school board was that um just seeing the the trend with the education as far as testing and different things like that. Um I wanted to see if I could get involved and figure out ways to to increase that and to just give the students tools that
they needed to become productive members of society. Um, and also I I really like the the small town feel and just so far what um more our schools have to offer and I want to be able to bring my input in there too.
Hi Matt Harris. Um why ran for school board? I'm an alumni. Um graduated here. My mom was a teacher here for can't remember how long but it was probably 31 years I believe. Um I have three kids. I've had I have two kids in the district. One has graduated over here.
So, I'm pretty involved with that and just really want what's best for more public schools. So, hi, I'm Kim Hodson. Um, I have three kiddos that are all members of the school and two of them have graduated, one is still in the school. I decided to
run basically to see more transparency uh for our community and understanding the financial decisions and why and how uh the decisions are made. Um understanding that there's many options um that are also available as far as electives for our students. Um, I think
that's very valued, but I'd like to see more of like the trade paths for them, especially for um, you know, having them uh, stay in Mora to be able to work in Mora with more of this trades path. I think that's important. I think we have a beautiful new building. I'd like to
see us utilize it more. Um, I also think that we need to be uh, more proactive as far as with our teachers. I'd like to do maybe a teacher survey. I want to know where they're coming from. I want to know maybe ight is what they feel on things. Um develop positive uh
relationships and you know I think also make sure that our students are having uh reading specialists that are being provided. Um the reason why I would like to um be a part of this is that um want to have fun here in fifth grade and there's a
lot of things that are going on that I'd like to find out more about and the only way to do that is to be involved and this is the first thing that's jumped up to um actually be part of the school. Um I love being part of the school. I love going school. Coming here I instantly
happy. I I like it. my son doesn't, but I'd like to find out why. Um I think um boys are being really downgraded in the school. I don't think they have a lot of opportunities, especially once they start getting older. I would really like
to start um advancing in that area. Um as far as um the school being um just advancing in all, it's um I think we need to even though we're a small town, I still think we have a lot of to move and to advance and I think
our kids would be able to advance from that. Hello, I'm Brett Parson. The reason I'm running is I have one one daughter that goes to the school here. Um, also I'd like to see some changes. Some of the other candidates have mentioned some of
the things that they'd like to see. I'd like to see some of the same things. you know, the the industrial tech stuff come back. I'd like to see more of that. I'd like to see some of some more of the home. I'd like to see, you know, some of the everyday life skills being taught in
school. Um, and most of all, why I'm running is you can't make an impact without having some skill in the game. So, that's why Question two is, what do you think is the relationship between curricular and extracurricular activities and do
you have any goals for future extracurricular programming at more schools? Um, I mean there is a strong relationship between the two extracurricular and curricular but obviously we're we're here to teach first curricular comes first. Education is first. That's what we're here for.
Um, But I also do believe extracurricular is very important as well. Teaches a lot of other life skills that they're not going to get anywhere else. Teaches them to be, you know, like work as a team. Like a coach is going to be eventually going to transition to a boss. That kind of stuff. Hard work. You get into it what you put up. So, as for
future things, I don't really know. Like we do offer a lot of things. Um maybe potentially some sort of clubs, but again, students kind of dictate that stuff and staff as well. So, it's kind of tough for me as a school board member to say what should be added when I think it's it should be students staff driven
on that. So, um I believe that the correlation between the two is really the ability to shape each student especially through the academics. Um we know that is a priority but exploring their personal interests is also something that's going to help them um
devel start applying all of these things that they've learned. Um, it's basically a sense of accomplishment. It's teaching accountability. Um, and I think some ideas for goals are like looking at bringing in some other sports. I know soccer has been something. Um, boys
volleyball. What about even cheerleading? Bringing something like that back. Um, I think there's a lot of people that would be interested possibly in that. So, exploring some different extracurricular things. I think what we offer here is great. I think it's fantastic. Um, but we can expand that
