waconia school board meeting

Meanwhile, union officials say, the district's administrative pay has risen more than 10 percent in recent years, making Waconia administrators among the highest paid in their area. Register or Buy Tickets, Price information. Last Modified on October 28, 2020 I also have a passion for lifelong learning. The board is responsible for creating the right conditions for excellence to flourish and set high expectations for success. When we were looking for a home in Minnesota people spoke of this district or that as the best for our children. The Wildcats fell to Hastings 21-38 in the semifinal round and 30-33 to Stillwater in the third place match. I have volunteered as a leader in our community including Waconia ECFE Advisory Council, Waconia Moms Club President and Waconia Trinity Coordinator of Mothers of Preschoolers. The Waconia High School wrestling team took fourth place at the Class 3A State Tournament on Thursday, March 2, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Right now millions of regular education dollars are diverted to pay for these underfunded mandates. Question 5: What in your background/experience best qualifies you for office? I create productive working relationships and play well with others. The state sets tax policy and levy limits for local public schools. The school board for Waconia Public Schools voted 6-0 in favor of its current policy, which will only make masks optional for students and staff. While the board does have the stated responsibility to prescribe textbooks and courses of study that is done as part of a larger committee comprised of board members, parents, a director, and staff who vet the curriculum and then make a recommendation for approval. The Farmington School Board voted 5-0 to approve an employee professional conduct policy during its Feb. 27 meeting after a portion that board members were split on was removed. The parents I talk with want us to focus on education and NOT indoctrination. The board will work with them to provide a clear financial picture and build on the progress already made to build back reserves. Waconia is one of 15 districts in the state that have not reached a settlement on new two-year contracts. My vision for the district is to embrace learning and inspire students; enabling them to grow their potential and prepare them to be productive and responsible members of society. The levy certification and "truth in taxation" public hearing is required annually by state statute to share information about school funding coming from district taxpayers for the next year. | Curriculum standards are not generated at the school board level. The regular meetings of the School Board are conducted on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Waconia City Hall, 201 S. Vine Street, unless otherwise noted. Community pressure could not do it. The school districts fiscal year coincides with the school year, running July 1 through June 30, so 2023 taxes wont provide additional revenue until the 2023-2024 school budget year. Tags: News, Critical Race Theory, Public Schools, School Reopenings, Virginia, Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbott, Original Location: School board activism returns as Loudoun County advances controversial transgender rules, School board activism returns as Loudoun County advances controversial transgender rules. As I stated earlier, I have worked on for-profit and not-for-profit boards, including my own electronic medical record software company, which I sold a few years ago. I oppose ideologies and the banning of books or curricula and dont want to see here what is happening around the country. Public comments are accepted in person at regular school board meetings. District 110 was financially stable for decades; I believe we can be again. Museums and cultural nonprofits are struggling to recover from the pandemic as the number of donations and visitors continues to drop. WACONIA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Parents passionate against forcing their kids to wear a mask in school had their voices heard Monday night in the southwest metro. Parents packed into auditoriums and parking lots for meetings this week to protest various school policies as the first day of classes quickly approaches, reviving the chaotic scenes that closed out the spring semester earlier this year. Local government is critical and I want a chance to represent and serve my community. In-Person WHS B107 (limited to 20) To attend In-person please sign-up before March 22 by email to: jkilian@isd110.org or, call 952-442-0600 / Virtual Meeting . The board needs to provide regular oversight of district finances. Sparq Data Solutions Inc. - All Rights Reserved. I understand firsthand that the decisions I make in my role can impact the lives of patients worldwide. While the board can ask for changes and information, they should not be directly setting the curriculum as they do not have the expertise. Story courtesy of Sun Patriot News - The Waconia School Board certified the school district's 2023 tax levy in the amount of just over $19.1 million at its Dec. 19 meeting. Jan. 1, 2021-Dec. 31, 2024, Luke DeBoer, Vice Chair/Clerkldeboer@isd110.org ISD 110 has policy to provide direction for continuous review and improvement of our school curriculum. District 720 Shakopee, District 100 Waconia, District 717 Jordan, District 721 New Prague, District 112 Eastern Carver County, and District 719 . "I am on a board that is saying, given the current economic situation, we like our teachers, but a