Part 3: District 196 Candidates' Top 3 Objectives

Editor's note: This is the third 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.

What would be your top three objectives as a school board member?

Joel Albright (incumbent)

• Student success
• Continued fiscal prudence
• Long-term financial stability

Steven Butler

Maintain ISD 196 as one of the best places to educate our children in Minnesota, as well as the nation, through attracting the best teachers who love to teach kids, while meeting the challenges of the demographic changes in ISD 196.

Represent our Eagan community on the school board, responding to their educational needs and the needs of our parents as a whole.

Ensure the revenues we receive from our customers (parents) is spent wisely on the best teachers, in tight times as well as good times.

Fay Coggshall

1.     To maintain a strong public school system that can meet the needs of our changing and diverse student population. As the cultural and economic diversity of our district continues to change, we need to ensure we’re ready to meet the challenge. 

2.    To protect funding for our school district. I would work to build proactive and effective relationships with state legislators and remain diligent in my commitment to ensure our educational dollars are preserved. As a board member, I would reach out to residents on a regular basis to ensure everyone understands how decisions at the state capitol will impact the services we can provide for our students.    

3.   To ensure all students have the same opportunities for learning in an environment in which they feel accepted. We need to prepare students for all post secondary educational opportunities including college, vocational technical training and life skills. 

Rob Duchscher (incumbent)

My first priority is the same it has been for many years, and that is to work towards continued financial stability. I spearheaded the creation of the Budget Advisory Council and I have been a member of this council since its creation. I also have been a supporter and a believer in five-year financial planning and in our current strategic planning process. It is solid planning and adherence to data-driven decision-making that will allow us to make the most out of the dollars we get from the state and our community.

My next priority is a continual emphasis on curriculum excellence. As indicated by our recent MCA scores, we provide one of the best educations for students in the state. This is done through excellence in teaching and providing solid rigorous curriculums. 

My third priority is to always work to improve our communication with our residents. We are constantly looking for ways to improve communications coming out of the District. I am a believer in the statement that we can never communicate enough. I, personally, have answered every email and voice mail I have received in 11+ years. It is what the job requires.

Gary Krueger

First, the district needs to be fiscally sound in providing services to the community. Probably the biggest issue facing school districts today are funding shortfalls. … This is especially true in Minnesota, with continued delays in funding to districts from the state. The board and administration needs to manage its resources efficiently, to ensure educators have the resources to provide a high-quality education.

Second, the district needs to find ways to maintain the core educational programs, without negatively affecting the noncore programs such as music and the fine arts. The district also needs to provide all students the opportunity to participate in co-curricular programs …. With three sons being part of the Eagan drumline and ultimately participating in the University of Minnesota and UW-Eau Claire Marching Bands, I have first-hand experience of how strong music/fine art programs can have a positive impact on students.

Third, the district needs to maintain an open and transparent process to not just keep the community informed, but actively engage the community in the decision-making process. … This is a public school system and like myself, being a public employee, board members and school administrators/principals are public officials, entrusted to serve the whole community.

Jackie Magnuson (incumbent)

My top three objectives are: adequate and stable funding; maintaining and improving the high quality of curriculum and instruction; and districtwide communication and working in collaboration with our communities.

With the State as an unstable funding partner, the biggest challenge in front of us is maintaining the financial health of the district without compromising our mission. We have a vibrant and well-respected school district. We need to keep our focus on our strategic plan and our five-year budget forecasts. As a 196 board member and member of the board of directors for the Minnesota School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association, I have and will continue to work closely with our lawmakers at the state and federal level for changes in unfunded mandates, flexibility in testing, and push for adequate and stable school funding.

ISD 196 has some of the highest test scores in the country. My goal remains continuous improvements in curriculum and instruction at all levels.  Teachers and principals must have the tools necessary to create a classroom experience where every child achieves. Raising the achievement bar for all students assures that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. ...

Bob Schutte (incumbent)

Conservative fiscal management, strong educational programs and continual focus on educational improvement. 

Check back Thursday to read each candidate's ideas for cost savings or additional revenues for District 196.

From Monday:

From Tuesday: