The Sauk Rapids-Rice School Board consists of seven members who serve four-year terms. Elections are held in conjunction with the November general election in even-numbered years. Four school board positions are open this election cycle.
Incumbents Ryan L. Butkowski, Samantha Dwyer, Mark Hauck and Tracy Morse are being challenged by NiCole Broman. Morse did not return a questionnaire.
Responses to biographical information, like name, age and occupation, were limited to 50 characters each. Responses to the open-ended candidate questions were limited to 100 words each. Any responses beyond the maximum length were cut off at the limit with ellipses.
Do you support the proposed athletics complex at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School and new facility for early childhood programming? A modern athletics complex will provide the essential resources for our athletes to compete more effectively and enhance their skills against higher-ranked schools. In addition, with 27 different sports offered, Sauk Rapids-Rice truly has something for everyone. A new complex will expand opportunities for even more students to participate and excel in athletics. Having had two children participate in three sports annually, I recognize the value of team sports. A state-of-the-art sports facility will foster a greater sense of pride among students, inspiring them to strive for their best both on and off the field. Constructing a new early childhood …
What measures do you think can be taken to improve attendance in schools? To enhance school attendance, we can implement several impactful strategies. First, engaging families in discussions about transportation options and childcare for young children before and after school can significantly alleviate logistical barriers. Additionally, establishing an accountability system for attendance and school involvement can encourage greater participation from students and families alike. At the high school level, offering greater flexibility in daily schedules — especially in college-level courses — can make these classes more appealing. Many students are opting for post-secondary enrollment options, primarily for financial benefits and the flexibility of college schedules. By adapting high school offerings to match this flexibility, we …
Do you believe standardized testing is important in schools? Absolutely. Standardized testing serves as a valuable tool for schools and districts to gauge student learning and academic progress. By measuring comprehension, understanding and retention of the material, these tests provide insight into how effectively the curriculum is being delivered. They also serve as a benchmark for identifying areas where improvements are needed, enabling educators to refine their teaching strategies. Moreover, standardized tests help keep schools focused on educational goals and standards. By ensuring that all students are meeting key learning objectives, these assessments promote accountability and encourage a consistent approach to instruction. This alignment not only benefits students by …
Do you support the proposed athletics complex at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School and new facility for early childhood programming? As a current board member, I support asking the community to vote on the projects. It is essential for the community to play a part in direct democracy and to let their voice be heard; furthermore, with the community survey results, community work groups and the community informational meetings, the community leans toward a majority of support for these projects when the tax increase is minimal over the current rate. As a member of the community, yes, both projects. The current facilities do not meet the community’s needs from multiple perspectives, including ADA, safety, capacity and parking.
What measures do you think can be taken to improve attendance in schools? When a student connects with a staff member, the student’s success increases dramatically. We have changed schedules and implemented Portrait of a Graduate at ISD 47 system-wide to foster these relationships organically throughout our students’ days. Engagement is another angle to solve attendance. When students are engaged, they show up. Our substantial academic offerings, in addition to activities, start with community education and are school-sponsored in our 6-12 system. When school is more than academics, and they can pursue passions outside of the classroom, this drives engagement. A new process to drive parent/guardian engagement is a redesign of conferences.
Do you believe standardized testing is important in schools? Yes, testing provides a uniform measure to assess students’ knowledge and skills, ensuring comparability and fairness in evaluations. It allows educators to identify individual students and educational systems’ strengths and weaknesses, offering data to inform teaching strategies and policy decisions at the board table. As a district, we have moved to standards-based grading in elementary, enabling staff to course-correct. Additionally, standardized tests can predict academic readiness, helping to guide college, military and career planning. There are limitations, yet these tests offer an objective, consistent way to assess performance and can promote accountability by holding schools and students to standard.
Do you support the proposed athletics complex at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School and new facility for early childhood programming? Yes. I support providing the space needed for students and families to participate in the high-quality learning at Sauk Rapids-Rice schools. From what I see, these facilities are too small for the demand, need a lot of updates and it is not cost effective to remodel existing facilities. Some residents of the SRR School District are being turned away due to lack of space in the Early Childhood Family Education. Students in athletics are limited by the facilities, especially when the weather makes our fields unusable due to lack of drainage. The community decides. While I support these facilities, the …
What measures do you think can be taken to improve attendance in schools? I believe that focusing on two things can improve attendance in schools: Communicate to parents and guardians about the importance of school attendance. The best opportunity students will have to learn is when they show up. Improve the student experience. Students who come to school and feel safe, seen, heard and engaged. The good news is that steps are now being taken in some buildings to re-tool how we use our student devices to improve student interest and engagement. Students will want to come to school if they have a good reason. Why is attendance important? Students learn so much …
Do you believe standardized testing is important in schools? I believe that we need to gather data in order for us to improve student achievement. Do I believe that standardized testing is the only or best tool? No. However, standardized testing can give important, long-term information to show trends — and it’s tied to school funding. Our SRR student achievement data from standardized testing has provided us some important perspective on how our students are performing. The message is: We need to do better, so our students can do better. Our student scores in many content areas are trending downward over the years. We have recognized that simply doing …
Do you support the proposed athletics complex at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School and new facility for early childhood programming? Yes, I support both the proposed athletics complex and the new facility for early childhood programming. The community’s priorities were clearly expressed in the survey conducted earlier this year, and it’s important to act on their input. The current early childhood building is nearly 100 years old, and a new facility would offer better opportunities for young learners. Additionally, the new athletics complex will provide designated spaces for competitive play, eliminating the need for students to commute for practices and competitions. Both projects will greatly enhance student experiences and opportunities.
What measures do you think can be taken to improve attendance in schools? Improving school attendance starts with addressing the underlying challenges families and students face. Establishing open communication and trust with parents, especially those dealing with difficulties, is crucial. Building administrators should identify students who are chronically tardy or absent and reach out with empathy and a resolution-based approach. By working closely with families and offering support during challenging times, schools can create a partnership that encourages better attendance and fosters a more supportive learning environment.
Do you believe standardized testing is important in schools? Yes, I believe standardized testing is important, as it provides a consistent way to measure student knowledge and helps educators assess their effectiveness in teaching to standards. It also offers valuable information for parents, district leaders and teachers. However, I recognize that standardized testing may not be for everyone, and I respect each family’s decision on whether to participate. While it’s essential to have a consistent method of assessment statewide, individual choices should be honored.
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