reasonable salary is a reasonable salary," Davis said. I want both the community and the district to be recognized and sought after for the strength of the schools and programs, the caliber of the teachers, and for a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all students and their families. The Waconia School Board makes policy and oversees the districts budget, curriculum, personnel, and physical facilities. Term:Jan. 1, 2021- Dec. 31, 2024, Alycia Myers, Treasureramyers@isd110.org Today’s top 296 Sponsorship Visa jobs in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. The meeting will be held at the Center for Education Services, located at 10435 . Would you like to receive ouradvertising news? Signup today! Waconia School Board election 2022. The county's natural areas are covered with . Waconia, MN Meet the Candidates: Waconia School Board Sun Patriot 2022-10-10 As part of our Election 2022 coverage, the Waconia Patriot and Sun Patriot Newspapers reached out to candidates in contested races for local offices and asked them to respond to the same five questions for each office. Success! Terms:Jan. 1, 2017Dec. The school board does not and should not set the curriculum directly. An official with the Education Minnesota teachers' union told Waconia teachers earlier this month that they rank 196th in pay out of the state's nearly 350 districts. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. There are multiple aspects to long-term financial stability. Error! 522 with MSBA and ISD 110 Edits & Additions FINAL (Jan 2021), 415 Mandated REporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults (Dec 2019), 414 Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse (Dec 2019), 410 Family and Medical Leave Policy (Dec 2019), << Back to the Public Page for Waconia Public Schools, April 26 School Board Listening Hour w/WEA 5:30PM (virtual), April 26 School Board Work Session 7:00PM @ WHS B107, May 3 Finance & Facilities Committee 6:00PM (virtual), May 10 Policy Committee 6:00PM @ Waconia City Hall, May 10 Regular Board Meeting 7:00PM @ Waconia City Hall, May 24 School Board Work Session 7:00PM @ WHS B107, No MSBA changes since last review for both policy and form. "Their proposal would drop us to dead last in our conference.". Is it age appropriate? No one from the public was at the meeting. Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida have issued statewide prohibitions on mask mandates that local school districts are already attempting to challenge. Term:Jan. 1, 2021Dec. Upcoming Meetings: April 26 School Board Listening Hour w/WEA 5:30PM (virtual) April 26 School Board Work Session 7:00PM @ WHS B107 May 3 Finance & Facilities Committee 6:00PM (virtual) May 10 Policy Committee 6:00PM @ Waconia City Hall May 10 Regular Board Meeting 7:00PM @ Waconia City Hall May 24 School Board Work Session 7:00PM @ WHS B107 More ominously, there are no meetings scheduled anytime soon, negotiators said. In an evaluation summary shared at the Dec. 19 meeting, Board Chair Dana Geller stated, Superintendent Gersich has proven himself to be a successful leader for ISD 110 thus far All goals are actively in progress and the school board notes that Superintendent Gersich is making great strides in all areas.. Signup today! The School Board approved academic calendars for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years at its November 28 Regular Meeting. Would you like to receive our latest news? I am against mask mandates. Your email address will not be published. Schipol airport to Rotterdam 12:39 pm. I believe some of the boards protocols kept kids from maximizing their in-person learning opportunities last year. The meeting drew hundreds of people chanting, No more masks, according to local news. The decisions made by the board impact our entire community and I will use the same rigorous judgement that is necessary in my current job if I am elected as a member of the school board. Ill generally advocate for more trade and arts options, more experiences, more physical activity, a focus on fun first in k-8, and personalized career mapping in high school. August 10, 2021 / 7:33 AM (link to meeting calendar), School Board Meeting Public Comment Participation: Dooher said that inadequate state funding combined with soaring health care costs made bargaining extremely difficult. Superintendent Gersich and I recently discussed this issue regarding long-term funding. January 19, 2023. Create a password that only you will remember. Read more about our Mission, Vision, I am currently finishing a masters in writing. We are excited for your student to join the Wildcat family in the Fall of 2023. I have pondered how to serve and give back to our community and see in this an opportunity to contribute and to ensure, as I like to say, that teachers, students, and ideas are all safe in the classroom. SENIOR NATHAN KLITZKE ADVANCES TO STATE SCIENCE FAIR. Outgoing Waconia school board members Mike Bullis, Rachel Myers, Brian Rothstein and Jackie Johnson were recognized by the board for their service to the district. Be Proactive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. State funding accounts for about 80 percent of most public schools general expenses, and the Waconia school districts total budget for the current year amounts to about $64.2 million. The overview of the Financial Audit was essential to move forward with transparency and attention to detail. 