Carlton School Board Candidates (elect 3)

Julianne Emerson

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

I have a personal background as an attorney with over a decade of experience in public and community service, to include advocating for students’ rights and school policies. My legal expertise, combined with my commitment to community service, supports my ability to navigate complex educational challenges effectively.

What made you decide to run for Carlton School Board this year?

I decided to run for the Carlton School Board to advocate for innovative educational solutions and ensure all students receive the support they need.

What do you think is the top issue facing the school district and how would you like to see it addressed?

The top issue facing our district is ensuring equitable access to quality education. I believe we should continue to provide targeted resources for struggling students, and foster partnerships with local organizations and neighboring school districts to expand educational opportunities and engagement. This, along with working hard to be innovative and creative in our approach to education, will help us to be flexible and open to new ideas and approaches for public education. Declining enrollment is an issue facing every school district across the country. We need a thoughtful and courageous approach to how we think about education.

Elaborate on something you think the Carlton school district has handled well over the past two years.

Over the past two years, the Carlton School District has effectively implemented mental health initiatives, providing crucial support for students and fostering a more inclusive and supportive school environment, including working on programming tailored specifically to individual student needs.

Declining enrollment in small and/or rural districts is a growing issue. How can schools both remain solvent and provide good education and programming?

Schools can remain solvent by leveraging community partnerships, exploring alternative funding sources, and implementing flexible programming that meets student needs while maintaining operational efficiency to provide quality education. Carlton has already taken courageous steps toward meeting this issue by implementing the four-day week, adapting programming for individual students, and collaborating with other districts. Seeing the size of the District as an opportunity to be flexible, creative and thinking outside the box to provide all learners with quality educational opportunities.

Consolidation talks with Wrenshall keep hitting roadblocks. Do you have any new ideas to keep the process moving forward? Alternatively, would you prefer to forget the whole idea and proceed independently and why?

I continue to support any possible option that will provide sustainability and longevity to public education generally. In my opinion, then remaining open to creative and innovative options is an important quality for any person running for the school board. School districts have an obligation to ensure equitable access to public education regardless of which school district they represent. Individual districts should work with other districts to identify common goals and explore potential benefits for students. However, if substantial progress remains elusive for a particular plan, then we also need to be flexible and realistic enough to explore other viable options.

Why should people vote for you?

I will continue to use my personal and professional experience to advocate for a collaborative approach to public education. I have proven leadership skills, and a deep commitment to enhancing educational experiences for all students in our community.

Ryan M. Leonzal

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

I am a Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports practitioner for HDC in Cloquet. I coach football, basketball and softball here and am concluding my first year on the Carlton School Board. My wife is a Carlton grad, my daughter currently attends STE, and I also have a 3 year-old son.

What made you decide to run for Carlton School Board this year?

Very simple, I want to positively impact our youth and the education they receive, serving my community, as well as advocating for consolidation efforts.

What do you think is the top issue facing the school district and how would you like to see it addressed?

Currently, my biggest concern is our continually decreasing enrollment. When funding dollars are contingent upon enrollment numbers, our student’s opportunities are directly tied to enrollment numbers within a district. As a parent of two young children within our district, I worry about what their education will look like over the next 10-15 years if we continue to lose students to other districts with potentially more educational opportunity. Our music program has been impacted by these concerns over the last few years and I worry about how other programs will be impacted as time progresses. I believe we have come up with innovative ways to alleviate this, although it is still my belief that consolidation is the best way to manage this short and long-term.

Elaborate on something you think the Carlton school district has handled well over the past two years.

We have fantastic educators and support staff within both of our schools. I also believe that the Applied Learning Center and the four-day school weeks have been very innovative ways to help our awesome district stand out. A willingness to think outside the box to find ways to make our district the best it can be is a successful model in my opinion as well, and I feel like we have established that.

Declining enrollment in small and/or rural districts is a growing issue. How can schools both remain solvent and provide good education and programming?

