Name and place of residence: Tim Burns, Luverne
Family information: Wife, Julie, and children, Molly, 23, Tony, 19, and Rob, 15
Occupation: Twenty-three years with Prudential Financial in sales and service.
Education: Luverne High School diploma, bachelor's degree in elementary education and art education, insurance courses and designation of LUTCF and CLTC.
Community activities and involvement: Member of St. Catherine Church, Knights of Columbus and Luverne Baseball Association; foundation board member of Southwest State University; and coach, supporter and referee for Luverne youth athletics (soccer, baseball, basketball and football).
Qualifications for service: Parent of two Luverne graduates and a present ninth-grader, seven years of teaching at the elementary and high school level (three of them in Luverne) and four years of experience as a Luverne City Council member.
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?
"If I am elected, I plan to continue to support the Luverne School District and its tradition of academic and athletic excellence. I will work to prioritize spending where it will directly affect students Ñ in the classroom. This should include textbooks, classroom resources, class size and staff. I believe that class size is important at all levels, not just at the elementary level. I am aware that early education is important, but letÕs not forget that students are in school for 12 years and that the high school years are very important to our students' futures.
"I would like to see more parents attend school board meetings, parent-teacher conferences and open houses. I will encourage communication between the school board members, administrators, teachers, parents and students. I would like to see our school facilities used to benefit students. We should not have to jump through hoops to use the facilities we are paying for.
"At a time when we are uncertain how the state will help fund local education, I believe that we should not implement programs that are not required by the state."