Part 2: Why District 196 School Board Candidates Want to Serve

Editor's note: This is the second piece in a week-long series introducing you to the seven candidates running for four seats on the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district board of education. The general election is Nov. 8.

Each day this week, we'll publish all seven candidates' answers to one of the questions we posed. To promote fairness, we asked each candidate to limit responses to 200 words; we reserved the right to edit for clarity and length if necessary.

Why do you want to be on the District 196 school board?

Joel Albright (incumbent)

I am running for re-election to the District 196 school board because there are still many challenges ahead for public schools and I want to continue doing everything I can to ensure that District 196 is able to handle those challenges and succeed in its mission of “Educating our students to reach their full potential.”

Financially, the state of Minnesota has fallen far short of its constitutionally mandated duty to establish and make provisions to secure a general, uniform, thorough and efficient system of public schools. Despite this, District 196 has been a good steward of its limited financial resources. On the occasions where the school board has had to consider making cuts, we have done so very prudently, after looking at alternative options and considering the impact of the cuts on our students, staff, and community. If re-elected, I will maintain this fiscal prudence and approach any future cuts with caution and restraint.

Academically, District 196 continues to perform above both state and national averages. Despite this overall success, however, we still have individual students that are struggling and we have not yet been able to close the achievement gap.  If re-elected, I will continue working to resolve these issues.

Steven Butler

I have four daughters who have gone through and still going through the ISD 196 school system—their education and personal development is very important to me, and I want to make sure this continues. I want to make sure we attract the best teachers we can to the district and, given the demographic changes that will be occurring over the next decades, I want to be a part of that to make sure ISD 196 remains strong and committed to its goals. I also believe that Eagan as a community needs to be fully represented on the school board—with the resignation of our lone Eagan member it should be important to everyone in our district to be fully represented.

Fay Coggshall

I believe in our public school system. As we know, our public education system is facing enormous challenges. I’m concerned about our ability to continue to provide the same quality education to current district children as we have in the past. Because of this concern, I’m running for school board. I’ll work hard to ensure we maintain the quality and strength necessary to continue improving education for our students. 

I also feel it’s important to bring a fresh perspective to the school board. We need to have experienced members on the board, but we also need to generate new ideas to meet new challenges in our schools.

I believe we need to work even harder to ensure district residents have the information they need to better understand the decisions we must make and the challenges we face. All of us have to be a part of the solution and I’m willing to commit the required time to learn and remain well informed about the programs and issues that impact education and the goals we must meet as a district.

Rob Duchscher (incumbent)

I am seeking reelection for a number of reasons.

First, I enjoy being on the board and I consider it an honor. Being on the board allows me to use my business skills to help the district in the areas of financial and strategic planning. Fiscal stability allows us to provide a solid education to our students.

Secondly, we face more economic uncertainty. We have positioned ourselves to be fiscally solid through at least the next few years and hopefully well beyond that. This has come through diligence to data and solid fiscal planning. We haven’t relied on the politicians to get our job done. We have done it ourselves.

Lastly, my children have grown up in this district and I have been in and around our schools since kindergarten. I have been there next to them in each and every grade and in hundreds of activities. Much of my life and my family’s life has centered around this district. As simple as it sounds, I want this district to continue to be successful. I believe I can continue to help make this a true statement.

Gary Krueger

In my role as a Superfund project manager [at the the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency], I have had to deal with some very stressful and controversial projects. I want to bring my public sector technical and budgetary experience to the board. I have had to make some tough fiscal choices for state-funded projects, and it is the board’s responsibility to ensure taxpayer resources are utilized appropriately and efficiently. Throughout all my projects, I have always tried to focus on making decisions that will best serve the taxpayers of the state.  

With budgets becoming more restrictive, the board will need to make tough choices on which programs receive priority, much like I need to make in managing state funds responsibly. I also believe I can bring a fresh perspective to the board. While I commend the current board members for their many years of service, any board, commission, or advisory council needs some turnover in members, which is good for its long-term strength.

Jackie Magnuson (incumbent)

I am committed to our mission statement, “Educating out students to reach their full potential,” as a Board member for the past 22 years. I bring a history of community involvement, encouraging and seeking out public input, coupled with a depth of knowledge that allows me to make decisions based on information and data rather than on emotions. While on the board my focus has been on making sure the district is well managed and is fiscally responsible. As a parent of three District 196 graduates, a teacher of middle school students for the past 18 years, a district resident for the past 34 years, I can personally identify with our most important stakeholders—our students, parents, community members, teachers and lawmakers.

Bob Schutte (incumbent)

I have the experience, the education and training, and also the passion, to serve my community in the best use of my background and interests.

Check back Wednesday to read each candidate's top three objectives were they to be elected.

From Monday: