K-M School Board

If elected, what committee would you want to be on most and why?
Limit of 200 words
Eric Messa:
Finance committee
Provides input on debt, local, state, and federal policies, and legislation that may impact the district’s financial goals I have a degree in Business Administration where I specialized in finance. I am currently on two boards and right now in the middle of developing a long-term strategic budget for one of them. I think it is very important for any school district to be good stewards of school funding.
Elizabeth Armstrong:
The committee I would want to be on the most is the Community Ed committee. I think that my professional and personal experience allow for me to understand the programs offered to the community, what is needed in the community, and how to help Community Ed grow to offer more programs to families in the community. Community Ed is run very similarly to the YMCA that I worked at for 10 years in which I worked in preschool, school-age before and after care, summer camps, family involvement programming, fitness, and sports. When we first moved to Kasson, I signed up my family for all sorts of programs through Community Ed to get involved and help our children meet others. This is a vital program for families and our community and I would love to help it continue to be successful and to grow to offer even more.
Amy Olson:
If reelected, I would be honored to once again serve on the Policy Committee. By developing and maintaining policies, the school board helps ensure that students and staff have the necessary resources, maintain safety and security, and promote a supportive environment for learning. I have also had the honor and the privilege to be the Kasson-Mantorville representative on the ZED Board for many years. Unique learners need to have the specialized resources and spaces to thrive and be successful in a way that is meaningful for each individual. Another committee that I am passionate about is the Activities Committee. The board strives for 100% participation at the high school level. Kasson-Mantorville has an amazing student activities department that offers all kinds of opportunities to our students and being able to support those efforts has been invaluable.
Pat Walsh:
I am not heading into this process with a specific committee in mind. As I don’t know the makeup of the rest of the group I can’t even begin to determine where my skills and experiences would be of greatest value and benefit compared to those of the others. Once the election is over and the full school board team is established then I feel decisions can be made on who would be the best fit on what committees.
Aaron Stockard:
As someone who has had the occasion to substitute teach in our schools, I have had a unique opportunity to experience some of the challenges that face our teachers. I have previously mentioned in other DCI questions that every class I substitute in has 2-4 students with substantial behavioral issues and/or are significantly behind their peers academically. This is a monumental task for even the best teachers to address the needs of these students while still challenging and meeting the academic needs of 20 plus other students. I would most want to serve on any committee where I could make an impact by reducing class sizes and providing teachers with more in class support like paraprofessionals. We owe it to the students who are struggling not to leave them behind and we owe it to the other students to challenge them academically.
 
Next week’s question for Byron School Board candidates:
Would you support any changes for leadership positions within the School District why or why not?
Word limit 250 words
 
State Rep
Agriculture is a critical part of Minnesota’s economy. What piece of legislation or program would you propose to support farmers?
Word Limit 250 words
Heather Holmes
There are many policies and programs I would like to see implemented to help support our farmers. However, one of the biggest would be continuing to expand access to affordable healthcare. So many of our farmers either have to have additional employment or have a spouse work outside of the farm to in order to access affordable insurance. Otherwise to qualify for medical assistance, they have to have to keep their income incredibly low. The difficulty in obtaining affordable insurance can also be a hindrance for attracting to new farmers to agriculture. When it comes to health care, it’s not a matter of if but when you will need it. Our farmers not only are a large part of our economy but they also allow us to feed our families. We need to ensure they are able to continue to do this vital work and also provide for themselves and their own families. Ensuring access to quality and affordable healthcare is an essential step in this process.
Duane Quam
It is looking at the things that make it hard to make it in farming, and hurts agricultural businesses competing with those in surrounding states.
Make Minnesota’s agriculture and food industries more competitive through regulatory relief, keeping fees to a minimum, and streamlining approval processes to encourage producers and processors to locate and expand in Minnesota.
Partnering with farmers and agricultural businesses to generate and implement policies aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of Minnesota’s production Ag sector and supporting all Agricultural endeavors. I have and will support production ag research, biotechnology, and new and expanded uses that bring added value to Minnesota-grown commodities.
 
Next week’s question:
It’s no secret that many Minnesota newspapers are struggling to remain financially viable in their efforts to provide residents with community journalism. Earlier this year, eight newspapers closed suddenly in Minnesota. The Minnesota Newspaper Association, which represents most newspapers throughout the state, will likely be approaching the state legislature in January to ask for legislative support to help struggling newspapers. What is your position on providing government subsidies to help ailing newspapers? In what ways can the government best support newspapers?
Limit of 250 words