Six candidates are running for four seats on the Shakopee School Board with four-year terms. Incumbents Mary Romansky and Steve Schneider are seeking re-election; seeking election are appointee Reggie Bowerman and newcomers Anthony Bonsante, Jeff Lebens and Carla Shutrop.

Education and family: The 44-year-old moved to Shakopee nine years ago. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science, history and business from Graceland University, an MBA from Rockhurst University and a law degree from Hamline University. He is married to Lesa and has two children, Shannon, a junior, and Sean, a freshman.

Career: Has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 23 years in sales, marketing and executive management.

Previous civic and community involvement: Served on the Shakopee School Board since 2008. He is also a member of the Shakopee Citizens for Education, past homeowners’ association director and president, Cub/Boy Scouts volunteer, youth sports coach and church elder. He is involved with charitable activities, including the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life and food kitchens; FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association; Minnesota State Bar; and Minnesota Supreme Court ADR-Rule 114 Neutrals Roster.

Contact: (952) 445-4756 or rlssb@comcast.netReggie Bowerman

Why are you running for Shakopee School Board?

I was privileged to be appointed to the School Board in 2008, and I would like to continue to build upon the experience I’ve gained over the past year. Having two children immersed in academic and extracurricular activities also gives me a vested interest in the performance of our schools. Beyond that, I believe the quality and performance of a school district directly impacts the vitality and attractiveness of the broader community it serves. My family has certainly benefited from excellent Shakopee schools, and I wish to help keep the school district functioning at its best. I believe having fully engaged in my role with the board over the past year, coupled with my management, leadership and business experience provide me with a solid foundation to assist the district moving forward.

The Shakopee School District is seeking to renew its operating levy of $529.75 per pupil. Do you support the operating levy referendum? Explain your stance.

Yes, for three reasons. First, the revenue from the levy supports everyday operational expenses ranging from textbooks to personnel to utilities. Failure to renew the levy would create an immediate $4.3 million revenue shortfall that would have to be resolved by significant budget cuts. Without the levy, these cuts and changes would be deep enough to include both personnel and programs, impacting the quality and quantity of educational opportunities we now offer.

Second, the proposed operating levy is a renewal of an existing levy. Recognizing the economic realities we all face, the School Board, as recommended by the community Financial Task Force, specifically endorsed a levy amount that would not increase the tax burden on Shakopee residents. That is despite a student body that continues to grow, reduced state funding and real questions about future funding in light of the state’s current budget challenges.

Third, I believe the amount is reasonable (approximately half the metro average) and contributes to the strength of the broader Shakopee community. Whether you have children enrolled in our schools, participate in early-childhood programs, take part in the variety of community education offerings or merely reside in Shakopee, we all benefit from a strong, high quality, high performing school district.

Shakopee Public Schools continue to test at state averages on MCA-II math, reading and science exams yet have a long way to go to meet No Child Left Behind’s 100 percent proficiency requirement in 2014. How do you suggest the district improve its performance on mandated state testing?

First, an emphasis on curriculum “scope and sequence.” That means ensuring that subjects are being taught in a similar fashion classroom to classroom, grade to grade and building to building. Combining this with regular review of course content and its alignment to state standards helps to make sure the right material is being taught.

Second, identify, replicate and build upon what’s working well. That can include innovative teaching methods, unique course materials or providing teachers with mentors or venues to share helpful classroom instructional tips.

Third, access to and understanding of extensive student-level performance data. Helping teachers analyze the performance of their students in turn helps them to correlate what works and what doesn’t, who needs help in what areas and identify where there are gaps or shortfalls in subject matter covered.

Lastly, but importantly, is to encourage and enhance parental support and student motivation. Having parents engage in and reinforce educational efforts outside of school hours, having kids excited and enthusiastic about learning and supporting the critical importance of education can each make a difference.

State education funding will be flat next year with a state budget deficit predicted for the 2012-13 biennium. What priorities will you use in setting the school budget when an increase in revenue is unlikely?

I would prioritize maintaining current class size targets. So far, Shakopee has been able to successfully do this, helping to avoid an excessive student-to-teacher ratio. The more opportunity for student-teacher interaction the better. Similarly, I would place an emphasis on personnel, programs and activities that directly impact classroom instruction. When tough choices are made, I would prefer to first examine other areas as opposed to those with direct educational interaction. Finally, I support continuing current cost-saving initiatives and looking for more. Whether that be programs that have led to significant savings in annual energy expenses, to finding ways to most efficiently maintain current facilities, to trying to maximize the life of existing supplies and infrastructure, the savings add up.

With a new elementary set to open in fall 2011 and district enrollment creeping closer to 7,000, how are the current facilities working for the district?

We can be proud of current facilities that serve our students very well with a manageable capacity load across buildings and grade levels. The district has been wise with its building and maintenance strategy; for example, by choosing to repeat the elementary design of Sun Path at Red Oak, Eagle Creek and likely the new elementary. That approach is efficient and ultimately cost-saving. I also support actions by the board to maintain and refurbish the Central School building, despite its age, as opposed to seeking a new building and the costs associated with such a project. While administrative staff might benefit from a newer, modern and more comfortable facility, the district has prioritized projects that impact school-age children the most. I also supported the decision to delay the opening of the new elementary by one year. Not only did growth estimates suggest we could do so comfortably, but it will save the district one full year’s operating expenses. Finally, I expect that the next facility project will be a secondary school building. This will be a priority for the next School Board. The site, timing, design and impact on grade configuration remain to be determined. I fully support the board soliciting feedback from the community on this major initiative.

After a decade of unprecedented growth for Shakopee School District, what are the most pressing issues the district faces?

Balancing the needs and wants to support a growing student body with facilities, teachers, programs and supplies against limited resources will be the single greatest challenge. More students may translate into increased funding from the state (at least it has historically), but whether that funding will be adequate to sustain the level of quality we have come to expect is uncertain. That requires a board making well-informed, practical decisions that manages finite resources, controls operating costs, while providing broad a mix of educational opportunities for our students.

I also believe that the district should continue its practice of maintaining a general fund reserve. That fund reserve has and will allow the district to minimize the impact of broader economic ups and downs. I support a strategy where a fund balance helps to avoid what has occurred in other local school districts where hiring and firing, budget cuts and expansion can happen back to back. An appropriate fund balance, just like what citizens try to do with their household budgets, can provide stability in times of uncertainty.

Finally, technological advances are increasingly impacting our daily lives, and education is no exception. We can never replace the primary role of teachers, but finding ways to identify and incorporate the most impactful technology into our delivery of educational programs will make our schools more effective. Not simply what’s new or cutting edge, but what can actually help teachers teach and kids learn. That may be piloting a new initiative or it may be watching and letting other districts work out the kinks. But we should always be looking for ways to improve the product of our schools — a solid, effective education for our kids.