The Boardcaster Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Transcription

1 The Boardcaster Tuesday, February 3, 2015 MSBA presidency passes to Donovan Kirby Ekstrom (North Branch Area), Suzy Guthmueller (Centennial) and Amy Richter (Ely) became new members of the MSBA Board of Directors following elections held during the 2015 MSBA Leadership Conference. Ekstrom will serve a three-year term in MSBA Director District 9 (east-central Minnesota). Guthmueller will represent the north metro in Director District 5 by completing a one-year term. Richter will complete a one-year term in Director District 11 (northeast Minnesota). Kirby Ekstrom North Branch Area Kevin Donovan (Mahtomedi) is your new MSBA President. Donovan (at right in photo) transitioned from President- Elect to President Friday, January 16, during Day 2 of the 2015 MSBA Leadership Conference. Donovan originally joined the MSBA Board of Directors in He succeeds Walter Hautala (Mesabi East, at left in photo), who served as MSBA President from Hautala started his MSBA Board service in 2007 and will now serve one year as MSBA s Past President. Three newcomers, four incumbents elected to MSBA Board Suzy Guthmueller Centennial Amy Richter Ely In other MSBA Board elections, the following incumbents were re-elected for three-year terms: Linden Olson (Worthington) in Director District 3 (southwest Minnesota), George Kimball (White Bear Lake Area) in Director District 6 (northeast metro), Ann Long Voelkner (Bemidji Area) in Director District 12 (northwest Minnesota) and Deborah Pauly (Jordan) in Director District 13 (southwest metro).

2 Page 2 Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Spring Lake Park s Forsberg hits grand milestone The 1,000-point club: Spring Lake Park School Board Member Marilynn Forsberg (left) and former Bloomington School Board Member Arlene Bush. Longtime Spring Lake Park School Board Member Marilynn Forsberg became the second Minnesota school board member to total more than 1,000 career MSBA training points, enabling her to become a recipient of the Arlene Bush Board Member of Distinction Award during the Leadership Conference Recognition Luncheon. The award is named after former Bloomington School Board Member Arlene Bush. Bush amassed nearly 1,300 MSBA training points during her career. MSBA Executive Director Kirk Schneidawind (left) and then-msba President Walter Hautala gave Marilynn Forsberg her Arlene Bush Award during the Leadership Conference Recognition Luncheon Thursday, January 15. Prepare to lead by attending an Officers Workshop The MSBA Officers Workshop for board chairs, clerks and treasurers returns in February. These workshops are focused on board officers responsibilities and basics/fundamentals of laws affecting school boards. Elected board officers, superintendents and staff that support the board are encouraged to attend. See the scheduled listed below. Visit for more information and to register. Wednesday, February 4 (advance registration closed for this workshop; walk-in registrants welcome) Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park Friday, February 20 Hampton Inn & Suites in Bemidji Saturday, February 21 Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Cloud Wednesday, February 25 Best Western Plus in North Mankato Thursday, March 12 Southeast Service Cooperative in Rochester Tuesday, March 17 Lakes Country Service Cooperative in Fergus Falls Get ready with MSBA s Negotiations Seminars Prepare for another cycle of bargaining with another round of MSBA Negotiations Seminars at a location near you in February. Featured topics include a negotiations overview, the impact of the Affordable Care Act on employer-sponsored benefit plans, master agreements and much more. Visit for details including the complete schedule, the seminar agenda and online registration. More Leadership Conference handouts available on MSBA website If you have been looking for more handouts from the 2015 MSBA Leadership Conference, more presenters have been sending in their presentations. As of February 3, MSBA now has handouts and presentations from 49 different presenters at more than double what was available before the conference. So, if you want to share information with other board members, check out the newest additions and share the information.

3 Page 3 Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Learn about advocacy at the Joint Legislative Conference Register today for the 2015 Joint Legislative Conference to learn how to better stand up for your students and your school districts. The conference is slated for Wednesday, March 4 (optional reception), and Thursday, March 5, at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront hotel. Visit for details including registration, program information and hotel options (rooms at the Crowne Plaza are sold out). Join the conversation each Monday with the Government Relations Team Mark down Mondays at 11 a.m. on your calendar for the Monday Morning Coffee with the Government Relations Team conference call. This live call is slated for every Monday throughout the legislative session with MSBA s Grace Keliher, Denise Dittrich and Snezhana Bessonov. Grace, Denise and Snezhana will review and preview what s happening on the education front at the state Capitol in St. Paul, and they will also answer your questions. The next conference call is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, February 9. To participate in these calls, call toll-free and, when asked, enter participant code (If you are using a speaker phone, please keep your microphone on mute until question-and-answer time.) Knowledge is power stay informed through Capitol Connections updates Capitol Connections is your new source for MSBA-generated updates from the state Capitol. Members can access Capitol Connections online at for education updates from the state Capitol by MSBA s Government Relations Team of Grace Keliher, Denise Dittrich and Snezhana Bessonov. Get on the Capitol Connections list by sending a message to Bruce Lombard at blombard@mnmsba.org (with Subscribe to Capitol Connections in the Subject line). Northfield superintendent receives MASA leadership award The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Northfield Superintendent Chris Richardson the recipient of the MASA Polaris Leadership Award. Richardson will be honored for his exemplary school leadership and a lifetime of balanced achievement inside and outside of education at a statewide recognition ceremony to be held at the MASA Fall Conference in September. In a letter of support for Dr. Richardson s nomination, Northfield School Board Member Noel Stratmoen wrote, Dr. Richardson is an educational leader with many great strengths including vision, hard work, thoroughness, frugality, and common sense. He is a beacon of light for education at the state level. For more information, visit

