MASA eUpdate

This week's edition of the "Henton Headlines" features news about MASA's contract with MASE, MnEEP Immigration Webinar, Personal Finance Requirements, and more! Read the full post here!

Join us for School Tax Elections: Planning for Success in the New Normal on January 27, 2025. Designed to equip school leaders with systems and strategies for long-term referendum success, this workshop features expert insights from Dr. Don Lifto, Peter Leatherman, Jeff Dehler, and Superintendent Dave Bernhardson. Registration includes program materials and a copy of the 3rd Edition of School Tax Elections. Don’t miss the opportunity to register your district team!

Session Modules:

• Understanding Why Referenda Fail: Research and Proven Best Practices

• Building a Voter File and Effective Targeting Strategies

• Conducting Surveys and Assessing Feasibility

• Defining Roles and Responsibilities for Campaign Organization

• Crafting a Comprehensive Referendum Communications Plan

• Case Study: Successful Referendum Strategies (Inver Grove Heights Schools)

For full details, fees, and registration please visit: https://www.mnasa.org/referendum-workshop.html.

For the 2025 legislative session, we urge the legislature to build on that progress by continuing to close the remaining funding gaps, fully funding the new mandates passed over the past two years, and granting schools the flexibility they need to effectively support students and expand the educator workforce.

View our platform on the MASA website here: www.mnasa.org/legislative-platform. | Direct link.

Thank you to all of our legislative committee members who guided our work. We extend a special thank you to committee chair ECMECC Executive Director Marc Johnson and our dedicated lobbyist Valerie Dosland for their leadership and collaboration in the creation of our 2025 legislative priorities.

During the legislative session, MASA will be sending out weekly and special updates to members via email. If you missed an update we will be compiling them on the MASA website here: www.mnasa.org/legislative-updates.

Each year, MASA provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding members who are dedicated leaders and advocates for children and Minnesota education.

• Polaris Leadership Award | Sponsored by Ehlers

• Kay E. Jacobs Award | Sponsored by PMA Financial Network

• Richard Green Scholar Award | Sponsored by Cuningham

• Distinguished Service Award

• Outstanding Central Office Leader Award (Metro and Greater MN)

• Regional Administrators of Excellence

• Each of the nine MASA Regions determines their selection process and notifies the MASA office of their recipient by February 7, 2025.

MASA Award candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by someone else. The award nomination form can be found here: https://forms.gle/jwMvsm4RSBAXTTSB9. Nomination Deadline is January 3, 2025.

Four sessions | January & February 2025
Hosted by William Grube, Founder, Gruvy Education

Join MASA's AI Webinar Series, a four-session exploration of how artificial intelligence can empower school district leaders. Hosted by William Grube, Founder of Gruvy Education, this series offers superintendents and district-level administrators practical guidance on integrating AI into school leadership effectively. Sessions begin January 7, 2025, and cover key applications to enhance leadership with AI.

This series is open to MASA members only. There is no cost to attend. Sessions will be recorded and all registered participants and members will receive access to Gruvy Education’s web portal to access session recordings and materials.

Full information and session details can be found at www.mnasa.org/ai-webinar-series.​

Join MASA for strategy sessions aimed at helping school district leaders navigate the challenges of budget reductions. Metro-area superintendents will share their experiences and strategies for managing cuts, engaging staff and community, and maintaining vital programs. Attendees will be encouraged to share their budget challenges, offer their insights, and engage with colleagues to work through common issues! Full information and registration: www.mnasa.org/budget-strategy.

If you are attending today's session (Dec. 12) in Erskine, stay warm and drive safe!

Final Session Details

December 19 | 10 - 11:30 am | Add to calendar

SWWC Service Cooperative, Redwood Falls

MASA members are invited save the dates for a series of virtual legislative updates from MASA Lobbyist Valerie Dosland during the 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session! We are happy to partner again with the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials (MASBO) for these sessions.

Dates and Times

All sessions will be held virtually from 12:30 - 1:30 pm!

Single Zoom Link for all Sessions!

January 17 - May 22!

Click here to add January - April to Your Calendar

Click here to add to May 22 to Your Calendar

You can find the dates to the webinars online at www.mnasa.org/legislative-webinars.

Business Partner Level: Friend Level

Industry: Data & Technology

Why do you partner with MASA?

We partner with MASA and MN schools to network with local partners, expand offerings statewide, and share our work with current partners across MASA events to provide knowledge to districts interested in our initiatives. Abre's mission is to open learning communities by connecting what matters and MASA aligns with our values to being advocates for world-class education.

MN Abre Partner Spotlights!

• Eastern Carver County Schools ISD 112
• Prior Lake-Savage Area School Dist 719
• Fridley Independent School District 14
• West St Paul-Mendota Hts-Egan

MASA Member Contact

Nick Wahl

Senior Account Executive

nwahl@abre.com | 630-965-3367

https://abre.com/

MASA will be featuring our valued business partners in our weekly association eUpdate to all MASA members. We will select a business partner each week to feature in the weekly eUpdate. Thank you for your continued partnership with MASA!

