Question 1 - What are the top three issues facing the school district right now and how should they be addressed?
Question 2 - What qualifications and experience will you bring to the board if elected?
David Battaglia
Question 1
BUDGETS - With increasing costs of education and "flat" funding levels from the state, prioritizing where to spend precious dollars is critical. Ideally, the process of "prioritizing" should include input from as many concerned community members as possible. The school board should use this information to make decisions.
CLASS SIZE - An emphasis needs to be made to keep class sizes small. This should be a "major" concern. This can be accomplished by prioritizing the budget.
STAFF MORALE - Administration, certified and non-certified staff, and the board need be on the same team and strive to "do what's best for kids." Adversarial relations does nothing for morale.
Question 2
As a recent retiree from public education (34 years as a public school teacher, coach and administrator), I've had experience working with school boards and school issues. I feel during these years I've learned a lot about the qualities needed to be a good school board member and the importance of involving people in the process when making critical decisions. As a community member for the past 30-plus years, and as the parent of three Cloquet graduates, I know about the quality education provided in Cloquet. I'm ready to help made the tough decisions needed to insure that Cloquet continues to offer a great education.
Sam Bolling
Question 1
What I've heard most about is that things are not very smooth or efficient. I'm sure there are things I'm not yet aware of so it would be hard to prioritize what are the greatest problems. To deal with that I feel the working relationships with or between board members, principals, teachers and everyone involved in running the schools need to improve - that's what I've heard most about.
Question 2
My main qualification is my life experience. It is who I am. I make decisions based on the same moral code and values as I base my life on. I don't seek out confrontation, but I'm not afraid of it. When there's a hard issue to be faced I will look at all the information, and decide what I believe is best for the district. I learned at the school of hard knocks how important a good education can be and I want to help our children get the best.
- Donates all the money we both are paid [husband Jim Crowley also serves on Cloquet School Board] in board salaries to district programs
- Youth athletics coachMy personal, educational and professional experiences have shown me the importance of a quality education to succeed in the world today. I am fair, motivated and ethical, with an open mind to find ways to provide our children with the best education possible.
Ron Gittings Question 1
Of primary importance is our financial health. We have remained financially healthy enough through very proactive management by our administration. Still, the district hasn't been static; we have dedicated additional resources to keep class sizes low in the primary elementary grades to provide sound foundations for learning.
Second, even in the face of tight budgeting, we need to strategically focus additional resources in areas where we see student performance drop. This is true especially in transitional years when students face changes in both the rigor of coursework and school environment.
Third, we need parents and families to become more deeply involved with their children's education.
Question 2
I have been an educator for over 25 years, the past 23 at the college level at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and the University of Minnesota Duluth for 19 years. I have served as both faculty president and grievance representative at FDLTCC. I have a very sound understanding of the structure and processes that involve educational institutions. I certainly understand the challenges of education in an ever-changing world. Finally, I truly respect the efforts of all of the district employees in serving our children.
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Rose E. Scheuer
Question 1
Budget - Unfortunately we continue to not have a balanced budget due to lack of funding from our state. In four years our reserves will be totally depleted if we do not trim our budget. We need community involvement to investigate what innovative ways we can save and run analysis on our internal processes. How about going paperless?
Health insurance - We need to work with all our staff to try and find the best options for health care. This should be a collaborative effort from everyone.
of vocational courses - We need to start working with local industries and our staff on how to fill this void.
Question 2
Having over 14 years of working in a school district, I am capable of finding ways to improve day-to-day processes through the use of technology, which results in better time management. I am fortunate to have the "school" background this position demands in order to see the big picture. My current job has given me the skills needed to determine the characteristics of a strong curriculum that will bring out success in all of our students. In addition, my education in business has helped me understand the financial aspects of running a school, and has also taught me how to be an effective communicator.
Tracy Vargason
Question 1
We need to investigate alternative funding methods and find creative ways to save money. With the state cutting the budget, schools will be affected; resources must be prioritized so funding goes into the classrooms. We must maintain a plan to review curriculum to ensure excellence and be cost efficient. Our district can only succeed with strong community partnership and we need to establish more effective ways to communicate with and engage the entire community. All stakeholders, parents, district personnel, teachers, non-certified staff, and management, as well as students must be partners in these endeavors if we are to be successful.
Question 2
What makes me most qualified for this position is the fact that I am Jacob and Justin's mom. My oldest son, Jacob, is a middle school student and Justin is at Churchill. Being a parent of children in the Cloquet school system and being involved in the community motivates me to work hard to ensure our schools offer the best educational experience possible. You can be sure that I will bring ideas from a different perspective and that I will pay very close attention to policies that will best help all of our children succeed as students and in life.
