Name and place of residence: Bruce Baartman, Luverne
Family information: Wife, Vicki, and children, Hannah, fourth grade, and Emilie, second grade, both in Luverne Schools.
Occupation: Director of Information and Technology at Midwest Provisions Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.
Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting and marketing.
Community activities and involvement: Grace Lutheran Church Finance Ministry, Worship Team and choir, and Green Earth Players Ñ part in production to be performed Nov. 2.
Qualifications for service: Has experience within the school system as the first district technology coordinator from 1995 to 1997. With a prior position as Citibank vice president, he managed operations groups for two e-commerce offerings, managed vendor relations and negotiated contracts with each vendor, and determined strategic value of investments as well as return on investment. He also served as privacy and security officer for the e-commerce group.
If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as school board member? In other words, if elected, what issues will be important to you?
Financial responsibility:
- Incorporating information provided by teachers and administrative staff and community input in the decision-making process.
- Gaining a clearer understanding of the financial standing of the school district.
- Insuring that board decisions are best serving the goals of the district and community.
Improved Communication
- Creating an environment that promotes open and honest communication between board members, administrators, faculty and staff.
- Improving communication with the community regarding decisions made as well as impact to students and staff.
- Welcoming community involvement in school board meetings, and making these meetings more interactive.
- Making sure the chain of command is clear; Board works for the district (taxpayers), Superintendent works for the board, business manager works for the Board and the Superintendent.
- Spending time on a regular basis at the school visiting classes and talking with students and staff.
- Exploring the use of focus groups with staff to gain a better understanding of issues and opinions.
Improved communication with staff and better financial reporting should lead to a better negotiation process with regard to teacher contracts.
Safety
- Soliciting input regarding student and staff safety issues on school grounds (parking lots, open campus policy, accessibility to intruders, etc.)
- Utilizing city and county resources in the fight against drugs in our schools.
We owe the best possible education to the children of our district, and to those who choose to open-enroll their children into our schools. We owe them our most thoughtful and informed decisions when it comes to their future and their opportunities.