Submit your business information here: https://forms.gle/q9kjUFV3Dv7aQp7F7.

View the full eUpdate here!

MESPA has announced that Dr. Mitch Hegland, Associate Principal at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion (Eden Prairie Schools), has been named the 2025 NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal (NOAP). This prestigious recognition honors Dr. Hegland’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to students, staff, and families at Eagle Heights and beyond. Congratulations to Dr. Hegland, MESPA, and Eden Prairie Schools! Read the full news release here. | Learn more about the award here.

Dr. Don Lifto is providing MASA members with 24 referendum strategies under the banner of “School Tax Elections: Winning Strategies in 250 Words.” One strategy will be posted to the MASA website each month. You can find Don's latest referendum strategy, "​​​Budget Advisory Committee (BAC)" online at: www.mnasa.org/school-tax-elections.

You can find the full information online here!

Need procurement solutions? Please consider checking out our Minnesota School District Purchasing Sites! We have partnered with Sourcewell and Cooperative Purchasing Connection to create two purchasing sites for MASA members! Check them out here!

Facilitated by Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent, Edina Public Schools
December 13, 2024 | 8 - 9 am | 8 - 9 am via Zoom

Six more sessions left! | December 2024 to May 2025

Register for all the sessions here: https://forms.gle/X8F15m45oZ6aBdTQ8

If you know of a colleague who would benefit from attending these sessions, please forward this information to them. All individuals who identify as women are encouraged to attend! CEUs have been requested from the Minnesota Board of School Administrators (BOSA). Participants must attend the sessions synchronously to be eligible for CEUs. Full info at the Women's Leadership Network webpage.

Facilitated by Dr. Bernadeia Johnson
Next Session: December 17, 2024

Six sessions left! | November 2024 - May 2025 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom
Register for all the sessions here: https://forms.gle/8BWUYsurXL2TouvD7

MASA members and our fellow educational leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are invited to join the 2024-25 BIPOC Affinity Group. If you have any colleagues who would benefit from this group, please encourage them to attend! Full session schedule and information can be found at www.mnasa.org/bipoc.

MASA is pleased to introduce our LGBTQ+ affinity group facilitated by Dr. Teri Staloch, Superintendent of Robbinsdale Area Schools and Nik Lightfood, Assistant Superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools. The goal of this group is to provide a confidential, supportive space for LGBTQ+ school administrators to connect, share their unique experiences, and engage in meaningful discussions. The affinity group sessions will not be recorded. We welcome all MASA and non-member central office administrator level staff and above who identify as LGBTQ+ to participate in these virtual sessions!

Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon, with the exception of the February and March dates. Full information and all meeting dates can be found at www.mnasa.org/lgbtq-affinity-group.

Information Session: Program Funding Decisions Using Academic Return on Investment (AROI) | December 4, 2024

Presented by:
Patricia Ross, Ph.D. and Dave MacCallum, Ph.D., MacCallum Ross
Dr. Ann Ertl, Director of Innovation, Design & Learning, Hopkins Public Schools
Dr. Abby Holm, Assistant Director of IDL: Data Science, Hopkins Public Schools

Session Materials and Recording
Session Slides
Session Recording: https://youtu.be/tBSOFZJWo-c

Full info at: https://www.mnasa.org/informational-sessions.html.

Facilitated by Dr. Michael Thomas
Next Session: January 28

Five sessions remaining! | November 2024 - May 2025 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom

Register for all the sessions here | No cost to attend!

MASA members are invited to join us in a series of professional dialogue sessions exploring topics of interest to our currently practicing school administrators. While the topics may be general in nature, the group will specifically address issues of race and culture pertinent to the conversation. Please note that at this time, participation in this series is open to MASA members only. Full session schedule and information can be found at www.mnasa.org/professional-dialogue-sessions.

We hope the school year has gotten off to a fabulous start for you and your students! We are excited to welcome you to the MASA Instructional Leaders Networking meetings this year! Facilitated by our Curriculum Component Group representatives to the MASA Board of Directors, Craig Anderson and Vera Weber, we invite you to add the following dates/times to your calendars:

• January 17 - Meeting Link | 1-2 pm | Add to calendar
• April 25 - Meeting Link | 1-2 pm | Add to calendar

We look forward to meeting together soon and throughout the school year! Please contact Lori Zimmerman with questions.

The MASA Foundation is pleased to announce the return of the Foundation Endowment Campaign! All proceeds from the campaign go toward achieving the Foundation’s mission of enhancing the leadership development of educational administrators just like you. Can your fellow MASA members count on your support for 2024-25? Full info at www.mnasa.org/donate.

Post unlimited job vacancies, for all levels of positions. The MASA Jobsite Online is well managed with daily attention to detail and customer service. The cost of an annual subscription is less than just a few advertisements placed in the major and local newspapers. Also, the Department of Education recognizes the MASA Jobsite as a valid advertisement when a school district is seeking a variance for a teacher in a specific subject. We currently have 118 districts using the Jobsite and they have posted nearly 2,000 jobs!

members@mnasa.org | www.mnasa.org

P.O. Box 427, Medford, MN 55049

(651) 645-6272

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