along with maybe some other club ideas and things like that. So, I just want to, you know, maybe include some of those different things. Um, as far as, um, also maybe some more, uh, things for our coaching staff and community involved. After school activities are um
very important for kids development. Um our kid has been in almost all the sports that can possibly be put through MORA. Um they have done done very well. Um the coaches that they have here are phenomenal. Um most have
been brought up through the school system. This is their home. They they want to be able to see their their town succeed in these sports and the extra One thing that I would like to see is which is slowly coming up the state is
some more um activities where it's more long prolong. We have the facility to be able to have uh students here throughout the summer. I think we should utilize that and um have more of a summer program like a lot of them are doing where it's
like a full day of different activities for kids to go through. be very um beneficial for kids to be able to go through and learn about all these words. They don't have to specialize in them, but that they learn them. So, like Matt said, I believe that
education is number one. Um we're here to learn first and foremost. Secondly, uh after that full day of school, it's nice to go out and burn off some of the the energy that you had built up throughout the day. So, I believe that extracurricular activities are very important
um for many reasons. Um it's about turning our children into functioning adults. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about. We want them to be better than us. So if we can accomplish that I believe that um sports and extracurricular
activular activities and education I they're um they're they both play an integral part in each other. Um I believe they're both necessary. I think there needs to be a balance. Um but first and foremost um education needs to be the main thing. Um giving them giving
the students um the tools and the the things that they need to be productive members of society. Um when you have an equal balance of both um they have a greater success rate outside of um the school graduating um because it builds up leadership skills and being able to
be a team player. Um, and also just the the actual knowledge of different things that they're being taught can help them a lot um in the workplace. Question number three, what leadership positions and or experiences
have you had? So, uh, I'm a nursing instructor. I teach registered, uh, I'm part of a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse program. Um, so, uh, I had a lot of leadership roles in developing that as a teacher and an educator. I'm a
member of a college nursing advisory, uh, board and committee. Um, I was once a cheerleading coach. Go figure. I said, let's have cheerleading. Uh, just kidding. Uh, I worked in management. Um, I've also, you know, a lot of nursing leadership roles, especially working in
hospital and whatnot as charters and different committees there. Um, I was also a member of my high school student council. Um, and many others. Um, for me, I've not had very much experience in this type
of organization really. Um, the closest thing I had was um my son's in hockey, so um I'd be of managers and for that role that was very much different. Um there's a lot of um organization and um
structure since a lot of new rules had come in. We had to implement all them rules. So that was a that was a little bit of a tough thing to do. Um but I thought it was quite fun and I really enjoyed being involved and um being part of the group.
Uh I was born a leader. Uh from the time I was born I I was a leader in hockey. I was a leader of the soldiers underneath me in the army. I was a leader
at Morat Area Youth Recreation Association. on the board there. I was in charge of interpreters in Iraq, been in charge of many things over my life. I believe that I have
leadership and the ability to be as far as my leadership skills in this setting. Um I um not any experience with that. Um but as far as leadership goes um I um led as like a team lead in
like the manufacturing area. I for like 25 years I was a in leadership position there. Um currently I am um a mentor slash leader um in an organization called Minnesota Adult Challenge where I
mentor women as they go through this chemical dependency program basically to become productive members of society and you know letting them know that hey they don't have to resort to all of that to to function basically. Um and that I've been doing that for about seven years
which is I just I just love it. So but as far as That's not one of the leadership skills I have. So, um yeah, I've been uh served four years on the school board. Um now I'm serving as an interim. I'm also led um been kind
of leading two committees. I work um kind of internal committees. Uh kind of rotate chairs, but I've been three of them now. So, it's always fun. And then coach all my daughters in sports, all three daughters from the time they were young until
They didn't coach anyone. So, uh there's a lot of that, too. Question number four is, how have you been involved in more public schools in recent years? In recent years, um my kid's only five, so I've been to um
