Meet the candidates running for Proctor school board – Duluth News Tribune

PROCTOR — Proctor school board candidates will face off Nov. 5 when voters head to the polls. Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 20.

Four candidates will compete for three seats on the school board: incumbent Jennifer McDonald, Cindy Lee Olson, Tammy Sundbom and Jim Podgornik.

Podgornik did not respond to questions from the News Tribune.

Age: 47
Occupation: Registered Nurse, Aspirus St Luke’s
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Nursing, 1999, College of St. Scholastica
Public service: Proctor School Board Member, 2013-present. Positions held: Board Chair, Vice-Chair/Treasurer, Guest Speaker at the 2023 COSSBA National Convention (National School Board Conference). Project Coordinator for Proctor’s Playground for EveryBODY, a playground for children of all abilities, including those with physical disabilities. This project was funded and raised with support from the City of Proctor and was completed in 2022.

If elected, what cause or initiative would you champion and how would you pursue it?

It is important to know that school board members do not have individual authority; an effective board acts as a whole. Good board members develop their skills over time through experience and training. Board members who choose to run based on a single issue or personal interest risk creating conflict within the board. This can distract from the overall desire to improve outcomes in the best interest of all students.

We made an oath to the children. We promised them that their education was the most important thing we could do to make them successful young people.

I just want to make things better.

What is the greatest strength of Proctor Public Schools and how would you strengthen it?

Our school district offers incredible opportunities for our students. At our secondary site, we offer great academic opportunities like construction trades as well as many courses partner with local universities to provide college credit while in high school. Through our pathways program, our students don’t just plan to graduate high school, they graduate high school with a plan.

What is the greatest weakness of Proctor Public Schools and how would you address it?

Like many school districts in the area, we continue to be challenged to provide a variety of opportunities for our students while managing expenses that are struggling to keep up with inflation. Many required initiatives have not been fully funded, resulting in an even tighter budget in the end.

Age: 52
Occupation: Director of Development
Education: University of St. Thomas, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Business
Public service:

• Rotary Club of Duluth 25 — Serve as Chair of the Program Committee.
• Twig Amateur Hockey Association — Served as fundraising director and board member.
• City of Duluth — Served on the Public Golf Committee.
• Proctor Youth Softball Association — Coach and Board Member.
• Visit Duluth — Board Seat.
• Junior Achievement of Duluth-Superior — Served as board member and vice president of public outreach.
• Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra — Served on the Audience Development Committee.

If elected, what cause or initiative would you champion and how would you pursue it?

If elected to the Proctor School Board, my primary goal would be to be an active listener to the needs of parents, students and teachers and to support the policies established by the school district.

I have over 12 years of experience working with boards to impact youth in our region.

I would champion the cause of improving mental health resources and support systems in our schools. Schools are already doing tremendous work, and given my experience developing and launching a mental health program for the Boys & Girls Club, I would look for ways to support these efforts.

I understand the critical importance of mental health in students’ overall well-being and academic success.

What is the greatest strength of Proctor Public Schools and how would you strengthen it?

The sign at the entrance to Proctor says it best: “You belong at Proctor.” Three generations of my family have attended Proctor schools.

Proctor Public Schools’ greatest strength lies in its close-knit community and its commitment to providing a supportive, personalized educational experience for each student.

This strength fosters a sense of belonging, enabling strong relationships between students, teachers, and families, which is essential for academic and personal growth.

By focusing on these areas, I would build on the district’s greatest strength, ensuring that Proctor Public Schools continues to be a place where students thrive in a nurturing, connected and supportive environment.

What is the greatest weakness of Proctor Public Schools and how would you address it?

The greatest weakness of Proctor Public Schools, like many schools and youth-serving organizations, is continuing to adapt to the post-pandemic learning environment.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, less than 50% of public school students are proficient in reading and only 46% are proficient in math.

The pandemic has amplified mental health and learning loss challenges for all young people, making it more difficult to maintain academic standards and support student well-being.

Solving this problem is a long-term, collaborative process that includes:

• Supporting our teachers and instructional team with the responsive and timely resources they need to succeed.
• Expand existing mental health services, offering more wellness programs to help students cope with post-pandemic stress and anxiety.
• Increase accessibility to targeted tutoring programs to address learning loss.
• Strengthen community outreach and partnerships with local organizations to provide additional resources and support.

Age: 63
Occupation: Executive Director, Arrowhead Regional IT Consortium
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, College of St. Scholastica, graduated April 2004. (I started later in life!)
Public service: I am in my seventh and final year of service on the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials Board of Directors. I served as a director for three years and then chose to continue on the executive committee path, serving as vice president, president-elect, president, and this year, past president.

If elected, what cause or initiative would you champion and how would you pursue it?

I have supported public school districts in Northeast Minnesota for 26 years in my role at ARCC. I am passionate about public education and the vital role it plays in our society. If elected, my priority will be to listen and do my best to support student success in an environment where all are welcome. I understand the funding limitations placed on districts as well as mandated requirements, and I will use this knowledge to make fiscally responsible decisions in a way that allows staff and students to feel supported.

What is the greatest strength of Proctor Public Schools and how would you strengthen it?

Proctor has a thriving career and technical program that continues to provide students with additional career paths. We see students going to state not only in athletics but also academics, including participating in the Knowledge Bowl, Math League, and the Pro Start Culinary Arts Competition. They are doing things with solar energy at Bay View and Pike Lake elementary schools that are already having an impact on CO2 emissions. I will continue to support the positive momentum that the staff and students are achieving.

What is the greatest weakness of Proctor Public Schools and how would you address it?

Proctor’s graduation rate of 94.6% is higher than the state average (88.2%), but I would like to see it get closer to 100%. I would like to see consistent attendance improve, as it is proven to have a positive impact on student achievement. These are things I cannot “fix” as an individual board member, but I provide the staff and administration with the support they need to do their jobs!

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