook to millions of dollars in a school district budget was pretty overwhelming.
So, there is a lot of weight to what we say, even when we think it is just a simple comment. New school board members need to understand the weight of their words.
We always joke that there are really only two or three people in the state of Minnesota that understand education finance – and one of them is Tom Melcher (Director of the Program Finance Division at the Minnesota Department of Education).
New board members also need to listen, listen, listen. I think that new school board members should be listening more than they should be talking [laughs]. That was certainly the advice that was given to me. I used that advice for the first couple of years and now I feel much more confident speaking and leading at the table, but it is really important to listen.
We are lucky in Hopkins. I think one of the other people who understands education finance pretty well is John Toop, our director of Business Services.
MSBA: What do you like best about being on the MSBA Board of Directors?
Being a first-year school board member is overwhelming. You finish your first term and you’re just starting to figure it out. You’re starting to figure out the lingo and the pattern a school district goes through in a year. MSBA: What is the most rewarding aspect of being a school board member?
ANDERSON: The MSBA Board and staff are a great group of people and are like a family. I get to work with people that are so committed to doing good things for kids. These people are the best at what they do – in the region, in the state and in the country. They are professional and they are super smart. They know their stuff. I get to sit in a room with these people – it’s pretty fun.
ANDERSON: Personally, it was when I gave my sister her high school diploma, which was really cool. We’re 10 years apart and that was really neat. I know a lot of school board members have been able to give their own children their diplomas, too. November/December 2015 19
MSBA: Why is MSBA so important for school board members?
MSBA Board Director
Spotlight
ANDERSON: We have no other advocacy organization in this state that looks at education from a statewide perspective. MSBA looks at school board service and the importance of school board members from a statewide perspective. MSBA also has a connection to the National School Boards Association (NSBA), which is really important. We all have our political affiliations and we know that school board service is political – even if it is not partisan – but having MSBA’s and NSBA’s connection to education policy at a national level is really key. Bruce Lombard is MSBA’s Associate Director of Communications. You may contact him at blombard@mnmsba.org. (Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of profiles on your MSBA Board of Directors. This series will resume in the March-April 2016 edition of the Journal. Please visit http://www.mnmsba.org/MSBABoard to see who represents you on the MSBA Board. See http://www. mnmsba.org/Portals/0/PDFs/MSBADirectorDistrictMap. pdf for a Director District map.)
Betsy Anderson with her son Karl and husband Jeff. Betsy’s decision to serve on the school board sent her on the path to eventually meeting Jeff.
Betsy Anderson Family: Jeff (husband) and Karl (son, 19 months old) High school: Hopkins High School (Go Royals!) Favorite movie or TV show: Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my go-to “happy place” movie and Downton Abbey wins everything. Basically anything on PBS Masterpiece is going to have me hooked. Favorite book: The Hunger Games series reignited my love for reading – after years and years of only reading school board meeting agendas. Favorite music: I have very eclectic tastes – everything from The Beatles to show-tunes to modern alternative like Walk the Moon, Big Data, Fitz and The Tantrums, etc. Favorite Minnesota food: Wild rice soup
Betsy Anderson with her fellow Hopkins School Board members: (from left to right) Irma McIntosh Coleman, Warren Goodroad, Wendy Donovan, Kris Newcomer, Steve Adams, Betsy Anderson and Doobie Kurus. Also pictured is school mascot Leo the Lion.
One person in history I would like to meet: Paul P. Harris, founder of Rotary International Fun fact: I once served as chauffeur-fora-day to Vice President Al Gore.
20 MSBA Journal
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Unl the
in your
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t s d i M
95th
Annual Leadership Conference
January 14–15, 2016 Minneapolis Convention Center “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” — Fred Rogers “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” — Joseph Campbell “A hero is someone who does what must be done, and needs no other reason.” — Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe Effective and engaged school board members are already unsung heroes. School board members set the course for their schools, garnering little acclaim when things go well – and getting a huge chunk of the blame when things don’t go quite as well. Like most heroes, school board members roll with the punches to pursue the never-ending battle of increasing student achievement and college/career readiness. School board members can’t do their work alone. They need sidekicks. MSBA’s 95th Annual Leadership Conference – “Unleashing the Heroes in Your Midst” – will help you create a “hero-friendly culture” to bring out the heroes in your district and community. The 2016 MSBA Leadership Conference will offer motivational keynote speakers, a wide variety of workshops, skills sessions and round table mini-sessions to help you find new ideas and connect with other school board members from across the state. So put on YOUR cape and superhero mask and join us!
Keynote Speakers Jim Bearden Thursday, January 14
“Unleashing the Heroes in Your Midst” Most people want to make a difference; they want to be contributing members of successful teams. Drawing on his 40-plus years in leadership positions and facilitating leadership development, Jim will spell out specific things that leaders can do to create and sustain what he calls “Hero-Friendly Cultures,” ones in which employees will become and remain more engaged in crucial district processes. With his upbeat, interactive keynote presentation and his aggressive follow-up process, Jim will provide a fresh and unique perspective on district leadership behavior for “Unleashing the Heroes in Your Midst.”
