MASA eUpdate

This week's edition of the "Henton Headlines" features a information about Phase II training, DEI scrutiny, MSHSL's recent update message, and more! Read the full post here.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Regional Administrators of Excellence Awards. Each recipient is recognized for their leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs. MASA members of each region determine the recipient of their local award. The recipients will be honored during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference!

Congratulations to all nine of our administrators of excellence!

Congratulations to all of our recently announced award recipients. Read more about them here: www.mnasa.org/2025-awards. Official news releases will be posted soon!

Our Richard Green Scholar Award recipient will be announced shortly! Stay tuned!

Public Schools Week is coming up February 24-28, 2025! To help foster this celebration, we have developed a toolkit for education leaders across Minnesota. You can find the toolkit here!

Join your school board and superintendent colleagues in advocating for public education at the MSBA-MASA Joint Day at the Capitol on Monday, March 10, in St. Paul! Members from MSBA and MASA will gather for networking and learning, and to hear from some of Minnesota’s education policy and finance decision-makers. New this year: For your convenience, MSBA will be scheduling your appointments with legislators for you. Please register in advance today for this important advocacy event. Visit the MSBA website for registration, hotel reservations, and to view the schedule of events.

Registration closes Monday, March 3, 2025.

Region 9 members are invited to join MASA and AMSD for a day of advocacy at the capitol on Monday, March 24. Call ahead to schedule appointments with legislators as their schedules fill up weeks in advance. Also, invite others from your school district to join you in this day of advocacy for our students and our schools.

Please RSVP by March 18 to AMSD Office Manager Kimberly Jansa at kjansa@amsd.org if you plan to join us. Full information and schedule can be found at www.mnasa.org/amsd-masa-capitol.

Thank you to everyone who attended last Friday's webinar presented by Cathy Erickson, Director of Finance, MDE.

A link to the recording can be found on the MASA Members Only section of the website. You will need to use the member password to access the webpage. You would have received this password when you completed your 24-25 MASA Membership.

More than 230 of your colleagues have already registered. Will you join them?! Please join MASA and MASE at our upcoming spring conference, where we will continue our journey through the evolving landscape of education.

Click here to register for the conference!

The MASA room block is filled. You can check for general availability at the Marriott online here or by phone at 763-536-8300.

A special thank you to our conference sponsors!

Nexus Solutions | Conference Lanyards

InGensa, Inc. | Morning and Dessert Break Refreshment Stations

All attendees to the 2025 spring conference must agree to abide by MASA's new Code of Conduct. Agreement to this Code is required as part of event registration.

MASA and MASE members who are retiring at the end of this school year may choose to be honored during the General Session on Friday (8:00 in the Minnesota Ballroom). Retirees will be asked to come forward and receive an engraved desk clock. If you would like your retirement to be recognized at this event, click here to complete the form.

Exhibit Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Exhibitor registration is open for the 2025 MASA/MASE Spring Conference. Don’t miss your chance to network and meet with more than 250 public school administrators from across Minnesota! Booth spaces will go fast. Book yours today: www.mnasa.org/2025-spring-exhibitors.

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!

Don't have a subscription yet? Join today: https://jobsitemnasa.org/.

Friday, March 7, 2025 | 7:30 - 8:30 am

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

You and a guest are cordially invited to the Minnesota State Breakfast honoring Dr. Laurie Putnam, our 2025 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year from St. Cloud Area School District during the AASA National Conference in New Orleans, LA. Complete your RSVP here!

The 2025 Minnesota State Breakfast is proudly sponsored by:

Audio Enhancement

InGensa, Inc.

Kraus-Anderson

Mammoth Sports Construction

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.

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.

All sessions will be held virtually from 12:30 - 1:30 pm from January to May, 2025!. You can find the dates and zoom access to the webinars online at www.mnasa.org/legislative-webinars.

Business Partner Level: Premier Partner

Industry: Facilities planning and construction services

Why do you partner with MASA?

We’re passionate about helping school districts to positively impact people through innovative facility solutions, and we partner with MASA and school districts to develop and implement long-range facility plans that best position districts for the future. With over $2.3 billion of referendums approved in the last decade with ICS’s help, we help create data-driven plans, engage your communities, implement those solutions, and ensure the operation of your buildings.

MASA Member Contact:

Jason Splett

Business Development Director

jason.splett@ics-builds.com | (763) 354-2670

https://www.ics-builds.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!

On Wed, Feb 5, 2025, MDE Commissioner Jett sent the following message:

"Recent discussions about potential changes to the U.S. Department of Education and federal education funding have raised many questions. Like many of you, I am concerned about recent executive actions and reports indicating plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and eliminate investments in our schools..." Read the full message 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, "Culture Wars and Split School Boards" online at: www.mnasa.org/school-tax-elections.

Minnesota mentioned! Did you see Superintendent Adams' quote on page 7 in the "Best of the Blogs" section? See it here. You can read Bill's full post on his blog here.

April 8-9, 2025
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)

Full information and registration | No Registration Fee!

This in-person, free event brings together experts, educators, and public safety partners all passionate about creating a secure learning environment. This conference will cover a wide range of topics, including emergency preparedness, crisis response, behavioral threat assessment, and recovery. Engage in interactive sessions led by renowned speakers who will share their expertise and best practices.

The conference once again free of charge to all attendees, but space is limited. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, learn new strategies, and contribute to the safety of Minnesota schools.

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.

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
February 14, 2025 | 8 - 9 am | 8 - 9 am via Zoom
Next Session is Open to Members + Non-Members!

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. 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: February 18 | 8 - 9 am via Zoom

Register for all the remaining sessions here: https://forms.gle/8BWUYsurXL2TouvD7

MASA members and our fellow educational leaders are invited to join the 2024-25 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Leadership 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+ leadership 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 group sessions will not be recorded. We welcome all MASA and non-member central office administrator level staff and higher 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-leadership-group.

Facilitated by Dr. Michael Thomas
Next Session: February 25, 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.

members@mnasa.org | www.mnasa.org

P.O. Box 427, Medford, MN 55049

(651) 645-6272

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