Part 5: School Board Candidates Suggest Changes in Policy, Programs

Editor's note: This is the fifth 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.

Do you have any specific changes you would want to make to district policies, curriculum, staffing or programs?

Joel Albright (incumbent)

As a member of the board’s Policy and Curriculum & Instruction committees, I am involved with annual reviews and periodic adjustments in these areas. These committees, along with the Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Council (CIAC), provide the framework for reviewing, analyzing and implementing any necessary changes on a regular basis.

One of my main areas of concern over the past few years has been the success of our middle school students, which is why I volunteered to be on the Middle School Program Review committee. The committee spent a lot of time studying programs, formats, and ideas that have been successful in schools outside our district while, at the same time, looking at what has worked and what hasn’t within our own buildings. I believe the curricular and structural changes that have been implemented in our middle schools this year will have a significant positive impact on our students and their achievement.

The process the Middle School Program Review committee used was a good model for any future significant curricular, structural, or program changes that may be required.  If re-elected, I intend to be involved in any such committees as they are needed in the future.

Steven Butler

“Educating our children to reach their full potential” means different things to different people/our parents. It will be very important in the coming years take into consideration that what might have worked over the last 20 years might not work today or be applicable—to that end the board should have the courage to make hard decisions that affect the district's policies, curriculum, staffing and programs.

Fay Coggshall

District resources need to be balanced between the varying needs of all our students. We must strive to meet the educational needs of all children as fairly and equitably as possible. I’d propose reviewing the curriculum to be certain we’re not only meeting state requirements, but preparing our students for many different roads in life. We have to work together to make our school system work for all kids. In order to do this, we must maintain adequate staffing levels in all student contact positions.

Rob Duchscher (incumbent)

In the last year, we made significant changes at the middle school level. We were proactive in making changes to the school day in an effort to provide a better education to our middle school students. It was a difficult long process but it ended in solid changes that will pay dividends for our middle school students.

I chair the Policy committee for the district and we annually review our policies. Recently we made policy changes to protect our schools from the increased use of synthetic drugs. The state hasn’t been able to pass laws quick enough to keep up with this unfortunate new trend but we have kept up with it in our district.

As for staffing changes, we review our staffing ratios yearly and adjust as needed. I’m an avid supporter of providing an emphasis on our core academics. From providing all-day kindergarten for every student that wants it to providing better access for an increasingly important need for secondary language training, we are always looking for ways to improve.

Gary Krueger

One area of concern to me is the adjusted middle school schedule, which limits the availability of the non-core classes. I realize some budget reductions were necessary, but it seemed that the middle schools were affected more than their fair share. Limiting opportunities to students to explore their creative side could possibly limit their enthusiasm for school itself. It seems that the changes made this past year were more for a short-term budget fix, which could have long-term negative impacts on the non-core programs at the high school level. I realize it can be difficult to measure success of non-core programs because of the lack of standardized tests for such programs as band and art, but these programs can develop valuable lifelong skills and provide outstanding life experiences.    

Jackie Magnuson (incumbent)

Continuous improvement is the mantra in District 196. I want to work hard to keep the quality programs we have. I am interested in working to providing all-day, every-day kindergarten.

Bob Schutte (incumbent)

We have been very successful so far but we need to keep an eye to the future for capitalizing on new approaches and discoveries. I have confidence in the path we are currently following.

Check back Saturday to read each candidate's ideas for changing policy, curriculum and programs in District 196.

From Monday:

From Tuesday:

From Wednesday:

From Thursday: