Central Public Schools - Education Is Central

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. -Candidate Name: Shelby Erickson -City of Residence: Norwood Young America -How long have you lived in the district? 19 years -What is your occupation? I have worked at Ridgeview as a nurse for almost 26 years. Currently, I am the nurse manager of Women and Children Services. -Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? If elected, this would be my second term as a board member. I originally ran for school board because I wanted to make a difference. I was frustrated with some of the decisions being made at our district and wanted to help influence the district leaders in a positive way. Now, I have been able to witness the change of direction at Central Schools and want to continue to be a part of the positive changes we have witnessed over the last five years. -What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? I believe that my leadership skills, open mindedness, and positive attitude are the qualities that I would bring to the board, if elected. -What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? This is a challenging question! There are so many important issues that our district deals with daily! Student safety and security, employing high-quality educators, and offering a variety of extracurricular opportunities are all very important issues in education today. Personally, I believe that giving every student the opportunity to achieve success is critically important. While everyone's definition of success looks a bit different, opening doors and removing barriers for our students' success, through policy and governance, are the most important tasks for our school board to accomplish.

Congratulations to our October Award Winners! High School Winners: Academic Achievement Award: Camden Barthel Addison Klingelhutz Jacob Neuman Adriel Schnabel Parker Honl Sam Woizeschke Ethan Hutchins Annabelle Zernechel Lions Citizenship Award: Paizley Alsleben Tenley Read Cassandra Reams Nick Ojeda Raider Pride Award: Ellie Mackenthun Rosella Traver Taylor Hackbarth Middle School Winners: Academic Achievement Award: Xandria Grundmeyer William Kroells Aubrey Broscoff Carina Marttinen Emily Hecksel Reagan McMullin Lions Citizenship Award: Isabelle Dahlke Matthew Storms Owen Rodman Raider Pride Award: Austin Fashing Mylah Alsleben Avery Blom

There is still time to participate in the Winterwear with Care donation drive by Old National Bank in NYA! New or gently used warm clothing items will be collected until Oct. 31.

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. -Candidate Name: Sara Eischens -City of Residence: Hamburg -How long have you lived in the district? 42 years -What is your occupation? Registered Nurse, Licensed School Nurse (District Health Manager - ISD 110) -Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? I am seeking re-election as a school board member for a variety of reasons, perhaps the largest reason of all is a desire to continue serving our community and schools by being a partner with our community and administration with the shared vision of educational excellence, fostering a school culture full of opportunities in and outside of the classroom, and a place where all students belong. I immensely enjoy my time as a current board member and have been extremely proud of the positive growth and direction the district has taken with the improvement in facilities and progressiveness in educational opportunities for students. Being a lifelong resident of the Norwood Young America area, a Central graduate, and parent to two Central students, I have a strong vested interest in continued forward progress. My hope is that Central becomes a destination district that others look to as a beacon of excellence in student achievement and a place that students, staff and the community are proud to call home. GO RAIDERS! -What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? I feel I bring a plethora of experiences, qualities, and knowledge to the school board. Serving as a board member since 2016, I have been a part of a variety of experiences such as hiring a new superintendent, developing a strategic plan, development of district vision cards with measurable outcomes, establishing board goals, referendums, and working as part of a team to plan and implement a large building project for our district. I have an ability and skill set to see the district's long range goals and work collaboratively with the board and administration to accomplish these goals. In addition, I have been a part of a variety of committees as a board member including negotiations, finance and policy. I have completed all four phases of the Minnesota School Board Associations Training and enjoy being a member of this organization. Additionally, in my professional role, I am the District Health Manager at another district and a part of their school administrative team. This work experience in the education setting brings with it a strong foundation in school operations, finance, and knowledge of educational outcomes that I can tap into as a member of the Central school board. -What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? At Central Schools I think the biggest challenge is enrollment and maintaining financial stability. As a district and board we have been working hard to increase our “capture rate”, meaning increasing the percentage of children/families residing in our district that choose to attend Central Public Schools vs. other educational institutions. Much effort is being put into increasing our capture rate. However, with other educational opportunities available for our families, it is important for Central schools to stay innovative, creative, cutting edge and to continually look for ways to enhance educational outcomes and opportunities for students and families. We have amazing students, staff and community members at Central and Central has a ton to offer. It is important that we market our district and continually share all the amazing things about Central schools in and outside of the classroom. Additionally, I value and understand the importance of the board’s role to ensure financial stability, maintain accountability, and to maximize the generous gifts given to the district from our community. Establishing a budget and continually monitoring, assessing and modifying as needed to stay within the parameters set forth by our board and constituents is extremely important.

Secondary School conferences are coming up on Monday, Nov. 4 and Thursday, Nov 7. Watch for more information coming home!

Don't miss Financial Aid 101 this week! This informative session will cover lots of great information about the financial aid process presented by Alyssa Gillette, the Director of Financial Aid at Crown College.

Reminder: Senior pictures are due to by November 1st! There are a few spots left for senior baby pictures. Contact Ms. Street if you have any questions.

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. -Candidate Name: Racheal Holland -City of Residence: Young America -How long have you lived in the district? 18 years -What is your occupation? Attorney, mom and wife -Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? Public service by citizens of varying backgrounds, perspectives and ideologies is important for our democracy at all levels of government. I want to serve my community as a school board member because I want to ensure our children are receiving the best educational and social experiences possible at Central. -What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? Fresh perspective, common sense, and the ability to advocate for the desires of our children, their parents and community members. -What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? The speed of technology and AI, and accountability of students, teachers, parents and administration to one another and the curriculum.

