Answers To Candidate From The Minot Education Association (Part 1)

1. Why are you running for the Minot Public School board? 

My purpose for running starts and ends with my children, currently enrolled in sixth grade (Jim Hill) and third grade (Edison).  I want the best possible educational experience for my children as well as all #MinotKids and as a product of MPS and MHS graduate myself, my passion runs deep for our schools.  Minot has reached a critical juncture in our history.  We have an initially proposed budget deficit of over $5 million, we are opening a new high school, we have hired to replace a retiring Superintendent and the board voted to close two elementary schools.  Leadership on difficult decisions is needed in the next two to four  years and I believe I have a very strong preliminary understanding of the role, function and responsibilities of this board.   Setting up our children for the best possible future is what’s most important.  

2. What qualities, background, skills, or experience on other committees/boards do you have that will make you an effective school board member? 

Qualities that I possess include the ability to listen to all sides of an issue and more importantly, to ask the difficult questions many others refuse to acknowledge or understand. I currently serve in the House of Representatives in North Dakota, representing District 5 which is SW Minot, first elected in 2010.  I have been Assistant Majority Leader and am currently the chairman of the Industry, Business and Labor committee.  In my professional life, I have served 1.2 million members as the 2012 National Association of Realtors Vice President.  I’ve served on the Minot State University Alumni Association, Board of Regents and Beaver Boosters.   I have demonstrated a compassion for kids not only in my advocacy efforts such as personally meeting with the Governor regarding Covid restrictions on school sports and a voting record supporting our schools.   Finally, I’ve volunteered to coach youth basketball, t-ball, soccer, softball, volleyball and other activities as well as serving on the Minot Hockey Boosters board of directors when my son played in the system. 

3. What do you think is expected of you as a school board member for Minot Public Schools? 

A school board member should be able to hear and understand all sides of an issue in order to make confident and bold decisions, a board member should have an understanding of the current and future budgets as it relates to property taxation and a board member needs to be accessible, approachable and accountable to everyone in the district, not just a select few based on their position within the system or community.  Finally, a board member needs to recognize his or her role and to allow those entrusted in the system to do their job to the best of their ability.