786 were here. Ive been a father to three boys in this district for 20 years and Ive successfully built teams and cultures in my profession. The Loudoun County School Board implemented new rules for the fall after its final meeting of the previous school year in June, which devolved into chaos amid protests of the transgender rule and the schools embrace of curriculum that opponents describe as critical race theory. It makes the superintendent responsible for curriculum development, and allows for a district advisory committee to provide assistance. Rather than a full mandate, she feels there could be a middle ground. Sparq Data Solutions Inc. - All Rights Reserved. 31, 2024, Melanie Hagen, Director mhagen@isd110.org Story courtesy of Sun Patriot News The Waconia School Board certified the school districts 2023 tax levy in the amount of just over $19.1 million at its Dec. 19 meeting. With Whalen out, what's left behind for Gophers women's basketball? Click here to start the online enrollment process. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. All interviews are being held in the media center of Waconia High School and are open to the public. Members are elected I do feel we have an important role in monitoring what is being taught to our students once those decisions have been made. Some of the focus areas include a comprehensive budget plan initiative to move ISD 110 out of SOD, an audit of current facilities, and transparent communication with all stakeholders. Vikings, Thielen talking through contract and role with cap decisions looming, Minnetonka lands Class 2A's top seed in boys hockey state tournament, Here are the 15 best chocolate chip cookies in the Twin Cities. "We're always optimistic," said Brent Davis, chairman of the Waconia School Board and the lead district negotiator. We'd love to hear eyewitness As I type I cant claim to know the answer to our long-term solution. Teachers deserve the time, training and trust to do their jobs. I want to encourage exploration of educational, technical, and vocational fields to expand our students exposure to all types of workforce opportunities. Keep it Clean. To ensure my team remains on track, we have monthly forecasting meetings where we review expenses and any overages. Building relationships is what I do. Waconia is a vibrant community with the 2nd largest lake in the metro. Kimberly Kelzer-Breeden - 4,061 - Elected. Would parents (constituents) at home take issue with a certain topic/subject? Despite fierce objections from many local parents, the board passed the transgender policy on Wednesday evening. I intend to champion the opening of communication channels between teachers and the board. Our new Business Administrator has the skill set to confidently lead us in the right direction. Our new finance director and Superintendent are committed to transparency and rebuilding trust with the community; the board can hold them to this. "We have a strong union, and perhaps a union that is used to having its way.". I have over 20 years of patient care experience as a Speech Pathologist in a vigorous medical environment. I love learning, education and leadership and I hope to be a great listener and voice when representing our community. Public Transport in Amsterdam 7:59 am. Historically there has not been transparency in ISD110 when it comes to financials and it appears per the audit that we need better checks and balances. Congratulations to Waconia High School senior Nathan Klitzke for being awarded the U.S. Air Force Certificate of Achievement for his project in Environmental Science at the Southern Minnesota Regional Science & Engineering Fair in Mankato on Saturday, February 11. Question 4: How do you think the district should address long-term funding issues? We have funding issues, but we also have spending issues. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. We need to be a GREAT school providing our students multiple different paths to successful lives and careers after they graduate. The Tuesday meeting dragged on for hours due to comments from parents, pushing the final vote to Wednesday. Posted on November 1, 2022 by admin. Committees:Policy, SPED Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, With the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the Washington County Board of Education is currently following standard procedures for public business meetings. As a frontline medical worker during the pandemic I gained a new perspective on grit and perseverance. It is paramount along the way that we teach kids that life is hard and imperfect. Copyright 2015-2023. At the same time, they say, teachers' salaries have grown more slowly than neighboring districts, leaving Waconia teachers' pay among the lowest. Aeling scoffs at that. We must have a very high standard for the teachers we entrust and in order to attract and retain the best teachers, we must have a teacher friendly culture. I believe we need to ensure people not on the advisory committee have a way to provide feedback into this process. Finally, the community wants to feel heard. Long-term I would like to see Waconias District 110 as a thriving and growing district that does all it can to support all of its students and teachers. There was an error processing your request. A longtime Waconia School Board member and former City of Minnetonka employee is accused of stealing a city vehicle in an apparent attempt to retaliate against a former colleague who got him fired. Waconia is growing and ISD 110 needs to grow with it. Send this article to anyone, no subscription is necessary to view it, After pandemic hit, cultural groups hope for boost from state, One of state's richest families feuds over $1 billion estate, Innocence Project takes up case of man convicted in Mpls. As students prepare to return to classrooms in the fall, battles over critical race theory and mask mandates are resurfacing at school board meetings nationwide. Financials is easily the number one issue for the community when it comes to the school district. 