Biography: Jim Bearden’s many rich life experiences form the basis for his anecdotes, his humor and his insights. He is a decorated Vietnam veteran, where he served as a Marine combat unit commander; a top sales producer and sales manager; a corporate Vice President (most recently 2001–2004); founder of his own successful business, Bearden Resource Group; past President of the National Speakers Association Heart of Texas Chapter; author of more than 300 feature articles; producer of a radio program (The Competitive Edge); and, his most valuable learning experience, the father of three children.
Yong Zhao Friday, January 15
“World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students” “College and career readiness” is the mantra in the global education reform circle. But at a time when college degrees do not guarantee gainful employment or a meaningful life, what is the point of preparing someone to be ready for college? Zhao found five main factors to improve student success that include ending common, homogenous and standardized educational experiences; creating opportunities for mass entrepreneurship; ending test score-based education that stifles creativity; shifting from employee-oriented education to entrepreneur-oriented education; and pushing the teaching of creativity and entrepreneur-oriented education.
Biography: Yong Zhao currently serves as the Presidential
Chair and Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education, University of Oregon, where he is also a Professor in the Department of Educational Measurement, Policy, and Leadership. His works focus on the implications of globalization and technology on education. He has published more than 100 articles and 20 books. He is a recipient of the Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association and was named one of the 2012 ten most influential people in educational technology by the Tech & Learn Magazine.
Pre-conference Training Sessions Phase I Orientation Workshop
Charter School Board Member Training
Help new board members hit the ground running with this session. Phase I covers the role of the school board, the role of the superintendent, and common scenarios facing new board members.
Presented by MSBA staff. This training covers the three statemandated areas for charter school board members: governance, employment and finance. Charter board members are required to start these trainings within six months of election to a charter board and complete the trainings within one year.
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 12 Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Tuition is $95. Walk-ins add $10.
Visit www.mnmsba.org/Phase-I-Workshop for more information and to register.
Phase II Orientation Workshop
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday, January 13 Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Tuition is $175. Walk-ins add $20.
Visit www.mnmsba.org/CharterSchoolBoardTraining to register.
8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday, January 13 Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Tuition is $175. Walk-ins add $20.
Presented by MSBA staff and state experts. Phase II includes the training school boards are required to have by state law. The session covers core topics such as the budget, school finance, local levies, policies, significant laws affecting school boards, collective bargaining, and personnel issues. Visit www.mnmsba.org/Phase-II-Workshop for more information and to register.
Evening Early Bird Sessions Designing an Effective Superintendent Evaluation
Easiest Catch: Don’t be Another Fish in the ’Net
7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 13 Minneapolis Convention Center Tuition: $95. Walk-ins add $10. Sandy Gundlach
Presenters: Sandy Gundlach, MSBA Director of School Board Services; and Amy Fullenkamp-Taylor, MSBA Associate Director of Management Services Note: School board-superintendent teams are encouraged to attend this training together, and participants should bring a copy of their school district’s strategic plan.
Leadership is important, and evaluating the superintendent’s performance and its own Amy Fullenkampperformance are two of the school board’s most Taylor important duties. Whether the school board is evaluating its own performance or the performance of its superintendent, the evaluation can be a powerful tool for growth and professional development. In addition, having a positive working relationship both among school board members and between the school board and its superintendent is critical to accomplishing a school district’s mission and priorities. One way to develop this relationship is by having effective, constructive evaluation processes and procedures that help drive school district improvement efforts.
7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 13 Minneapolis Convention Center Tuition: $95. Walk-ins add $10. Mark Lanterman
Presenter: Mark Lanterman, Chief Technology Officer of Computer Forensic Services
You’ve read the headlines. Unfortunately, the question now is not if your information is going to be accessed or stolen, but when. Not surprisingly, institutions of learning are not immune to these attacks. In fact, educators may face an increased risk for personal security breaches. In an effort to inform the attendees of current developments in the digital underground as well as provide realistic advice for cyber protection, Mark Lanterman will be discussing recent high-profile cybercrime events, including website breaches impacting retailers, banks, Hollywood and government agencies. Mark will discuss particularly dangerous types of threats that might affect individuals such as phishing, malware, and Wi-Fi attacks.