field trips, things like that, but nothing substantial is surprising. That's the first thing that I get into. A lot of things weren't that I know that are being offered for volunteer or to participate in the school. So, I'm just starting to get
into it and starting to figure out what's there. So, this was our my first step. I've been to a few board meetings over the years. I've been to parent teacher conferences. Uh I've really not been
involved in uh school meetings and stuff like that. This is my uh initial entry into this. um past about the past year, my husband and I, we come here about about a year ago because we wanted to be more
involved with um our nieces and nephews as far as watching them play sports and stuff. So, that's um uh been where we've been been more involved with that and going to their plays and different things. Um
I but yeah um I so that's been what we've been doing. Oh I also been going to for the past probably about a year almost a year been trying to be pretty regular is going to the schoolboard meetings to get informed as to what's going on um and staying involved that
way. um been very active in my children's lives. Um especially in their education from doing their homework to attending conferences, attending their sporting events. I try to attend everything that I can like just something I pride myself
in. Um and then obviously as you guys as well I do take a lot of pride in um I've attended a lot of the activities um here with uh the students and of course supporting my children and their
friends as well um in all the activities that are here. So um being here being present um being supportive um I've helped when my kids were younger um you know school and whatever they needed as
far as extra things. Um it's my time to dive into our community. Um my kids are grown. Um I've got one left and now I have the time to put into spending uh more work into our community. Look what our community does for us. It's time for
you to do something for our community. This is a great way I feel to get going with that. Question five, what if any changes do you feel are necessary for public education in Laura? And what would you do to help make these changes if elected
to be on the school board? As far as changes, um I've covered some of the things that I'd like to see changed as far as like the more hands-on uh electives specifically. Uh I think that's a huge a huge leg up for some of the folks
that are going to be the blue collar workers, carpenters, electricians, metal workers, iron workers, welders, all that stuff. Uh how would I help implement that? I'm not sure how I could do it right now. I'm not sure if the budget allows us to
implement But in the future that was something that that'd be something I'd be definitely interested in. I believe what needs to some of the changes that need to be made as far as um school goes is is the test scores,
the standardized test scores of their of our of our students. Um, I believe that um they're not where they should be. Um, I believe that we can do more as a school um as a um community to increase
those scores and finding out ways to to do that. And so that way our students have um the tools necessary to become productive members of society after they graduate because as of right as of right now the the sports aren't the best. Um,
but there's so much potential. There's different things that we could do to to give them that leg up. Um, and I'd like to be able to research as to what we can do differently to increase those scores. Um, and to to make to make things change
for the better. Um, I I we've done a lot since the new school to add career technical education into the school whether it be hands-on learning with vocational things or it could be our FFA program that we have that's very good. We also have our
nursing programs as well. So, I'd like to continue to look into ways to have things with that. I know it it costs money to do that, but I think it's very important to our community and just society in general. We're here to make um also um I think we've done a really
good job with um what we need to continue to do is continue to support staff. I think they're our biggest asset here. They need to continue to feel wanted, needed, and feel like their input is needed.
Um, I'd like to give a a a really good round of applause, I think, for our teachers. Um, our MCA scores increased significantly over the past few years. Um, this was shown in the data uh that was supplied to us last week in the
April board meeting. If you did not see it, I would encourage you to watch it. Um, when I was a licensed school nurse, I felt the need for more support in our special education services, uh, support for our paras and providing more for mental health. Uh, I've been on both sides as an educator and as a nurse.
I've seen the struggles that students are facing. We're talking stress, anxiety, trauma, bullying. Um there's all these different things that are happening and we're really seeing this increase in mental health issues. I feel we can do more. Um you know, we've had
some uh it's very sensitive. We've had a lot of more students that have really struggled. They've committed suicide. This is an issue. We need to talk about it. It's something we need to bring forth in our education for our students. Um so I really want to say that student advocacy is important. Um yeah.
