Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

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Voter Guide

ISD #831 School Board Member at Large {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-boardA candidate forum for this race is available at https://youtu.be/BTLgHcqJyNc?si=_ksz8qAldSyACBa4. More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2024-candidate-forums.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

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    Tessa Antonsen
    (NP)

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    Julie Corcoran
    (NP)

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    Mark Kasel
    (NP)

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    Laura Ndirangu
    (NP)

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    Rob Rapheal
    (NP)

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    Jim Smith
    (NP)

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    Gail Theisen
    (NP)

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    Daniel Tuott
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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Let’s talk about what is important – learning. This has been my focus during a 30+ year career as an educator. As such I have high expectations about how schools work to support learning. Practices must be research-based and grounded in best practices. I have spent two years examining what Forest Lake schools have done to focus on learning. I support the many wonderful learning initiatives the district has put into place and look forward what the future brings. I know how schools work and how learning works. Supporting students and their families as a community is also a critical piece of the learning puzzle. We may disagree on issues during these contentious times, but I want to bring folks together and support learning and our kids.
The number one priority for schools must be learning experience and success of the students. This is the core mission of all schools and should be the first priority for all school board members. The second priority is how to pay for the first. This third priority is to support the many existing programs already in place that are working well in the district. There are so many to list and Forest Lake is a leader in so many areas of student learning and I want to continue that momentum.
The district is facing a decline and there is already a plan in place to make the cuts while at the same time not losing sight of what matters for learning. The process in being called reimagining education. A central component is transforming the Century Junior High to a middle school model. The educational research is highly supporting of making this switch and it will make a positive contribution to student learning. I support this positive change, saving money while supporting learning.
There have been large gaps in achievement for years, not just at Forest Lake schools but around the country. Despite failures in the past we cannot stop trying to turn this around and push forward. It starts with welcoming all to our schools and ends with high degrees of learning. The district has worked hard to support all students but there is still difficult work to be done in the area of academic achievement. I will support the district in those efforts. Like I say, it’s about learning.
We are in a time of divisiveness that has moved us to distrust others, and this hurts kids. Collaboration and conversations bring people together. I want our community to find ways of discussing learning issues and end this divisiveness. That is a major goal of mine - to bring folks together, listen to each other and focus on what matters. There is much that we can agree on and many positive things we can move forward with together, supporting our communities’ teachers and families.
Campaign Website http://www.TheRangerTeam.com
Contact Phone 651-592-6901
Campaign Email flgailt@gmail.com
I have been a School Board member since 2012 and bring proven leadership to the position. I am passionate about having every child be welcomed at school, be given their desired edcuational opportunites, and are prepared for life after high school.

I have been elected by school board members in other school districts to serve on the Minnesota School Board Association Board. This has allowed me to learn what others schools across the State are doing to be successful.
My priorities will be to continue to expand curriculum to meet the needs of students like our Middle School Gateway course, work to ensure our teachers have the tools and facilities needed to edcuate our students, and continue my advocacy with Legislators for fair funding of our schools to reduce property tax burden.

These items are needed for our students success.
Anytime a diffcut decision is needed my strategy starts with listening to parents, students, and the community. Having thoughtful discussions on the challenges leads to ideas and options that can be debated. Everyone wants their child to succeed and with that common goal we can find the best path forward together.

I have been an advocate in addressing this issue in our schools with our 2020 - 2025 Strategic Plan. This plan starts with a belief that "Educational equity is foundation for everything we do". This guides my decisions as a Board member on where and how we place our resources.
I continue to do what I have done since 2012 - be accessible at all times via phone, email, or in-person, and attend and be engaged at school and community events. I enjoy having conversations with individuals and no issue is too small or big to listen to and help with. I am your partner in educating your child.

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Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.