Workshop participants will preview the principles of effective evaluation, become familiar with “MSBA/MASA Superintendent Evaluation: A Resource for School Board Members and Superintendents,” and work with team members to identify a focus area and draft both a superintendent evaluation and school board evaluation goal and objective. November/December 2015 27
Our Distinguished Group of 2016 Conference Exhibitors 2nd Wind Exercise Fitness equipment 4.0 School Services Student transportation
Braun Intertec Corporation Environmental consulting, geotechnical engineering, testing, special inspections, geothermal consulting, and facilities evaluation
A.T. Group, LLC Employee benefits
Central States Terrazzo Association Terrazzo flooring
Action for Healthy Kids MN State level not-for-profit health and wellness resources
Chartwells School Dining Services Food service management
AIM Electronics/Daktronics, Inc. Electronic scoreboard/message displays, logo tables and chairs, and mats Ameresco Energy services Anderson-Johnson Associates, Inc. Landscape architecture, civil engineering, site planning Apex Companies Energy efficiency Architects Rego + Youngquist, inc. Architectural planning, design, and management of educational facilities Architectural Resources, Inc. Architectural/engineering ATS&R Planners/Architects/Engineers Specialize in K–12 school planning, architecture, engineering, technology, interior design, and site development A’viands Food service management
Clark Engineering Corporation Engineering Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy Nonprofit Contegrity Group Incorporated Construction management services CTS Group Performance contracting (energy-saving facility retrofits) Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. Architecture Dashir Management Services, Inc. Building and grounds management for schools
Ehlers Independent public financial advisory services Eide Bailly, LLP Audit and health care reform Empirehouse, Inc. Energy-efficient windows, heavy-duty entrance doors, glass and metal railing systems, decorative glass, and egress consultation services Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota Seizure-smart schools Fisher Tracks, Inc. All-weather track surfaces FLR Sanders, Inc. Wood and synthetic sports floors Foster, Jacobs & Johnson, Inc. Consulting
Data Business Systems Premier K–12 software - POS, automated free/reduced and more
Four Seasons Energy Efficient Roofing, Inc. White roofs
DLR Group Architecture, engineering, planning and interior design
Frontline Technologies Group Aesop/VeriTime/AppliTrack
BerganKDV CPA services
Donlar Construction Construction management, general contracting and design/build services
BlueCross BlueShield of MN Insurance
DSGW Architects Architecture
BoardBook Do more with BoardBook! Agendas, packets, minutes, public postings, and more...
EAPC Architects Engineers Architecture and engineering services
28 MSBA Journal
Educators Benefit Consultants Third Party Administrator handling flex accounts, HRAs, HSAs, COBRA, 403(b)/457(b) Administration and Compliance, as well as Affordable Care Act management software
Education Minnesota ESI Financial Services Financial services and long-term care
GCA Services Group Comprehensive facilities services Glass Today Glass writing boards Gordon Bernard Company School calendars, handbooks, registration books, spiral-bound planners
Haldeman-Homme, Inc. 3-D printers, 3-D scanners, fab labs, engineering labs, STEM labs, laser engravers, DIRTT walls, lockers, science and tech equipment, athletic equipment, athletic floors, bleachers, computer and library furniture, auditorium chairs and seating, and casework Hallberg Engineering, Inc. Engineering Services Herc-U-Lift, Inc. Personnel lifts, scissor lifts, material handling equipment, forklifts
IEA, Inc. Health and safety
JLG Architects Architecture
Infinite Campus Student information system
Johnson Controls, Inc. Facilities consulting/energy efficiency
Ingensa, Inc. Facilities consulting services and engineering
JWood Sports Flooring Athletic flooring sales and installation
Innovative Office Solutions School supplies, equipment and furniture, janitorial supplies INSPEC, Inc. Architectural/engineering services
Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. Mechanical and electrical engineering, commissioning services Kennedy & Graven, Chartered Legal services Kenwood/WS Communications Two-way radios/communications
Hiller Commercial Floors Commercial floor covering
Intereum Furnishing solutions
Hoglund Bus Co., Inc. International school buses, parts, and service
International Masonry Institute Demonstrating the advantage of masonry and skilled union craftsmanship
ICS Consulting, Inc. Owner’s representation, construction management
ISG (I+S Group) Architects + Engineers
Kiefer USA Athletic/commercial flooring and artificial turf Know the Truth Prevention program
DESIGNING FOR TODAY’S STUDENT Inspiring and high-performing buildings improve educational outcomes. At ISG, that fact is the cornerstone of each K-12 space we design. Whether designing new spaces, renovating existing buildings or performing deferred maintenance projects, our team of experts help build effective long-term plans and safe environments. These facilities are not only conducive to multiple learning modalities but reduce operating costs and offer responsive, sustainable solutions to accommodate the rapidly changing educational environment.