3.A. person will not be tolerated. At the contentious school board meeting, Davis was called uncreative and teachers were angry because they felt the board was not respecting them and was making them beg for a pay increase. Downloadable and printable one-page versions of both calendars are posted on the District website atisd110.org/district-calendarsand can also be downloaded using the following links: 2023-24 At-a-Glance Calendar Neither could a state-imposed deadline, which brought a hefty fine of almost $75,000 after it was missed. The second thing I would advocate for as a school board member is to have the state fully fund special education to the level of service required by mandate. We need to figure out how to get out of SOD first. CLICK HERE to view the current West Carver Community Guidebook! The four outgoing members were presented with a lifetime pass to Waconia activities as a show of appreciation for their years of service and a way for them to stay active and engaged in our school community. In Waconia, Minnesota, on Monday, the Waconia School Board voted to keep masks optional after parents flooded the meeting with opposition. / CBS Minnesota. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. We need to work diligently to get ISD 110 out of debt to reward and retain our exceptional teachers and build a foundation of fiscal responsibility. I am a problem solver. I have confidence they can figure it out. We must support students emotional needs by teaching them to discuss and manage feelings, and support others. Not everyone is meant to go to college. The scenes are likely to repeat at school board meetings nationwide as parents and teachers turn their attention back to education after a summer with declining COVID-19 cases fell before rising again and sparking new concerns about pandemic precautions in the classroom. Committees: Policy, MNSHSL I am committed to balancing our budget while providing for the academic and emotional needs of our students. Waconia Public Schools Meetings. Should I be on the board I will hold them accountable and push for more transparency than they will likely be comfortable with. Some Republican governors have set up possible showdowns with local school boards over mask mandates and critical race theory by attempting to ban both at the state level. I, along with many parents in this community, started to care! People are seeking a school board that reflects the diverse values of our district, is transparent and sets a positive tone. Required fields are marked *. My 23 years in the software industry has provided experiences that I think will assist me on the school board. To be honest, Im running because I was asked to run. The county extends from Minneapolis to the suburbs and outlying cities in the western part of the county. Our Hometown I want to listen and serve our community! Be Truthful. Personally, this is also good timing as I will be finishing my masters degree in January, just as the new school boards activity will start. The local tax levy is based on many state-determined formulas, plus voter approved referendums. ISD 110 has sustained generally flat budgets the past few years as guided by the districts statutory operating debt (SOD) recovery plan, while benefitting from additional revenues authorized in a voter-approved operating levy in 2020. Through these, I have had experience handling many different financial models as well as updating, maintaining, and implementing constitutions, bylaws, and long-term vision plans. A public school district serving students and families in early childhood through 12th grade Waconia Public Schools | Waconia MN 31, 2020 "I think this is more than economic," Aeling said. You have permission to edit this article. The levy certification and truth in taxation public hearing is required annually by state statute to share information about school funding coming from district taxpayers for the next year. I am fully capable of handling this role and promise, if elected, to do as the people that put me there asked. Board members must ask questions to understand ROI on all spending and be responsible and strategic, to get out of SOD. The district still hasn't reached a contract after nearly three dozen meetings, two mediation sessions, a missed deadline and a fine. Two Childcare Stabilization Grant applications from Brian Julson. Question 3: How involved should the board be with curriculum development? Below are the unedited responses from the candidates for Waconia School Board - Chad Almjeld, Kelly Amott, Jesse Bergstrom, Tyler Gangestad, Melanie Hagen, Kimberly Kelzer-Breeden, Steve Minor and Katherine Sodey. Hop on hop off bus 5:12 am. Later in the year they took another vote and decided not to listen to those very same people. Small town charm . At a school board meeting in Williamson County, Tennessee, on Tuesday, parents shouted, waved signs and gathered in a crowd outside the building to protest a mask mandate in the countys schools. I cannot accomplish this vision alone or in just 4 years. Waconia Public Schools has been named a top-20 public school district in the state of Minnesota by Niche, an online platform that annually ranks K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities.