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The ISD 361 School Board voted Unanimously to appoint Dale Johnson as the newest Director filling a vacancy for the resignation of Emily McGonigle. All board members emphasized the quality of both applicants. The other applicant was Reynold Calder. Below is the letter Dale Submitted to the School Board. "VACANT SCHOOL BOARD POSITION My name is Dale Johnson. I returned to International Falls after completing my career in commercial real estate and construction for several large corporations including Target and Wells Fargo Bank. After graduation I was fortunate enough to be accepted to Harvard thanks to the support I received from teachers, coaches and counselors at Falls High. I graduated from Falls High in1967 and currently have a grandchild attending the high school. This past school year I coached the JV track team and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. My experience as a student was very positive. It has been disappointing for me, personally, to see the school district struggle with shrinking enrollment. My interest in being on the school board is to see if that can be rectified. I understand enrollment is tied to the population and the economy but also that school performance and reputation have a reciprocal affect. Problem solving success by using the ability to think and respond differently, negotiating settlements by being willing to compromise, communicating information verbally and in writing effectively, managing contracts, contractors and support staff and influencing people are all skills I’ve learned in my work experience in “Corporate America." The school board should provide students with a safe, challenging and supportive environment that allows them to explore a wide variety of studies and electives to develop their interests and aspirations. The school board should author a curriculum that provides students with the education to be successful in what ever career path is chosen after high school and is inclusive of the needs of all students. Declining student enrollment is an issue that threatens the future of the school. Funding is a function of enrollment and a decline inhibits the district’s ability to compete for teachers, offer advanced programs and satisfy all students ’needs. The community suffers when the schools are forced to make cuts. New residents look first to quality education opportunities for their children. New employers want to be assured an educated work force is available into the future. Options to consider are: drawing back students who have chosen other schooling options by marketing the school district’s advantages, combining schools within the district through curriculum instruction sharing, exploring ways to make better use of existing education facilities, forming alliances with neighboring school districts (including those in Ontario) to provide a more unique learning experience, partnering with local resources such as Voyagers Conservancy and indigenous organizations. An ideal future would see student enrollment growing, curriculum expanding and the community growing with more opportunities for students to prosper." Source: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1332?meeting=584414 He was chosen over Reynold Calder. The following is Reynold's letter to the board; "Application to fill vacancy on District 361 School Board Introduction: My name is Reynold Calder. I graduated from Falls High in 1967. An important part of my high school experience: I was a member of the 1965 State Hockey Championship Team. In 1967, I was selected as the All-State goalie for the State of Minnesota. Subsequently, I became an inductee to the Bronco Hall of Fame. After high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Viet-Nam. After my military service, I attended Bemidji State and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in secondary education. After teaching for two years, I attended graduate school for two years in Oklahoma. Later attending Luther Seminary. My academic and teaching career did not resume until! later in my work life. In 2010, I obtained a teaching position at Keyano College in Fort McMurray, Alberta. In 2013, I retired and in 2016 moved home to International Falls. I am interested in the position as board member as I have had a life long interest in education. I feel education is the key to a life well lived, despite the difficulties life brings to everyone. The ability to persist and strive each day depends in large part on our educational experience. The skill set I hope to bring to the board are: an ability to listen, an ability to analyze, and an ability to communicate succinctly and effectively. Perhaps, the most debilitating factor of leadership would be a Board that is distant from the students and the community. Therefore, the relationship between the school board, the students, and the community should be constructive and collaborative. A couple issues facing education today are financial concernsJ and school safety. I applaud the work the school board did during the Covid Crisis. However, dealing with the current issues may be equally challenging. Solving these issues necessitates a full-fledged effort to obtain community buy-in and a feeling of participation. The key to that success: communication with the community. The ideal future for our school district would include support from the community, student academic excellenceJ and an activities program that is inclusive. Those ideals are probably not realistic or achievable. They are markers for the direction which we, collectively, can point towards. What this means for students is, equal opportunity for success during their high school experience. I look forward to the opportunity to working with the board in a unifying and enjoyable manner. Sincerely, Reynold K. Calder Contact Information Redacted" Source: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1332?meeting=584414 This video is bookmarked for the beginning of the discussion about the candidates.Video Source: https://youtu.be/R3YDqXSfDKc
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