ARCHITECTURE
+
ENGINEERING
+
ENVIRONMENTAL
+
PLANNING
www.is-grp.com
November/December 2015 29
Our Distinguished Group of 2016 Conference Exhibitors Continued from page 29
Knutson Construction Construction services Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. Architectural services Kraus-Anderson Construction Company Professional construction management services, referendum assistance, and facilities planning and management
Minnesota Family Career and Community Leaders of America Education and leadership Minnesota National Guard State/government program - free resources for people who work with military families Minnesota Rusco Windows, siding, doors and bathroom remodeling
North Central Bus & Equipment School buses North Central Insulation Providing the Sprayed Foam Roofing System for over 33 years, benefitting owners with lower maintenance and energy costs North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters Union carpenters. millwrights, floor coverers
Larson Engineering, Inc. Civil, structural and curtain wall engineering
Minnesota School Nutrition Association Education/training
LHB Architecture and engineering
Minnesota Service Cooperatives Minnesota Service Cooperatives
Northland Securities, Inc. Diversified financial securities firm recognized as a municipal advisor and underwriter of tax-exempt and taxable debt issues
LifeSpan of Minnesota, Inc. Children’s mental health services
Minnesota State High School League MSHSL
O’Meara, Leer, Wagner & Kohl P.A. Attorneys
LifeTrack Services Graduate follow-up surveys, athletic surveys
Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association Retirement benefits
Otter Tail Power Company Utility
Lightspeed Technologies, Inc. Classroom audio technology Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. Food management company Marsden Services, LLC Facility maintenance, janitorial, and security Marsh & McLennan Agency Insurance and risk management McKinstry Energy services Midwest Tennis & Track Co. Athletic track and tennis court surfacing Minnesota Association of School Business Officials Providing education, training and services to staff that serve in school business management Minnesota Concrete & Masonry Contractors Association Masonry promotion 30 MSBA Journal
Minnesota-Wisconsin Playground/ Game Time Game Time playground equipment, bleachers, benches, trash cans and free design service MLA Architects, Inc. Architectural/educational planning MN Ag Education Leadership Council/ MN Ag in the Classroom Education materials and grant information Musco Sports Lighting Sports field lighting Musser Environmental Consulting, Inc. Health and safety consulting National Insurance Services Group insurance benefits - MSBAIT Life/LTD plans
Palmer Bus Service Student transportation Pemberton Law Providing professional and personalized legal services to school districts over a long history PFM Asset Management LLC MSDLAF+ MSDLAF+/PFM Asset Management, LLC Piper Jaffray & Co. School district cash flow program Playgrounds Etc., LLC Playground safety surfacing and site amenities PMA Financial Network, Inc. Investment and financial advisory services PreciouStatus Parent engagement app
National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative purchasing
PreferredOne Health benefits administration
Nexus Solutions, LLC Facility planning, design, construction
Pro-Tec Design Security integrator
Public Financial Management, Inc. Financial advisor R. A. Morton and Associates Construction management Red House Media Identity, strategy, communications Renaissance Learning Renaissance Learning™: a leader in K–12 assessment and learning analytics Riverport Insurance Services Insurance Roof Spec, Inc. Building envelope engineers Scholastic Equipment Co., LLC Furniture and equipment School Specialty School supplies, equipment and furniture SchoolFinances.com, Inc. Management and planning systems
Schuler Shook Performing Arts experts: Schuler Shook theatre planners, Kvernstoen Rönnholm acoustics and Peterson audio/visual consultants
Springsted, Inc. Provides high-quality independent financial and management advisory services to public and nonprofit organizations
Seating & Athletic Facility Enterprises, LLC Specializing in sales and service of outdoor aluminum bleachers, grandstands, press boxes, and indoor telescoping bleachers
Sprinturf Synthetic turf athletic fields Stahl Construction Construction management and consulting
SFE-Southwest Foodservice Excellence Staples Advantage Scholastic furniture, technology, facilities Food service management company and classroom/office supplies Skyward Inc. Student Assurance Services, Inc. Student, budgetary and human resources Student accident insurance administrative software exclusively for K–12 school districts SwedeBro Sport Court Minnesota Athletic flooring and components Sports Technology Sports field sound systems
Concrete floor coatings Taher, Inc. Food service management
November/December 2015 31
Our Distinguished Group of 2016 Conference Exhibitors Continued from page 31
Teachers On Call TOC 24/7, featuring Aesop technology... customized, streamlined substitute staffing service for Pre-K–12 public, private, and charter schools Tectum, Inc. Acoustical wall and ceiling panels; structural and acoustical roof decks Telin Transportation Group Bus sales The Center for Efficient School Operations Consulting services to school districts in the areas of facilities, health and safety, and transportation Tremco Incorporated Roofing products/weatherproofing services TSBL Distributing Frozen yogurt and smoothie machines
32 MSBA Journal
TSP Architects and Engineers Planning, architecture and engineering
Wenck Construction, Inc. Construction management services
Ucare Group Medicare products
Wendel Architecture, engineering, interior design, planning
Unesco, Inc. Master facility planning Vaaler Insurance, Inc. Property, Liability, and Workers’ Compensation Insurance VS - America, Inc. Classroom furniture/dynamic, flexible solutions W. L. Hall Company Windows, skylights, operable partitions, lockers, fire doors Webber Recreational Design, Inc. Park and playground equipment
Widseth Smith Nolting Architecture, engineering, land surveying, and environmental services, with six offices serving school districts throughout Minnesota Winkelman Building Corp. Construction management Wold Architects & Engineers Architecture and engineering services
We believe in more than just buildings; we believe in community. We don’t chase projects; we build relationships. We believe good design makes life better. We design for the conservation of our clients’ and our Earth’s resources. We are a reflection of the values on which we were raised.
JLG DESIGN FOR LIFE COMMUNITY | RELATIONSHIPS | DESIGN | CONSERVATION | VALUES Barnes County North School | Leal, North Dakota
Inc 5000 | PSMJ Circle of Excellence | Zweig Group Hot Firm | Prairie Business Top 50 Places to Work Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal Top 25 Firms
jlgarchitects.com
November/December 2015 33
We welcome the opportunity to work with public school districts and bring them our rich history of responsive, creative, practical, and high quality legal services.