I think we need more support for teachers and the I think we need to find a way to find information of what's going on in the classrooms as far as the teachers, what they need and what the students
need because talk about the scores and things like that. The teachers need to relay the information to the students but the students aren't getting it. We need to figure out why. And some of that that will take time. I'm not sure how that would have to be. Surveys, just
going around talking to teachers, talking to the kids, figuring out how they learn because that's the biggest part is these children need to learn. Things are advancing. We're bringing in more electronics, things like that. Is that going to help or do we need to go back to paper? Some kids
learn a lot differently. I know I did when I was a kid. teachers didn't understand how I learned. Now, as an adult, I can speak for that. I can learn this way. But back then, I couldn't. I had no words to say. I think we need to
figure out how. Question number six is, what role do you believe the community should play in influencing schoolboard decisions and how would you engage with parents and community members? I believe the community plays an
intricral part in um the school board decisions and stuff like that because first and foremost it's the um residents our tax dollars that are paying for the schools and stuff like that. Um so
ultimately um we work for the residents. Um, and I believe that we need to get the community's input as to um what they would like to see changed or what um what what seems to be working. Um and
that's by also asking students when they're at home, what do you feel is working? What do you need? And so I believe there's a saying that says it takes a village to raise a pen, which is so true in this day day and age, you know, that all three the community, the
schools and the school board, they all work together to um I feel the day of part. Um as an elected official, it's very important to community. Um I wish more community members would actually come to me as a schoolboard
member. um love to hear their opinions on things. One thing I have an example of how the community did change my opinion on something co-op transportation. I I didn't really have a strong opinion either which way which way to go with it and heard from a lot of community members and actually
changed my opinion on it and really kind of push to uh to approve that or get that approved so that our athletes didn't have to correct transitation to so I believe that the community needs to play a huge role um and we do have
school board meetings something that I found really interesting in doing a little research is I found that uh in January we only had 63 views um on the the view that on our YouTube in February we had 81. In March we had 22 and in April we had no views at all as of yet.
Um but we need to find a way to get our information out there to the community so that we can get community input. And so we need to do it by different ways other than obviously streaming uh the board meetings. We need to find other ways to do it. Right now, social media seems to be a big platform um for
people. It's easy to get information out whether we do the Navy County Times or other things like that, but we need to get information out so we can receive information back from the community. So, making ourselves available is going to be very important um and creating that open environment for our community to
feel uh comfortable in coming to um I think the school board as well and voicing some concerns or information The community does need to stay in what happens here because we are the ones who are raising their children. Our children are here for eight hours a day. We get
them for two, three hours at night. They'll depend. We have parents work. They have a lot of issues going on family wise, sports wise, all that. And I think we need to do a little bit better as far as getting this information out because I know a lot of
it I couldn't find. So, unless there's a certain area where this stuff is that parents know it's there, it might be a little bit easier. Um, like I said, social media stuff. Not sure what we can put out on there, but we'll that's
that's something that I would definitely have to learn on um once if this goes forward. And I I think there should be more of a way of communicating from the public to the school of what they want.
There is no clear line. There is no one that you I mean you go and talk to somebody but you don't see anything happen or what needs to be done. I believe the community plays a huge factor in uh influencing the school
board. I think that uh we should have community forums and listening sessions um so that the the community can provide the ideas or things that that they think our students would benefit from. I think
uh maybe opening up another avenue as in like an email line, email address where you can send your suggestions or comments or stuff like that to get the community involved. But at the end of the
day, we serve you as as future board members. We we will serve you. We want we want to make sure that your voice is heard and responded to. Question seven. If elected to the board, how would you involve students in future
decision making? Um, most of my decisions on the school board are made with student achievement number one. I mean, that's what we're here for. Um, we do here We do get a a student council report. I kind of wish we did more of that stuff. Like doesn't
have to be like it could be an informal thing like get representative from each grade to kind of hear what's going on, what they wish they could do, that kind of stuff. I think that's probably something for the future that needs to happen. But um I think if we could start working on some board student involvement at the board level, that'd be great.
So I um I think it'd be kind of neat to actually have a presence and attend maybe um like a student council meeting. Um I think that would be kind of something neat to get on their level. Um have more of that personal relationship as far as being a board member and part
of the uh school board. Um so I think that could also be uh a chance for students to start sharing things um their likes, their dislikes, what they want to see um you know maybe some concerns that they're also having. I think being proactive, having a presence
is important. Um open to students and sharing their concerns, asking questions. Um, I think listening is important and I think we need to be the students voice. Um, I think we need to advocate for our students as well as for our teachers. Um, I think that all plays
something together. I think we also need to be um, as student population, they're also a part of this community and so as that they need to have that voice in being a full community as well. I think having the students involved
would be a great suggestion. Um I do how how that would happen if like I said that maybe one student per grade or who would want to actually be attending to actually offer this to students would be a great thing. They need to be involved know that they can that they have a
voice in their education and this facility. This is part home for them and I think they should have a say in what goes on and if they have an issue, they should be able to be a be able to bring it up. I think the students should be involved.