As mentioned above, I think being willing to think outside of the box to find ways to positively impact enrollment numbers is imperative. I feel like it shows a willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure our kids get the best educational opportunity possible within our small community. With that said, I feel as if a willingness to pivot away from decisions if we haven’t garnered the results we expected is extremely important. I genuinely believe that consolidation with Wrenshall should be at the forefront of our decision making until it is not an option anymore.

Consolidation talks with Wrenshall keep hitting roadblocks. Do you have any new ideas to keep the process moving forward? Alternatively, would you prefer to forget the whole idea and proceed independently and why?

Prioritizing it, fully. A willingness to embrace different approaches when we do hit roadblocks. A willingness to persevere through difficult times or interactions with the shared goal of providing what is best for our students within our community. I believe that pride has been a tremendous barrier for years, which I find inappropriate. Students and the betterment of the education they receive should always supersede how adults feel about differing barriers. The fact that community members seem to support this at an overwhelming rate tells me that we owe it to those students, parents, and educators to put our district in the best possible spot and the lack of progress at this point is embarrassing. We owe it to our kids.

Why should people vote for you?

I have demonstrated a commitment to our kids, community, and the school board. I have remained a mainstay in attempting to keep consolidation talks open and progressive while communicating these desires effectively. I will continue to advocate for consolidation at all costs as I believe it is the best approach.

Ben Nilsen

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. (limit 50 words)

As superintendent for a union construction company, I have developed strong leadership skills, strategic planning, and understand the dynamics of business operations. I’m a volunteer firefighter/first responder in Carlton. I dedicate my time to youth sports and coaching, and serve on the hockey association and Raptors youth baseball/softball board.

What made you decide to run for Carlton School Board this year?

I want to challenge the status quo and start asking more questions and work to understand why consolidation continues at a standstill.

What do you think is the top issue facing the school district and how would you like to see it addressed?

Consolidation and the additional barriers being created that are straining the relationship between the two districts. When making decisions as a board, we should be considering how the decisions made will affect consolidation efforts. Carlton’s issues are important and should be addressed, but I believe there are ways to be creative to solve immediate issues while considering the long term plans.

Elaborate on something you think the Carlton school district has handled well over the past two years.

Creativity in ways to offer academic programming (applied learning academy), unique grants (solar energy panels at South Terrace), greenhouse build out, PCN grant, etc. We have also embraced the Carlton Wrenshall Raptors athletics and work hard to keep the partnership and balance for the students' best interests.

Declining enrollment in small and/or rural districts is a growing issue. How can schools both remain solvent and provide good education and programming?

Creativity in programming, looking at workforce development trends and what our employers are looking for in future workforce. Experience is as important as education — there needs to be a parallel where students learn and are challenged with real opportunities. Consolidation is also a way to work through this issue. I believe the future of education will be fewer brick and mortar schools and more experiences: this could create more “consolidations” throughout Minnesota, different academic requirements, and more online and community organized options.

Consolidation talks with Wrenshall keep hitting roadblocks. Do you have any new ideas to keep the process moving forward? Alternatively, would you prefer to forget the whole idea and proceed independently and why?

I think Carlton needs to become more adaptable within these conversations. It's apparent we operate very differently from board level down, it is important to respect each district's differences and learn how to adapt and work with each other to provide the best outcome for STUDENTS.

Why should people vote for you?

My No. 1 goal is to serve and support the best interests of the students (and families), Carlton residents and school district staff. I want to be an advocate of change while considering the implications to our tax payers and students.

Dan Solarz

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

Originally from Proctor, MN, I moved here four years ago with my wife and three kids. I fell in love with the community and started coaching hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, and football. I later joined the Carlton hockey and CW Raptors baseball boards, as well as the Carlton Fire Hall.

What made you decide to run for Carlton School Board this year?

Since joining the baseball board, I've aimed to remake Carlton/Wrenshall a youth destination. I believe becoming a school board member is the next logical step.

What do you think is the top issue facing the school district and how would you like to see it addressed?