4 Page 4 Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Registration to open February 20 For Phase III Workshops Members can begin registering through their school district office for the Phase III Orientation workshop beginning on February 20. Registration must be made online via Event Registration at Phase III Orientation helps build a high-performing school board with a focus on leadership styles, consensus building and policy development. Phase III Orientation is designed for board members who have attended Phase I and Phase II, but others are also welcome. Attendees can earn 10 MSBA credits toward the individual board member award program. Members who complete Phase I, Phase II and Phase III will receive a Leadership Development Certificate. The Phase III workshops are scheduled for: Friday, April 10: Bemidji (Hampton Inn & Suites, 1019 Paul Bunyan Dr. S.) Saturday, April 11: Brooklyn Park (Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, 7025 Northland Dr. N.) Thursday, April 16: North Mankato (Best Western Hotel & Restaurant, 1111 Range St. ) Wednesday, April 22: St. Cloud (Best Western Kelly Inn, 100 4th Ave. S.) The agenda, dates, times and registration information will be available soon at Workshop. New MSBA Mailbag video available: Filling a Board Vacancy Check out the MSBA Mailbag video series online, where MSBA staff will answer YOUR questions in three minutes or less. The latest episode Filling a Board Vacancy by Greg Abbott is now available at Other MSBA mailbag videos include Unrequested Leave of Absence (by Bill Kautt) and Dates With Meeting Restrictions (Amy Fullenkamp-Taylor). Send in your Mailbag questions via to Greg Abbott at gabbott@mnmsba.org. Royalton voters pass bond; La Crescent-Hokah voters oppose new school Royalton voters passed a $26.1 million bond referendum January 6. The district plans to use the funding for building projects and maintenance. The bond was approved by a vote. La Crescent-Hokah voters rejected a bond referendum January 6 on a 1,964-1,041 vote. Had the vote passed, the district would have used the money to construct a new elementary school and upgrade its high school. MSBA scholarship applications, Board Recognition Kits available online Materials for the 2015 School Board Recognition Week Kit and applications for the 2015 MSBA Student School Board Member Scholarship are both available online. School Board Recognition Week is scheduled for February The kit which includes materials to honor your school board members for their service to your school district and your community is available online now at SchoolBoardRecognitionWeek. MSBA Student School Board Member Scholarship materials are available online at The scholarship application deadline is Monday, March 23. Plot your school district s direction with MSBA s Strategic Planning Services Effective school boards provide leadership to set high expectations for student achievement and learning. School boards accomplish this by clarifying the school district s purpose and direction. MSBA s experience and knowledge can help you put your district s strategic plan on the right course. Contact Sandy Gundlach today at or sgundlach@mnmsba.org and ask about MSBA s Strategic Planning Services.

5 Page 5 Tuesday, February 3, 2015 MSBA s Superintendent Search Service can find your next superintendent MSBA s Superintendent Search Service can find your next superintendent. Contact Sandy Gundlach at sgundlach@mnmsba.org or visit for information. Personnel Notes Superintendents/Directors Dover-Eyota is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 20. Foley is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 27. Hibbing is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 23. International Spanish Language Academy is accepting applications for an executive director through March 15. Le Sueur-Henderson is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 9. Luverne is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 13. Madelia is accepting applications for a part-time superintendent through February 9. Nashwauk-Keewatin is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 19. North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 3. Roseville Area is accepting applications for a superintendent through April 15. Rush City is accepting applications for a superintendent through March 2. South Koochiching-Rainy River is accepting applications for a superintendent through February 25. Watertown-Mayer is accepting applications for a superintendent through March 27. Yellow Medicine East is accepting applications for a superintendent through March 17. Zumbrota-Mazeppa is accepting applications for a superintendent through March 4. Principals Columbia Heights is accepting applications for a principal through February 27. Delano is accepting applications for a middle school principal through February 13. Mankato Area is accepting applications for an elementary school principal through February 23. South Washington County is accepting applications for a high school principal through February 27. Other Administrators Alexandria is accepting applications for an assistant superintendent for teaching and learning through February 27. Sauk Rapids-Rice is accepting applications for a director of community education through February 27. Visit for application/contact information. Visit for the latest Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund Plus rates. The Boardcaster is published as a member service by the Minnesota School Boards Association, 1900 W. Jefferson Ave., St. Peter, MN The Boardcaster is edited by Associate Director of Communications Bruce Lombard. Call with any questions. Personnel Notes, Administrative Moves, Marketplace notices and other information can be ed to blombard@mnmsba.org or faxed to

6 Protection assurance when you need it. The Minnesota School Boards Association Insurance Trust (MSBAIT) endorses companies with a proven record of service. Group Term Life Long-Term Disability General Liability Excess Liability Property, Inland Marine, and Crime Workers Compensation School Leaders Legal Liability Automobile Denise Drill ddrill@mnmsba.org Quality Coverage and Service Tailor-Made For School Districts Find out what MSBAIT can do for your district. Call or one of your MSBAIT representatives today. Visit Gary Lee glee@mnmsba.org MSBAIT addressing the needs of public schools risk-management programs since 1972