Join us at the Fishbowl at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30 to learn about Financial Aid. Financial Aid 101 will cover lots of great information about the financial aid process presented by Alyssa Gillette, the Director of Financial Aid at Crown College.

We are excited to announce our Seasons of Giving initiative. Central Public Schools is offering families the opportunity to share their needs this holiday season and receive support. We’re providing items such as clothing, outerwear, school supplies, and of course, toys! Your family’s information will remain completely private and confidential. If you are interested in receiving assistance please complete the Google Form or scan the QR code by November 1. https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSday9x96NnPVy7N-La6QaRut0uQbZH2q81OdedRM1Ar0neZHw/viewform?usp=send_form

Save the date for the 41st Annual Central Public School Community Education Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 23. There will be tons of vendors and great fun for the whole family!

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. - Candidate Name: Kyle Strickfaden - City of Residence: Norwood Young America - How long have you lived in the district? 21 years - What is your occupation? Assistant Controller - Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? I've had the privilege of serving on the school board since January 2020. A lot of positive change has happened since that time, and I want to continue to be a part of the momentum of making Central a great school for our community. - What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? Fiscal responsibility and commitment to do what's right for our district. - What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? In Minnesota, the way special education is currently funded needs to be revised. It's putting a lot of stress on the general funds of districts our size.

Attention Raider Football Fans!! Info for Saturday's 2nd round playoff game vs. St. Agnes: - Location: Sea Foam Stadium at Concordia St. Paul - Time: 6:00 PM - (Gates open at 5:15 PM) - Tickets - (MUST BE PURCHASED ONLINE) https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CSBV - NO LIVESTREAM

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. -Candidate Name: Troy Krueger -City of Residence: Norwood Young America -How long have you lived in the district? All my life -What is your occupation? Logistics Manager -Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? I want to help the school grow. Now that we have the new addition we need to figure out how to get enrollment up. I also want to be a voice for the taxpayers of the district. -What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? I have 20 plus years in business operations, I can be a voice for the people of the district. -What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? I believe we need to get back to the basics. I believe we need to instill life lessons. Technology is a great thing. But if we don’t teach the simple things how to survive the day to day, kids will struggle. Not every kid is going to go to college. So we need to prepare kids who want to continue on with education but we also need to prepare the ones who want to enter the workforce.

Playoff Football has arrived!! Who: #3 Central Raiders vs. #6 Maple Lake Irish When: 7 PM Tonight 10/22/24 Where: Central Raiders Stadium Ticket Info: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CSBT (Reminder: NO PASSES WILL BE ALLOWED DUE TO IT BEING A PLAYOFF GAME)

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. -Candidate Name: Jesse Hackbarth -City of Residence: Norwood Young America -How long have you lived in the district? Nine years -What is your occupation? Self Employed General Contractor -Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? To keep the school moving in the right direction and to keep our small town values within our school system. -What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? I'm a hands-on person. I'm not afraid of hard work. -What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? I feel that the government is the biggest threat to our kids' education.

As the holiday season approaches, we’re excited to help make it special for your family! Our Seasons of Thanks initiative is here to provide families who need assistance with a meal kit, ensuring everyone can enjoy a festive dinner together. Each meal kit includes a complete turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, cranberries, and pie—enough to feed a family of four! If you would like to receive a meal kit, please fill out the Google Form by November 1. https://forms.gle/PN8pH7TWjHWDpkF86

Wake up Raider Nation it's GAME DAY!!!! Come on out and support the Raider Volleyball team as they take on the Holy Family Fire tonight at 7:00 PM at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria. Ticket Info: Section 2AA is CASH ONLY at the door! We hope to see you there!

This Thursday, Oct. 24 is Picture Retake Day at Central Elementary School!

Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have four school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day (Monday-Friday) on social media ahead of election day. Posts will be shared in the order that candidates will appear on the Ballot which was a result of a randomized selection process. You can view all candidate responses here: https://www.isd108.org/article/1715982 Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate. - Candidate Name: Spencer Kelly - City of Residence: Norwood Young America - How long have you lived in the district? We have lived in NYA for nine years. My wife Becky (Flusemann) grew up in Norwood and graduated from Central. -What is your occupation? I am currently a Senior Financial Analyst. Previously I held positions as an Engineering Manager, Project Manager and Control Systems Engineer. I have worked at the same Industrial Automation company for 19+ years! -Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board? I believe in the power of a high quality public education for every child in our district. I want to serve this community and have a positive impact on its future. Becky and I have two girls just starting school. It is important to me to be a part of their journey through our public schools. Our oldest will be attending Kindergarten at Central Elementary this fall and our youngest will be starting Central Public Preschool. Being a new parent to the district with kids just getting started will give me a unique perspective on our schools. - What qualities will you bring to the board if elected? Experience in Finance, Empathy and Understanding, Project Management, Problem Solving As a Senior Financial Analyst I work with complex budgets that involve multiple revenue streams and sources of expenditure. I will be able to understand the district budget and sources of funding and make recommendations for its thoughtful use. My experience managing projects and negotiating contracts will allow me to support ongoing and future projects in the school district. The empathy and understanding of people that I gained as an Engineering Manager will allow me to build relationships with parents, teachers, administration and other stakeholders in the district. At heart I am an engineer and problem solver. I can weigh both sides of an issue and make an informed decision based on facts. - What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today? Preparing our kids for the path that fits them best after school. College isn’t the right choice for everyone. We should continue to develop relationships with local manufacturing, the trades, and small businesses to promote the wide range of career possibilities out there. Specific to the Central Public schools we need to deliver a return on our recent referendum and new facilities by increasing enrollment and making Central a destination district.