VOTERS GUIDE: 4 Spring Lake Park Schools District Board Seats Up For Election

For the Spring Lake Park School District, voters will elect four residents to serve on the seven-member school board.

Three candidates have filed to fill three open at-large seats on the school board. Those candidates running unopposed are board Chair Tony Easter, Vice Chair Amy Hennen and Allie Schmidt, who will be new to the board.

Sarah Bowe, who currently holds one of the seats, did not file for re-election.

One seat is available as a special election to complete the two years remaining on an existing term that will expire on the first Monday in January 2026. The person elected will take office immediately after receiving the certificate of election, filing the bond, and taking the oath of office.

Kelly McClellan, of Blaine, and Ryan McLaughlin, of Spring Lake Park, will compete for that seat.

Early voting starts Friday, Sept. 22. The polling locations will be open on Election Day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, To find out more about the election, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website, at sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting.

General School Board Election

Tony Easter

• Age: 55

• Family: My wife, Deneen, and I are residents of Spring Lake Park for more than 25 years. Our two kids, Jathan and Alannah, are graduates from Spring Lake Park schools.

• Occupation: Senior Scrum Master for a financial firm in Minneapolis

• Education: Bachelor’s of Science in business administration and Master’s in business administration from the University of Northwestern.

Previous elected, appointed or volunteer positions: Currently serving as chairperson for Spring Lake Park School Board. Served as clerk and vice-chairperson on the Spring Lake Park School Board. Member of the Teacher Contract Negotiating Committee. Member of the Spring Lake Park Schools Community Facilities Design Team. Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge volunteer. Former Emma B. Howe YMCA board member. Chaperone for high school marching band. 10+ years in leadership with Boy Scouts of America. Coached summer and fall baseball.

• Contact information: Email, tdeaster01@msn.com; Facebook, facebook.com/EasterforSLP; phone, 763-783-1459

• Why are you running again for a seat on the Spring Lake Park School Board and what are your top three priorities?

For more than 25 years, my family and I have lived in the Spring Lake Park School District. As a board member, I’ve been involved in many positive changes throughout the district and I want to continue to be involved in the great work we are doing for students, families, teachers, and the community.

A top priority for our district is to continue our work toward closing the achievement gap in reading and math across all grade levels and demographics. The impact on learning due to the pandemic has placed many students behind in many core subjects. Additional efforts are required to close this gap. Another priority is to understand the financial impacts recent legislation will have on our district. Even with additional funding provided by the legislature, underfunded mandates will have a negative impact on district finances. Continuing the implementation of our long-term vision of personalized learning is another top priority. My commitment is that we continue to build an engaging environment for success in learning. If re-elected, I will remain diligent to work with fellow board members and the administration on improving these areas so that our students will continue to be equipped as life-long learners.

• What, if anything, needs to be changed with education in the Spring Lake Park School District?

In Spring Lake Park schools, we need to take a more proactive approach toward the use of Artificial Intelligence in the classroom. AI tools cannot be used as a substitute for teacher interaction and creativity, or as a replacement for students’ work. Policies and guidelines must be developed on how AI tools are to be incorporated in the classroom and used by both students and teachers. With the correct guardrails, it can be a useful tool and beneficial to the educational experience.

• What is the Spring Lake Park School District doing well and what could be improved?

The district has done amazing work in developing the college and career readiness program that gives students the opportunity to discover various career paths and educational opportunities that earn college credit. Since its inception, the program has expanded its offerings to include the most recent addition: Trade related courses.

The board and administration have also been excellent financial stewards. For many years, the Spring Lake Park School district has been recognized for excellence in its accounting practices and for maintaining a balanced budget. The school board has also continued to look for opportunities to refinance (refund) bonds to a lower interest rate to reduce property taxes for our residents.

An area where we can improve is student absenteeism. Absenteeism increased during the pandemic and remains an issue the district must address. When students are absent from the classroom their academic and social growth are impacted. Many studies, including one done by our district, have drawn the connection between high absentee rates and lower achievement. The school board must continue to work with the administration to set effective policies to address student absenteeism along with implementing tools and resources to help students, families, and teachers tackle and resolve this issue.

• What should be the role of the Spring Lake Park School Board, if any, be in regards to setting the district’s student curriculum?

School boards have the authority to make the final decision on the curriculum – including selection of textbooks and instructional materials. While the Spring Lake Park School Board has the final authority, it recognizes the expertise of our professional staff and administration to make informed and appropriate choices. During the selection process for new curriculum, input from teachers and parents help guide the team in making these important decisions. Since this is a vital component of education, curriculum selection is a task that school boards must continue to take seriously.

Amy Hennen

• Age: 50

• Family: My husband, Scott Nielsen, and I have two adult children, both graduates of Spring Lake Park High School.