Obviously, I I want to hear their opinion on what works and what doesn't uh and what kind of doesn't if that makes sense. I think that um you know somebody had mentioned going
to sitting in with the student council meetings. I think that's a very good idea. I also think that um having board members at every student council meeting would be beneficial so that they can see that we care about
them. I don't want to like go off everyone else's or comments here, but they're all all really good. I believe that they all um play a part in it. Um I believe that um one way we could another way we could help this or have the students be involved is maybe through a
questionnaire or as to what the students see or what they would like and but ultimately I think um having a physical in the school system um and having an open door policy where the students and teachers can come to us with um comment
suggestions or whatever and us being open to you know um what they have to say and stuff. I think that'll play big. Question number eight is how will you ensure that Our schools continue to
innovate and adapt to changes in education and society. First, I want to explore. I want to see what else is out there. I want to see what we aren't doing and what we could or should be doing. Whether that means going out to other districts and seeing what they're doing
with innovation, um what different avenues we can do, we can We know that this is a technology world and we need to stay on top of that especially for you know our students going into career fields um if they're depending on whatever they want to do. So I think
that's very important is having uh you know that foundation as far as seeing what else is out there and what we can do to improve what we have. I think we offer a lot of extracurricular activities. I think we offer a lot of um extra classes that you can take as
electives. I've heard that other schools I think it's great that we have so many, but I want to see what we can do to bring a little bit more, maybe deepen it a little bit more as well. Um, so I think it's important, you know, for us to be able to bring those things. Um, we
want the students to be served well. The school does need um to be more open to what's coming in the next generation. We have to be honored to be able to compete, have our children be able to graduate from here and actually
be go out into the to the world and and do something and participate and be be do something, be somebody. Um, they should be able to have their wants and dreams and be able to achieve them. And this is where they need to start. And the only way we're going to be able to
do that is if we keep moving with the times. And we need to have our teachers involved in that. 100% because if they're not be involved if they don't they don't want to advance they're going to be the kink in the chamber. It's going to be a little
bit a issue. So we need to definitely have an all board all around agreement of advancing and then I think we need then we need to figure out what direction that we should be going as the world uh advances
technology every day. Um we should also see that in our schools. Um, we can do better. We can provide more things. We we we're going to have to adapt to to the changes that are coming in the
future. Every day is not going to be sunshine and rainbows. There are going to be hard days and there will be things that you know we will have to cut to innovate and adapt to the future. So some of them things are going to have to
be on the forefront of our mind. You know with innovation comes cutting something. So we have to be mindful of that also. to um to ensure the success of war school.
I think as far as being innovative um need to look at what are other school districts doing that has has been successful. What can we do to kind of glean from them to to bring into our school system to to make things better?
Um doing research as far as um in society, what's what's trending, what works, what doesn't work. Um and we're just learning to um bring those changes in um and
advancing what needs to be done. I think everybody's had great answers and took a lot of what I was going to say. But uh I think one other thing that we can do and that has been done here is historically we've listened to staff and students to hear what they want to do. Um staff has come to more their
administration with ideas and they haven't implemented. Recent example would be transitional kindergarten for kids who might be a little too young or might be not emotionally ready for kindergarten. they can go a couple days a week and still get the same education and get them ready to go to kindergarten. So that was that was
brought to um the administration by his staff and as a group. So um that's just one way to go about it. Question nine. What do you think the role and responsibilities are of the school board in creating a safe space
for all students and staff regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, ability, or sexual orientation. The school does have a a b of students um we're going to be going into the the new age of students coming
through the doors. And I think that the school has done a fairly good job of supporting some of the students um from what I've heard. And I think um as we advance, we're going to have to maybe have a few more staff as far as um
helping some of these students. But they're being integrated very well. And from what I hear, it's been going very pretty good. It's I guess it's kind of a it's a it's a different issue because there's um so
many it's so vast. There's so many different issu you know kids coming in nowadays and um but I think the school is advancing and it's doing pretty well with it. I think the world is a rapidly changing place and so it it is definitely the