Education Law
Construction
Greg Madsen, gmadsen@kennedy-graven.com Peter Mikhail, pmikhail@kennedy-graven.com Tim Palmatier, tpalmatier@kennedy-graven.com James M. Strommen, jstrommen@kennedy-graven.com Susan E. Torgerson, storgerson@kennedy-graven.com Maggie R. Wallner, mwallner@kennedy-graven.com Finance & Bonds Adam Wattenbarger, awattenbarger@kennedy-graven.com
Real Estate & Business Sarah J. Sonsalla, ssonsalla@kennedy-graven.com Doug Shaftel, dshaftel@kennedy-graven.com
Jenny Boulton, jboulton@kennedy-graven.com Martha Ingram, mingram@kennedy-graven.com
470 U.S. Bank Plaza, 200 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402 Phone 612.337.9300 • Fax 612.337.9310 • Toll Free 1.800.788.8201 • www.kennedy-graven.com
Your Your trusted trusted healthcare healthcare alliance alliance
• Lakes Country Service Cooperative (Fergus Falls) www.lcsc.org • Northeast Service Cooperative (Mountain Iron) www.nesc.k12.mn.us • Northwest Service Cooperative (Thief River Falls) www.nw-service.k12.mn.us • Resource Training & Solutions (Sartell) www.resourcetraining.com • South Central Service Cooperative (North Mankato) www.mnscsc.org
• Southeast Service Cooperative (Rochester) www.ssc.coop
• Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative (Marshall) www.swsc.org
Contact your Minnesota Service Cooperative representative to learn more. 34 MSBA Journal
River Bluff Education Center Red Wing, MN
Architects Educational Planners
12 Long Lake Road Suite #17 St. Paul, MN 55115 (651) 770-4442 www.architectsmla.com
MSBA’s Vendor Directory
MSBA’s Vendor Directory helps connect school districts with the products and services they need. The directory is always at your fingertips. You’ll find it printed in the back of every Journal magazine as well as on the MSBA Website at www.mnmsba.org. Most listings in the Web version of this directory include a link so you can head instantly to a Website or e-mail address. The directory includes everything you need to know to contact a company quickly—phone numbers, fax numbers and addresses—in an easy-to-read format. If you have a service or product you would like included in this directory, please contact Erica Nelson at 763-497-1778 or erica@pierreproductions.com. Architects/Engineers/Facility Planners Architects Rego + Youngquist, inc. (Paul Youngquist) 7601 Wayzata Blvd., Suite #200 St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-544-8941, Fax 952-544-0585 www.aryarch.com pyoungquist@aryarch.com ATS&R Planners/Architects/ Engineers (Paul W. Erickson) 8501 Golden Valley Road, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55427 763-545-3731, Fax 763-525-3289 www.atsr.com perickson@atsr.com Clark Engineering Corporation (Tanya Pierce) 621 Lilac Drive N Minneapolis, MN 55422 763-545-9196, Fax 763-541-0056 www.clark-eng.com tpierce@clark-eng.com Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. (Judith Hoskens) 201 Main Street SE, Suite 325 Minneapolis, MN 55414 612-379-3400, Fax 612-379-4400 www.cuningham.com jhoskens@cuningham.com DLR Group (Christopher Gibbs) 520 Nicollet Mall, Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-977-3500, Fax 612-977-3600 www.dlrgroup.com cgibbs@dlrgroup.com Hallberg Engineering, Inc. (Richard Lucio) 1750 Commerce Court White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-748-1100, Fax 651-748-9370 www.hallbergengineering.com rlucio@hallbergengineering.com InGensa, Inc. (Jacqui Coleman) 18215 45th Ave. N, Suite C Plymouth, MN 55446 952-222-3550, Fax 952-222-9980 www.ingensainc.com jcoleman@ingensainc.com I+S Group (ISG) (Rod Schumacher) 115 E Hickory Street, Suite 300 Mankato, MN 56001 507-387-6651, Fax 507-387-3583 www.is-grp.com rod.schumacher@is-grp.com
36 MSBA Journal
Johnson Controls, Inc. (Kathleen Donovan) 2605 Fernbrook Lane N Plymouth, MN 55447 612-554-5160, Fax 763-566-2208 www.johnsoncontrols.com kathleen.m.donovan@jci.com Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. (Ed Kodet) 15 Groveland Terrace Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-377-2737, Fax 612-377-1331 www.kodet.com ekodet@kodet.com Larson Engineering, Inc. (Matt Woodruff) 3524 Labore Road White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-481-9120, Fax 651-481-9201 www.larsonengr.com mwoodruff@larsonengr.com MLA Architects (Mark Lenz) 12 Long Lake Road, Suite #17 St. Paul, MN 55115 651-770-4442, Fax 651-770-1997 www.architectsmla.com mark@architectsmla.com Nexus Solutions (Mike David) 11188 Zealand Avenue N Champlin, MN 55316 612-747-1003, Fax 763-201-8410 www.nexussolutions.com mdavid@nexussolutions.com TSP Architects and Engineers (Gary Sabart) 18707 Old Excelsior Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55345 952-474-3291, Fax 952-474-3928 www.teamtsp.com sabartgw@teamtsp.com Unesco, Inc. (Kevin McGauley) 584 Woodland Drive Mahtomedi, MN 55115 952-486-7854, Fax 952-487-9389 www.unescocorp.com kevin.mcgauley@unescocorp.com Wendel (Jim Wilson) 111 Washington Avenue N, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55401 612-332-1401 www.wendelcompanies.com jwilson@wendelcompanies.com Widseth Smith Nolting (Kevin Donnay) 7804 Industrial Park Road Baxter, MN 56425 218-829-5117, Fax 218-829-2517 www.widsethsmithnolting.com kevin.donnay@wsn.us.com