• Education: B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Morris and J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.

• Previous elected, appointed or volunteer positions: 12 years on the Spring Lake Park School Board, eight years of involvement with the Panther Foundation, seven years as an Anoka County Library volunteer, five years as a volunteer for the Minnesota DNR.

• Contact information: amyLhennen@yahoo.com

• Why are you running again for a seat on the Spring Lake Park School Board and what are your top three priorities?

Serving on the Spring Lake Park School Board for the past twelve years has been an honor and I am running for re-election because of my deep commitment to our district’s students, staff and community. The top priority for the district, and me as a board member, is that every student receives a personalized, innovative education tailored to their strengths, needs and interests that will prepare them for life beyond our schools. Our role as a board is to support our staff as they create and implement learning plans for each of our students. Another priority for our district is our ongoing work to encourage communication between the district and the SLP community. As a board member, it is important that we attend PTO meetings, district and community events and also support the district’s work in creating inviting and safe learning environments. Finally, it is always a priority to ensure that the district’s fiscal plans are aligned with our day-to-day work and that we are good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars. As board members, we support this priority by reviewing the district’s overall budget plans and taking actions such as approving re-financing of bonds when it will save money for taxpayers.

• What, if anything, needs to be changed with education in the Spring Lake Park School District?

Teachers and staff in Spring Lake Park schools strive every day to meet students where they are, identify their strengths and needs, and provide them the best education possible. Every district has room for improvement and our district uses adaptive planning to identify strategies and objectives for the coming years, and then assess progress and make adjustments as needed to meet the needs of students. As a board member, I fully support this balance of long-term strategic planning and constant evaluation for the best results possible for our students.

• What is the Spring Lake Park School District doing well and what could be improved?

The administration and staff of Spring Lake Park schools have a strong commitment to meeting the needs of each and every student, taking personalized learning to the next level. The work of adults in our district is driven by a long-term vision with core strategic anchors, and projects and initiatives centered around raising the levels of learning for all students. The sheer volume of work is humbling and inspiring. Every district has room for improvement, and ours is no exception, but the district, and our school board, are committed to assessing and adjusting until the needs of our students are met. It is a pledge and process I am proud to be a part of.

• What should be the role of the Spring Lake Park School Board, if any, be in regards to setting the district’s student curriculum?

The school board is regularly informed by our administration and staff regarding state-mandated curriculum changes. Many curriculum outcomes are established by the state, but the board has a governance role in approving overviews of curricular studies and instructional resources when major modifications are made.

Allie Schmidt

• Age: 47

• Family: Husband Wayne, daughter Addie (Eighth grade) son Howie (Seventh grade)

• Occupation: Help run the family business- Don’s Leather Cleaning, Rug Laundry and Fur Storage

• Education: Master’s degree in social work

• Previous elected, appointed or volunteer positions: President of the Christ Lutheran Preschool board, President of the Adoption Option board and currently the President of Panther Foundation.

• Contact information: allieforschoolboard.com, allie@allieforschoolboard.com

• Why are you running for a seat on the Spring Lake Park School Board and what are your top three priorities?

I know that education has the power to change one’s path in life. I want to make sure that all our students have the opportunity to reach their full potential and continue to be supported by teachers who have the resources and tools they need to deliver the quality education our children deserve. Safety, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability are of the utmost importance in the schools, and I will advocate for parents, students and teachers.

• What, if anything, needs to be changed with education in the Spring Lake Park School District?

As a board member, I hope to build on the great work already being done in the district, and provide a voice for parents, teachers, and students alike.

• What is the Spring Lake Park School District doing well and what could be improved?

Our community’s strength lies in its unity and collective ambition for quality education, and I am eager to play a part in carrying this ambition forward. I look forward to the opportunity to serve my community and work together to ensure that every child in our district has access to the high-quality education they deserve, using my experience to continue to support the kids in our community and build on the excellent foundation that our Spring Lake Park schools are known for.

• What should be the role of the Spring Lake Park School Board, if any, be in regards to setting the district’s student curriculum?

I believe one of the School Board’s primary responsibilities is to approve a core curriculum based on high academic standards, involve parents and teachers and strive for academic excellence and accountability. Together, we can ensure our schools provide the best education possible.

Special Election

Kelly McClellan

• Age: 52

• Family: Married to my wonderful husband for 19 years. Two great kids who are in ninth and 11th grades at SLP High School and two adult stepdaughters.

• Occupation: I oversee the career development of MBA students at the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management. I also provide consulting and training services to companies for their leadership and talent development programs.

