BRAINERD — Feb. 21-25 is School Board Recognition Week.
In a news release Monday, Feb. 21, Brainerd Public Schools Superintendent Laine Larson recognized the district’s board members.
“I would like to thank all of our dedicated board members for making a difference in the lives of the children while making decisions based on what you believe is best for the school district,” Larson said. “I know from experience that there are many extra hours that each board member puts in to prepare for board meetings and time spent on committees and representing the district in many capacities. Thank you for the incredible, and sometimes hard, work that you do every day.”
Larson noted that the board’s work includes:
- Supporting safe, secure and accessible facilities that enhance 21st century learning;
- Creating a vision for what the community wants the school district to be and for making student achievement the top priority;
- Establishing standards for student expectations and outcomes;
- Ensuring progress is measured to achieve the district’s goals and students learning at expected levels;
- Being accountable for their decisions and actions by continually tracking and reporting results;
- Creating a safe, orderly climate where students can learn and teachers can teach;
- Forming partnerships with others in the community to solve common problems;
- Focusing attention on the need for continuous improvement by questioning, refining and revising issues related to student achievement.
“School board members give the Brainerd citizens a voice in education decision making,” Larson said in the news release. “Even though we make a special effort to show our appreciation in February, their contribution is a year-round commitment.”
Board of Education members serving Brainerd Public Schools are:
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- Ruth Nelson, chair, has served on the school board for 16 years.
- Charles Black Lance, vice-chair, has three children in the school district and is in his third year on the board.
- Jana Shogren, clerk, has two children in the district and is in her second year on the board.
- Kevin Boyles, treasurer, has one child in the district and is in his second year on the board.
- Tom Haglin, is a Brainerd graduate and has served on the school board for 12 years.
- Sarah Speer, has two children in the district and is in her first year on the board.
