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I would like to thank the Chisago County Press for giving our school district representatives the opportunity to write a brief weekly newspaper column that allows our school district residents an opportunity to hear from their Board of Education and district administration. We hope to answer questions about our schools, inform our residents about the programs that their students are involved in, and address issues of importance to our greater school community. I would also like to thank the Press for their great coverage of school events and student achievements.

I have truly enjoyed my first year to date in the school district and wish to thank former Supt. Tom Dickhudt for the help he has afforded in my transition to the superintendent position in the school district. The Board of Education and the entire staff have been very generous with their time and expertise in helping me familiarize myself with the district and in identifying the direction we need to take in the future.

We are in a very exciting and challenging time for public education in Minnesota and we are proud to have a great school district to promote in our area.

It has been said that at any given time a school district may have only one quarter of the families in the district with children actually enrolled in the schools. With the support of the entire community needed to maintain and support our schools, it is important that the entire community have an opportunity to hear of the work that is occurring in the district.

The Board of Education identified the review of our communications processes as one of several district goals in their planning session held last November, and has requested that the administration look for improvements where necessary in communicating with our district residents. With so many positives that are occurring on a daily basis in all of our schools and many programs, that should be a reasonable and satisfying goal to achieve. Please look for regular updates on school events in this column.

It is my hope that I will have an opportunity to meet with many of you over the course of my tenure with the district to find out what you believe should be priorities for the district and for me to share with you the good news about the Chisago Lakes Area Schools. In my travels in the district, I have heard of and seen wonderful arts and academics, athletics and student activity opportunities, professional staff training, parent involvement and volunteerism, and the excellent work of veteran employees and newcomers alike.

There is much to appreciate in our public school system and we hope you don’t mind if we share that good news on a regular basis. If I may ever be of assistance, please feel free to contact me at the District Office at 651-213-2096 or e-mail at [email protected]. Thanks for your continued support of the Chisago Lakes Public Schools.  

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