school board's responsibility to create a safe space for our students to learn. Um not just our students but our teachers and our staff as well. Um the school has made many upgrades as you as you guys all know we
have blocked entrances which I I believe is a very positive thing. Only people that have business here should be here. I I believe that that enforces that. Um also The school
wants to be a safe place for everybody. All inclusive. Doesn't matter your race, that's race, ethnic, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. We
include everyone. I believe the role and responsibility of the school board is to just is to create a safe place and a comfortable place for students and teachers and everyone alike to learn and to be able to be
comfortable in um excelling and just having an education. um and this the things that the school has implemented again like the the lock doors and stuff that has helped quite a bit. Um and I believe that
um just providing just a safe environment um allows kids to um feel the freedom and expressing who they are and and allows them to to um to
learn better. Basically um role and responsibility of the school board is to set and make policy to ensure that staff and students are safe. No matter all the list of things, we're all we're all we're all people. Everyone wants to feel safe. Everyone learns better. They work better when they feel
safe. That's our job. Um to set those policies and make sure that staff administration knows. So I think everyone in the building, all staff, all students, um they need to be valued. They need to be appreciated. They need to uh be
empowered and feel empowered. Um especially because they've got the right to be their own person. So um as a school board, yeah, we have the responsibility of, you know, setting these policies and making sure that our students are safe. Um we want them to
not only be safe, but feel safe. I think that's a big thing, too. They don't feel when we have some anxiety that comes in along with these other mental health things too that can lead to uh this kind of you know falling um you know building
shall we say but um we want to also make sure we think about those that are disabled and the accommodations that they need. We want to make sure that we're also taking care of them um and making sure that they're being supported. The Last question is, what
are your personal strengths and what would make you a good candidate for the school board and why should we vote for you? Like I said, I was born a leader. U my entire uh adult life I've led
u soldiers I've led civilians I've done many things for this country to ensure that we can be here in this place safe and free why why would I make
a good candidate and why should you vote for This is a way I can continue to serve my country and my community. Most of you don't know that I was in the military. I served I am service connected 100% disabled medically retired.
Um this would be my way to give back to you. Um and uh in closing I'd like to provide leadership. This is an acronym. Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage. Um, I believe I have strong leadership
skills. Um, I am able to I'm a critical thinker. I like to be able to think outside the box. I'm personable. Um, um, I pretty much have an open door policy. People can come to me for, you know, whatever advice or
whatever. Um I believe that I could give um thinking outside the box and just giving a new perspective um new set of eyes as to um what I can see um things
that can be changed. Um I prefer to listen and do my educated and do my research before I make a decision. I'd much rather do that. I'd rather listen, learn before I speak. I just feel I can I can give a better answer or suggestion or problem solve
either that way. Um it's just how I prefer to do things. It's great for everybody else. Um but also I also best student staff in the community here. Um this is a tough position. School board is not easy. Um people get really passionate when children are involved
associated with it. So it's tough and I just I just think I I want what's best for them. I think some of my personal strengths is I'm a nurse. I'm an educator. I use my voice. I'm a good communicator. I listen. Um I'm caring. I'm personable. I
have integrity. I'm friendly, ethical. Um I'm also a positive person. Um, I think as far as making, uh, you know, what makes me a good candidate is advocating for our students, our faculty, all of our
staff that are included in these buildings. Um, wanting change, you know, keeping those that are to be accountable. We need to, that's part of our job is we're making sure the superintendent is doing what he's supposed to be doing. That's all part of this as well. So, I think that's, uh,
another thing that, you know, is very strong there. Um, I want transparency. I want to keep our students in school. I think PSO is a great thing. I think it's very important, but we need to have things. I see a lot of students are out. They're as soon as they can, they are
not attending school here. They're going other places. So, let's keep them here. My personal strengths are uh I'm open-minded. Uh, I'm willing to um be involved and I I want to be involved. I
want to be a part of this community and be advanced in in what's going on here because there's there's a lot of things that we don't know and there's I would really like to figure out what how we
can advance our children in since we are small community we are kind of left to to the side and I would like that not to happen. We we are a part of we live here and I want to be able to be a part of what my child is brought up
to be. That concludes tonight's forum. We want to thank everyone for joining us tonight and we'd like to thank all of our candidates. Have a good evening. Thank you for
[Applause]