Wold Architects and Engineers (Vaughn Dierks) 305 St. Peter Street St. Paul, MN 55102 651-227-7773, Fax 651-223-5646 www.woldae.com mail@woldae.com
Commissioning ICS Consulting, Inc. (Pat Overom) 3890 Pheasant Ridge Drive NE, Suite 180 Blaine, MN 55449 763-354-2670, Fax 763-780-2866 www.ics-consult.com pato@ics-consult.com Construction Management & Consulting Services
Athletic Facilities
ICS Consulting, Inc. (Pat Overom) 3890 Pheasant Ridge Drive NE, Suite 180 Blaine, MN 55449 763-354-2670, Fax 763-780-2866 www.ics-consult.com pato@ics-consult.com
I+S Group (ISG) (Rod Schumacher) 115 E Hickory Street, Suite 300 Mankato, MN 56001 507-387-6651, Fax 507-387-3583 www.is-grp.com rod.schumacher@is-grp.com
Johnson Controls, Inc. (Kathleen Donovan) 2605 Fernbrook Lane N Plymouth, MN 55447 612-554-5160, Fax 763-566-2208 www.johnsoncontrols.com kathleen.m.donovan@jci.com
Athletic Sports Floors/Surfacing Fisher Tracks, Inc. (Jordan Fisher) 1192 235th Street Boone, IA 50036 515-432-3191, Fax 515-432-3193 www.fishertracks.com jfisher@fishertracks.com Attorneys Booth Law Group LLC (Laura Tubbs Booth) 10520 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 200 Minnetonka, MN 55305 763-253-4155, Fax 763-253-4160 www.boothlawgroup.com lbooth@boothlawgroup.com Kennedy & Graven, Chartered (Maggie R. Wallner) 470 US Bank Plaza, 200 S 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-337-9300, Fax 612-337-9310 www.kennedy-graven.com contactus@kennedy-graven.com Knutson, Flynn & Deans (Thomas S. Deans) 1155 Centre Pointe Drive, Suite 10 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 651-222-2811, Fax 651-225-0600 www.kfdmn.com tdeans@kfdmn.com Pemberton Law Firm (Michael T. Rengel) 110 N Mill Street Fergus Falls, MN 56537 218-736-5493, Fax 218-736-3950 www.pemlaw.com m.rengel@pemlaw.com Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. 730 2nd Avenue S, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-339-0060, Fax 612-339-0038 www.ratwiklaw.com info@ratwiklaw.com Rupp, Anderson, Squires & Waldspurger, P.A. 527 Marquette Avenue S, Suite 1200 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-436-4300, Fax 612-436-4340 www.raswlaw.com
Kraus-Anderson Construction Company (John Huenink) PO Box 158 Circle Pines, MN 55014 763-792-3616, Fax 763-786-2650 www.krausanderson.com john.huenink@krausanderson.com Stahl Construction (Josh Schultz) 5755 Wayzata Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952-931-9300, Fax 952-931-9941 www.stahlconstruction.com jschultz@stahlconstruction.com T.F. Powers Construction Co. 910 6th Ave. N, PO Box 2088 Fargo, ND 58102 701-293-1312, Fax 701-293-7426 www.tfpowers.com Unesco, Inc. (Kevin McGauley) 584 Woodland Drive Mahtomedi, MN 55115 952-486-7854, Fax 952-487-9389 www.unescocorp.com kevin.mcgauley@unescocorp.com Wenck Construction, Inc. (Andy Hoffmann) 5270 W. 84th Street, #550 Bloomington, MN 55437 952-837-3348, Fax 952-831-1268 wenckconstruction.com ahoffmann@wenck.com Educational Programs/Services Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and Blind (Brad Harper) 615 Olof Hanson Drive Faribault, MN 55021 507-384-6602, Fax 507-332-5528 www.msa.state.mn.us brad.harper@msa.state.mn.us The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (Jeremy Kovash) 1001 East Mount Faith Avenue Fergus Falls, MN 56537 218-739-3273, Fax 218-739-2459 www.lcsc.org jkovash@lcsc.org
Electrical Engineers/AV Systems Widseth Smith Nolting (Kevin Donnay) 7804 Industrial Park Road Baxter, MN 56425 218-829-5117, Fax 218-829-2517 www.widsethsmithnolting.com kevin.donnay@wsn.us.com Energy Solutions Arvig 888-992-7844 www.arvig.com/business answers@arvig.com ICS Consulting, Inc. (Pat Overom) 3890 Pheasant Ridge Drive NE, Suite 180 Blaine, MN 55449 763-354-2670, Fax 763-780-2866 www.ics-consult.com pato@ics-consult.com Johnson Controls, Inc. (Kathleen Donovan) 2605 Fernbrook Lane N Plymouth, MN 55447 612-554-5160, Fax 763-566-2208 www.johnsoncontrols.com kathleen.m.donovan@jci.com Unesco, Inc. (Kevin McGauley) 584 Woodland Drive Mahtomedi, MN 55115 952-486-7854, Fax 952-487-9389 www.unescocorp.com kevin.mcgauley@unescocorp.com Financial Management Ehlers (Joel Sutter) 3060 Centre Pointe Drive Roseville, MN 55113 651-697-8514, Fax 651-697-8555 www.ehlers-inc.com jsutter@ehlers-inc.com Eide Bailly LLP (Ross Manson) Fargo, ND; Minneapolis, Mankato, MN 855-220-8634, Fax 507-386-6268 www.eidebailly.com nationaltaxoffice@eidebailly.com
