These are a few of the most important issues our District is facing - and the ones I promise to focus and take action on.

Campaign Focuses

STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY

The District has done a great job designing and implementing safe and secure entrances to our buildings. The safety of our students and staff while inside the building has always been and continues to be a concern. It’s no different in any school district and it’s an issue that realistically has been around for decades. But with the advent of social media, the playing field has changed. We need to continue to research, discuss, agree to and implement processes that insure everyone is safe inside our buildings.

FULLY FUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Board needs to work with legislators to increase Special Education funding. 742 has outstanding Special Education programs and staff. But the reality is that such programs cause the District to use general education dollars to fund Special Education (referred to as the Cross Subsidy). The state is obligated to fund mandatory Special Education programs, yet, it still doesn’t do so.

I’m working on compiling updated information. For now, allow me to direct you to: The current Board Legislative Platform

FULLY FUNDING ENGLISH LEARNERS

Included in the Cross Subsidy is funding for our English Learner programs. Evidence is showing that the Federal government has begun the process of reducing support for EL programs, something that will eventually impact 742 financially. The District will need to monitor this and act accordingly to provide the necessary services.

SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

With some buildings being at/over capacity and recognized areas of population growth, the District has initiated the process of reviewing elementary school boundaries. By all appearances, the process looks to be inclusive and encompassing of a broad group of stakeholders. I will be monitoring the process and while the end result will most likely not please everyone, we need to come to a conclusion that everyone can agree to.

COMMUNICATION, IMAGE AND STUDENT RETENTION

Every spring, the St. Joseph Newsleader recognizes graduating high school seniors that live in a St. Joseph address. I believe that we need to research and discuss why the majority of these names are not recognized as Apollo graduates. In fact, the breakdown for 2025 was as follows: Rocori 39; Apollo 35; Holdingford 15; Sartell 10; Albany 6; St. John’s Prep 5; Sauk Rapids 3; Tech 2 and Cathedral 1.

We need to continue to look at why students who live within District boundaries (and may have initially attended 742 schools) eventually graduate from a different district. We need to make sure that our messaging, to the public as a whole, is that 742 is a destination district.

WHY 742 IS A DESTINATION DISTRICT

I’ve seen the dedication of our teachers, staff and administration to our students. Going above and beyond is really the norm for most of them. With them as the backbone, following is a list (and I may have missed a few things) of the offerings that make 742 a destination:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses (college level courses in high school)

  • Articulated College Credit (earn Technical College credits)

  • Discovery Academy (earn college credit through hands-on courses)

  • Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (take college courses as a junior or senior)

  • Senior to sophomore program (earn college credits through SCSU)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) (teaching workplace skills through applied learning)

  • Business and marketing programs

  • Family and Consumer Science (teaches realistic life skills that apply to the workplace)

  • Health Science Technology Education (preparation for careers in health care)

  • Career and Technical Education (preparation for careers in communications, construction,

  • manufacturing and transportation)

  • Work Experience (senior year classwork and employment)

  • Fine Arts – band, orchestra, choir, performing arts, visual arts

  • Immersion programs in Chinese and Spanish

  • Preschool programming (helping students get a strong start)

  • Special Education (742 is a regional leader)

  • Katherine Johnson Education Center (a place where students with emotional and behavioral

    challenges are supported to work to graduation)