MASA eUpdate

This week's edition of the "Henton Headlines" features Ewald's guide to visiting the capitol and information about the MN House of Representatives elections! Read the full post here.

Have a safe holiday break next week! There will be no MASA eUpdate on Thursday, November 28.

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.

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.

Facilitated by Dr. Michael Thomas
Next Session: November 26

Six 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.

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.​

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | 9 – 10 am (CST) | Hosted on Zoom
Add to Calendar | Register

Presented by:

Patricia Ross, Ph.D. and Dave MacCallum, Ph.D., MaCallum Ross

Dr. Ann Ertl, Director of Innovation, Design & Learning, Hopkins Public Schools

Dr. Abby Holm, Assistant Director of IDL: Data Science, Hopkins Public Schools

When budgets constrain funding for academic programs, it is critical to be able to measure the Academic Return on Investment (AROI) of these programs in a way that clearly supports funding decisions. This approach uses existing district data and staff expertise to compare AROI across a range of programs and, at the same time, provides district staff with the ability to use the model in the future. Patricia and Dave will share with you how this process allowed Hopkins Public Schools to reduce its program budget by $250,000 annually. Full information here! MacCallum Ross is a Key Level Business Partner of MASA.

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.

Session Details

December 12 | 1 - 2:30 pm | Add to calendar

Northwest Service Cooperative, Erskine

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

SWWC Service Cooperative, Redwood Falls

Due to bylaw revisions that were introduced at the November 7 MASA Annual Meeting, we have scheduled a Special Meeting for members to join and vote on the proposed revisions.

Date: Monday, December 9 | Add to calendar
Time: 8 – 8:30 a.m. Central

Join the Zoom Room here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82233770560?pwd=VNA9bAA1UYaVbjtsGXcLTfN3JrTjJf.1

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.

Full information and Zoom links will be sent to members and included in the eUpdate in the coming weeks! You can find the dates to the webinars online at www.mnasa.org/legislative-webinars.

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!

Congratulations to Dan Stifter, Superintendent, Aitkin Public Schools on the announcement that he will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame! Read the whole story here!

Episode 11: Building Community Trust Through Continuity

Listen Here!

In this episode of Rethink Possible, host Bob McDowell connects with Dr. Josh Swanson, superintendent of Eden Prairie Schools, to discuss the importance of building community trust through continuity in the context of strategic planning. By involving all stakeholders and having a long-term vision, schools can strengthen trust and ensure they are delivering on their promises. Dr. Swanson describes how Eden Prairie Schools built community trust by maintaining a clear vision and direction while engaging and listening to stakeholders. He also highlights the importance of ongoing communication and key message reinforcement throughout the organization.

Tailored to current and future school leaders, the Rethink Possible podcast delivers relatable and relevant content from superintendents and other education thought partners. Each conversational episode provides solutions to common challenges and opportunities while accommodating the busy lifestyle of today's school leaders.

The Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA) is proud to announce Karen Schaub as the recipient of the 2024 MCEA Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the mission and impact of community education in Minnesota. Karen will be celebrated at the Lifetime Achievement Award Banquet on Thursday, February 13, 2025, during the MCEA Leadership Days event.

Report on Experiences and Lessons Learned During the CoSN 2024 International Education Delegation to Spain. CoSN recently released a comprehensive report about the CoSN 2024 International Education Delegation’s visit to Spain. During the group’s visit to Spain they had the opportunity to gain an understanding of Spain’s educational environment through visits to historical and contemporary schools as well as by participating in informative presentations and meeting with several of Spain’s educational leaders. Read the full story here!

MDE is now accepting applications for the Minnesota Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects Grant to Support Community Revitalization, Connectedness and Equity by Promoting Education, Work and Health.

The federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated $10 billion to the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) to provide payments to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal Governments to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and healthcare monitoring in response to the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic public health emergency.

This established the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (“CPF”) program, which aims to:

• Directly support recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency by strengthening and improving the infrastructure necessary for participation in work, education, and healthcare monitoring that will last beyond the pandemic;
• Enable investments in capital assets designed to address inequities in access to critical services; and
• Provide the modern infrastructure necessary to access critical services, including a high quality and affordable broadband internet connection.

Minnesota was awarded $50 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Corona Virus Capitol Projects Fund. Grants will be used to fund Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects in areas that will benefit the most from support to address challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic through supports for education, work, and health focused on advancing family economic stability, connections and educational opportunity for our state’s children and youth. Application, instructions, timeline, and further information can be found on MDE’s Competitive Grant Opportunities site. MDE is also recruiting reviewers for this grant opportunity. For more information, they can contact me at Lee.Her@state.mn.us or 651-785-4064.

On November 7th, the AASA Advocacy team published a special election analysis, "Election Takeaways: 3 Issues to Watch." The message can be read and shared here. We hope this is of value to you, your teams, and your colleagues in contextualizing the recent election results at the federal level.

Highlights include:

• "Educating for Safety: Understanding Hazmat and Bomb Threat Risks in Schools" | Friday, November 22nd 11:00am-12:00pm CST | Still time to register!
• Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training | Tuesday, December 10th 8:00am - 3:30pm
• 2025 Master Trainer Program Applications
• School Resource Officer Network Dates
• Grant Opportunties and more!

Read the full information 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, "​​Laying the Foundation, Part 2" 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!

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.

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.

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.

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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