MSBA-Sponsored Administration and Compliance Service (A&C Service) Administration and Compliance Service (Paige McNeal, Educators Benefit Consultants, LLC) 888-507-6053 or 763-552-6053 Fax 763-552-6055 www.ebcsolutions.com paige@ebcsolutions.com
Fitness Equipment
MSBA-Sponsored MNTAAB (Minnesota Tax and Aid Anticipation Borrowing) Program (Patty Heminover, Springsted, Inc.) 800-236-3033 or 651-223-3058 Fax 651-268-5058 www.springsted.com pheminover@springsted.com
Hiller Commercial Floors (Dave Bahr) 2909 S Broadway Rochester, MN 55904 507-254-6858 or 888-724-1766 Fax 507-288-8877 www.hillercarpet.com dbahr@hillercarpet.com
MSBA-Sponsored P-Card (Procurement Card) Program 800-891-7910 or 314-878-5000 Fax 314-878-5333 www.powercardpfm.com MSBA-Sponsored PaySchools-Data Business Systems (Andy Eckles) 12835 E. Arapahoe Rd, Tower II, Ste. 500 Centennial, CO 80112 303-779-6573 or 855-210-8232 X 130 www.payschools.com www.databusys.com andy.eckles@databusys.com MSBA-Sponsored SchoolFinances.com (Todd Netzke, Ann Thomas) Netzke: 507-254-6215 Thomas: 612-598-0930 www.schoolfinances.com tnetzke@schoolmanagementservices.org ann@schoolfinances.com PFM Asset Management, LLC MSDLAF+ (Donn Hanson) 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 2710 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-371-3720, Fax 612-338-7264 www.msdlaf.org hansond@pfm.com Fire & Security Arvig 888-992-7844 www.arvig.com/business answers@arvig.com
2nd Wind Exercise Equipment (Shon Hartman) 7585 Equitable Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-224-1240, Fax 952-906-6905 www.2ndwindcommercial.com shartman@2ndwindexercise.com Floor Coverings
Food Service Products & Services Taher, Inc. (Erin Marissa) 5570 Smetana Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343 952-945-0505, Fax 952-945-0444 www.taher.com e.marissa@taher.com Health Insurance PreferredOne (Mike Thielen) 6105 Golden Hills Drive Golden Valley, MN 55416 763-847-3549, Fax 763-847-4010 www.PreferredOne.com mike.thielen@preferredone.com Insurance Minnesota School Boards Association Insurance Trust (MSBAIT) (Denise Drill, Gary Lee) 1900 West Jefferson Avenue St. Peter, MN 56082-3015 800-324-4459, Fax 507-931-1515 www.msbait.org ddrill@mnmsba.org glee@mnmsba.org Riverport Insurance Company (Dave Kyllo) 222 South Ninth Street, Suite 1300 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-766-3227, Fax 612-766-3397 www.riverportinsurance.com dkyllo@riverportinsurance.com Labor Relations Kennedy & Graven, Chartered (Maggie R. Wallner) 470 US Bank Plaza, 200 S 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-337-9300, Fax 612-337-9310 www.kennedy-graven.com contactus@kennedy-graven.com Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. 730 2nd Avenue S, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-339-0060, Fax 612-339-0038 www.ratwiklaw.com info@ratwiklaw.com Public Finance Kennedy & Graven, Chartered (Maggie R. Wallner) 470 US Bank Plaza, 200 S 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-337-9300, Fax 612-337-9310 www.kennedy-graven.com contactus@kennedy-graven.com
Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. 730 2nd Avenue S, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-339-0060, Fax 612-339-0038 www.ratwiklaw.com info@ratwiklaw.com Security/Communications Systems Arvig 888-992-7844 www.arvig.com/business answers@arvig.com Software Systems MSBA-Sponsored PaySchools-Data Business Systems (Andy Eckles) 12835 E. Arapahoe Rd, Tower II, Ste. 500 Centennial, CO 80112 303-779-6573 or 855-210-8232 X 130 www.payschools.com www.databusys.com andy.eckles@databusys.com Technology Arvig 888-992-7844 www.arvig.com/business answers@arvig.com Technology Education PreciouStatus (Julie Gilbert Newrai) 275 Market Square, Suite 519 Minneapolis, MN 55405 888-959-8982 www.precioustatus.com support@precioustatus.com Transportation Hoglund Bus Co., Inc. (Jason Anderson) PO Box 249 Monticello, MN 55362 800-866-3105, Fax 763-295-4992 www.hoglundbus.com salesmanager@hoglundbus.com Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (Shelly Jonas) 10606 Hemlock Street NW Annandale, MN 55302 320-274-8313, Fax 320-274-8027 www.msboa.com shellyj@msboa.com North Central Bus & Equipment (Sandy Kiehm) 2629 Clearwater Road St. Cloud, MN 56301 320-257-1209, Fax 320-252-3561 www.northcentralinc.com sandyk@northcentralinc.com Telin Transportation Group (Dave Mohr) 16290 Kenrick Loop Lakeville, MN 55044 612-850-6348, Fax 952-435-9066 www.telingroup.com dmohr@telingroup.com Wireless Communications Arvig 888-992-7844 www.arvig.com/business answers@arvig.com