• Education: B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, M.A. in Communications from Bethel University

• Previously elected, appointed or volunteer positions: Tickets for Kids Board Member, WomenVenture Committee Member, Ordway Theater Community Advisory Council, Woodcrest PTO, and Minnesota Council on Economic Education Board Member.

• Contact information: Website, kellyforslp.com; email, kellyforslp@gmail.com; Facebook, Kelly McClellan for SLP School Board

• Why are you running for a seat on the Spring Lake Park School Board and what are your top three priorities if elected?

As a proud Spring Lake Park alumna, this is an opportunity to give back to my community in a meaningful way by helping prepare our kids for 21st-century work and life. I want the focus to be on giving each student the opportunity to discover and explore their interests, abilities, and strengths so they can reach their fullest potential. I look forward to working collaboratively with teachers and parents to meet the learning needs of each student in a safe and positive environment, providing a best-in-class education that prepares them for the future.

• What, if anything, needs to be changed with education in the Spring Lake Park School District?

More than anything, I want our students to graduate from Spring Lake Park having developed the ability to be good communicators, effective critical thinkers, and creative problem solvers. And, maybe most importantly, I want them to learn how to work together collaboratively. From my experience working with students and adults, I know these are skills that will serve them well in work and in life - no matter where they go or what they do after they graduate.

The world continues to change and we need to be responsive to not only what skills and abilities are in demand now but anticipate what skills will be in demand down the road. The district is making many thoughtful, positive decisions around the student experience. They are also looking closely at any gaps and addressing how we can make sure no student slips through the cracks. Like any large organization, we need to continue those efforts, build on them, evaluate opportunities, and adapt in order to make additional changes with intention.

• What is the Spring Lake Park School District doing well and what could be improved?

I love that our students have high engagement in athletics and activities. Roughly 80% of students are in one or more sports and/or clubs. This is an excellent example of the district providing ways for students to connect with their school and classmates. This engagement increases positive academic outcomes, creates a sense of community and, most critically, a sense of belonging.

The district is also very good at innovating ways to connect the dots between teachers and parents. For example, they have recently implemented Possip, which looks to create a real-time feedback loop between parents and school(s).

If there was one thing I could improve, I would like to see smaller class sizes. Some classes can get quite large which makes it difficult for teachers to give the personalized learning we want our students to receive while contributing to teacher burnout. Lower class sizes would increase the ability for teachers to customize learning for their students, improve student learning outcomes, and positively impact teacher retention.

• What should be the role of the Spring Lake Park School Board, if any, be in regards to setting the district’s student curriculum?

The school board doesn’t have the authority to set the curriculum. However, it does make sure the curriculum meets and/or exceeds MN State curriculum guidelines and College and Career Readiness Standards.

Ryan McLaughlin

• Age: 30

• Family: Married for nine years and have two kids (4 and 2 years old)

• Occupation: Project Manager for the Department of Human Services

• Education: B.A. from Bethlehem College in Minneapolis

• Contact information: rpmclaughlin7@gmail.com and ryanforslp.com

• Why are you running for a seat on the Spring Lake Park School Board and what are your top three priorities if elected?

I am running for school board to help our students flourish. My kids will be in these schools soon and I want them to learn and grow and make friends in these classrooms. I want parents to be proud of where their kids go to school, and I want teachers to be excited about their very important work. My priorities will be to increase academic excellence, ensure school safety, and support parental rights.

• What, if anything, needs to be changed with education in the Spring Lake Park School District?

School boards generally don’t deal with specific curriculum issues. That being said, when we review material with the superintendent, I would pay attention to whether content is age appropriate. As kids get older, they should be able to handle more challenging information. We don’t want to give students the impression that we’re scared of any information.

• What is the Spring Lake Park School District doing well and what could be improved?

I would like to see more parental involvement with the school. This is something the district wants as well. Engaged parents are one of the strongest predictors of student success. There are several aspects to this, but getting parents involved with schools and students is a top priority for me.

I love how the district puts a lot of effort into giving high school students options to customize their courses. When I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. But SLP is giving students dozens of opportunities to discover their passions, learn new skills, and just as importantly, figure out what they don’t want to do as a career. I will absolutely support these efforts.

• What should be the role of the Spring Lake Park School Board, if any, be in regards to setting the district’s student curriculum?

The school board appoints a superintendent who directs the district’s curriculum. This is the primary way that board should manage curriculum. That being said, school board members are elected by the public. As a result, we have a responsibility to guide curriculum choices that align with the desires of voters in the district.

The board does not have capacity to handle every single curriculum decision, but should seek to be the voice of students and parents in the district. We should offer input as curriculum choices are made in collaboration with the superintendent, teachers, parents, and other groups. In the end we all have the same goal: to ensure our students get a robust education that helps them succeed in future endeavors.

SOURCE: Hometown Source