One of the most common concerns among school boards across the region is addressing a shortage of qualified workers. On Monday night, the four candidates vying for two open seats on the Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education came together at a forum to answer this question, and many more. Moderator, Rick Hunsaker, the Executive Director of Region XII Council of Governments, posed the submitted question on what the board could do to attract and retain talent among educators. Incumbent, Jen Munson, says it is not just educators, but team members at every level. She has several ideas she would like to try.
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She adds it is difficult for an 18 year old to know exactly what it is they want to do for the rest of their lives. She would like to see a course at the high school level so they can explore what it is like to be an educator. Newcomer, Kristen Lundstrom, points to an initiative already in place with a mentoring program for educators. She also believes supporting the staff is key.
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The other incumbent, Duane Horsley, says this is one of the biggest issues boards deal with, not just here but everywhere. He believes they can help by creating an environment that entices people to come and encourages them to stay.
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He says Carroll is a wonderful and very safe community and it is about selling the community and the district. Horsley also says the have a critical shortage in bus drivers, and he doesn’t know what the fix is because they are getting paid fairly well, but they need people. He also wants to get more information in exit interviews to help them understand why staff members are leaving the district. Sal Sani Saidou, the second newcomer, says it is about meeting a broad spectrum of needs in an environment where everyone feels safe.
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Sani Saidou adds it doesn’t have to be all about money. The full audio from Wednesday night’s forum can be found below. Carroll Broadcasting candidate coverage continues as we draw closer to Election Day on Nov. 2, and more interviews will be aired in upcoming newscasts.
Full audio of Wednesday night CCSD candidate forum:
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