Consolidation, plain and simple. While the idea often carries negative connotations and raises concerns about the unknown, I believe it is essential for our community's future. This has already paid dividends in our youth baseball/softball program. Consolidation can enhance financial efficiency, reduce redundancies, and allow us to allocate resources more effectively. Combining operations, we can create a more sustainable financial model that benefits both the district and the community. Most importantly, it allows opportunities for our students to access new and/or enhanced programs and resources. My goal is to address this issue and ensure a smooth transition for both schools to a structure that prioritizes the needs of our children and communities, ultimately resolving many of the current challenges we face. Go Raptors!

Elaborate on something you think the Carlton school district has handled well over the past two years.

The Carlton School District has effectively initiated the consolidation process by merging sports teams. While efforts for full consolidation have faced challenges for decades, this step is pivotal. The two communities are already intertwined, so the transition should feel natural. By combining sports, students will recognize their teammates, easing their adjustment to the newly consolidated schools. This familiarity will help foster a new, unified identity as we move forward together.

Declining enrollment in small and/or rural districts is a growing issue. How can schools both remain solvent and provide good education and programming?

Declining enrollment in small and rural districts is a growing issue nationwide, and, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I believe consolidation is the answer. By combining schools, we eliminate the “tug of war” over students. We can pool state funding per child and allocate resources more effectively for academic upgrades and improving school grounds. This makes our schools more appealing for families considering open enrollment and helps retain younger families. Plus, we can fill vacant staff positions without competing against each other. It’s time we put our students and community first and take the leap together.

Consolidation talks with Wrenshall keep hitting roadblocks. Do you have any new ideas to keep the process moving forward? Alternatively, would you prefer to forget the whole idea and proceed independently and why?

I believe Wrenshall is ready for consolidation. With a lean administrative staff and tough budget choices, it’s not a matter of yes or no, but how to move forward. I don’t have any ideas more innovative than those from previous decades, but I think we’re more primed for this move than ever with our combined sports. I plan to bring my willingness to put in the work and a track record to prove it. However, this will take a community effort. Compromise means both sides need to give up a little for greater long-term gain. The transition will be tough, but we need to focus less on the present and start looking toward what we can become.

Why should people vote for you?

A vote for me is a vote for consolidation. If the Carlton community is ready to show Wrenshall we mean business, let your vote speak for that. Let’s overwhelm the numbers so I can bring them to the consolidation table and extinguish any doubts about our community interest.

Eryn Szymczak

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

I have worked for Optum for 22 years, currently a senior technical product manager. I’ve been on the school board over 3 1/2 years. During these years, I’ve been part of numerous committees, including Raptors athletics, Northern Lights Academy, certified negotiations and Finance committee as the Treasure.

What made you decide to run for Carlton School Board this year?

I am a huge advocate for the youth of our community. I believe success comes from prioritizing what impacts and empowers our students and staff.

What do you think is the top issue facing the school district and how would you like to see it addressed?

I feel one of the top challenges is enrollment numbers; this is something most schools throughout our state and even country are facing.

Elaborate on something you think the Carlton school district has handled well over the past two years.

I feel Carlton Schools have ensured there is a safe and healthy learning environment for all students. Carlton Schools puts a lot of focus on student wellness. This is a priority for me to continue providing a safe and healthy environment for all.

Declining enrollment in small and/or rural districts is a growing issue. How can schools both remain solvent and provide good education and programming?

Declining enrollment numbers have not only impacted Carlton but many schools in our state. I pay close attention to documents, statistics that come from the MDE/MSBA to ensure we are discussing any new options. Collaborations between surrounding districts allow schools to work together and provide additional classes, sports, and resources for students. I am in favor of healthy relationships with our surrounding schools; this only benefits the students.

Consolidation talks with Wrenshall keep hitting roadblocks. Do you have any new ideas to keep the process moving forward? Alternatively, would you prefer to forget the whole idea and proceed independently and why?

As mentioned above, I am in favor of healthy relationships with our surrounding schools. I have always been in favor of these relationships and will continue to support a consolidation.

Why should people vote for you?

Honestly, I won't ever tell anyone who they should vote for. I love our freedom of thinking, speaking for ourselves. I just encourage everyone if you are able, go out and vote for who you feel is best.