November/December 2015 37
Advertisers ATS&R Planners/Architects/Engineers............................. Page 23 Booth Law Group LLC......................................................... Page 31 Chartwells K–12 School Dining Services............................. Page 25 Data Business Systems........................................................... Page 39 Eide Bailly LLP...................................................................... Page 38 Foster, Jacobs & Johnson, Inc.............................................. Page 40 Hoglund Bus Co., Inc........................................................... Page 22 ISG (I+S Group)................................................................... Page 29 JLG Architects....................................................................... Page 33 Kennedy & Graven, Chartered ........................................... Page 34 Knutson, Flynn & Deans, P.A............................................... Page 32 MLA Architects..................................................................... Page 35 MSBAIT................................................................................. Page 38 Nexus Solutions.................................................................... Page 24 North Central Bus & Equipment......................................... Page 35 Pemberton Law..................................................................... Page 25 PFM Asset Management, LLC – MSDLAF+.......................... Page 7 PreferredOne.......................................................................... Page 2 Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. ......................................... Page 21 Riverport Insurance Company............................................. Page 24 Rupp, Anderson, Squires & Waldspurger, P.A.................... Page 23 Taher, Inc.............................................................................. Page 22 The Minnesota Service Cooperatives.................................. Page 34 Unesco, Inc........................................................................... Page 25 Widseth Smith Nolting......................................................... Page 39 Wold Architects & Engineers................................................. Page 7
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE THAT 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BRINGS Expect More From Your CPA Firm Your school district needs an audit firm that can help you understand not only your current situation, but also where you are headed. Eide Bailly has been helping school districts operate more efficiently for more than 40 years. With high partner involvement and a collaborative communication approach, we can help you feel confident about the future of your district.
Protection assurance when you need it. The Minnesota School Boards Association Insurance Trust (MSBAIT) endorses companies with a proven record of service. Property, Inland Marine, and Crime Workers’ Compensation School Leaders’ Legal Liability Automobile Group Term Life Long-Term Disability General Liability
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MSBAIT — addressing the needs of public schools’ risk-management programs since 1972
Excess Liability
Quality Coverage and Service Tailor-Made For School Districts Find out what MSBAIT can do for your school district. Call 800-324-4459 or visit www.mnmsba.com/MSBAIT.
Artful Design
Pillager Secondary School Addition. Learn more about the project at: WidsethSmithNolting.com/Videos
WidsethSmithNolting.com
Architecture | Engineering | Surveying | Environmental Alexandria | Bemidji | Brainerd/Baxter | Crookston | East Grand Forks | Grand Forks | Rochester
Engineering | Architecture | Surveying | Environmental
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Total solutions for your district.
1900 West Jefferson Avenue, St. Peter, MN 56082-3015
Listen + Plan + Design + Execute© As a trusted partner, FJJ specializes in complicated and challenging educational facility projects. We bring innovative financial and infrastructure solutions for districts dealing with:
Chip Jacobs
Jeff Schiltz
Duluth, MN
Duluth, MN
Arif Quraishi
Dave Bergeron
Minneapolis, MN
Fargo, ND
• Long Range Planning • Additions/Remodeling on tight Budgets • Deferred maintenance needs • Addressing health, safety and security concerns • Engaging key community stakeholders
www.fjj.com 525 Lake Avenue South Suite 222 Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-3060
7401 Metro Blvd Suite 600 Minneapolis, MN 55439 (612) 437-9416
417 Main Avenue Suite 310 Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 371-2948