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About this race
The school board is responsible for setting the school district budget, adopting district policies and hiring and overseeing the superintendent.
Tyler Fisher, Tahna Rurup and Scott Veronen are the current school board members whose seats are up for election. All are running for reelection.
The top three candidates will begin their four-year terms in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Incumbent
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Incumbent
Age on Election Day: 42
Community: Wadena
Employment: Verndale Family Life Church
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I am currently serving my eighth year on the Verndale School Board and serve as the Board Clerk. During my time on the board, I have gained valuable experience in school governance, policy, budgeting, accountability, and making decisions that support both our students and the long-term strength of our district.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in business, with degrees in marketing and management. I am also an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and serve as the Connections Pastor at Verndale Family Life Church. My position includes leadership, administration, communication, staff and volunteer development, conflict resolution, and working with individuals and families from many different backgrounds.
Why are you running?
I am running for reelection because I care deeply about Verndale Public School and want to continue serving our students, staff, families, and community. Both of my children attend Verndale, and I want to help ensure we continue investing in the school that invests so much time, care, and effort in them. Our school is a foundation of this community, and board decisions shape both today’s students and the district’s future.
I want Verndale to remain a place where students are known, supported, challenged, and prepared for life after graduation. I also want our staff to feel supported, parents and community members to be heard, and district resources to be managed responsibly. After eight years on the board, I bring experience, knowledge of our district, and a commitment to steady, thoughtful leadership. I would be honored to continue serving Verndale Public School.
Why should voters elect you?
I would love your vote because I bring eight years of school board experience and a deep personal commitment to the Verndale community. Verndale Public School is where our children learn, grow, build relationships, and prepare for their futures. I care deeply about our students, staff, families, and community.
Serving on the school board means listening to the concerns, ideas, and hopes of those we serve and bringing their perspectives to the board table. It means asking difficult questions, considering information carefully, collaborating with others, and making decisions in the district’s best interest.
I take this responsibility seriously. I am committed to listening, learning, working collaboratively, and standing behind thoughtful, responsible decisions. If reelected, I will keep students at the center of our work, support our staff, communicate openly, and help protect the future of Verndale Public School.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The school board works together to make decisions that are best for our students, staff, families, and district. We set policies, approve the budget, hire and evaluate the superintendent, and help guide the school’s future. We also listen to our community, ask questions, and make sure district resources are used responsibly. Our goal is to support a safe, strong school where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
A public leader I admire is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He stood firmly for truth, even when doing so was difficult and came at a great personal cost. I admire his courage to have hard conversations, speak up against injustice, and stand for what he believed was right. His life reminds me that strong leadership requires courage, integrity, and a willingness to do what is right, even when it is not easy or popular.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
Two of my priorities are supporting the future of rural schools and encouraging greater parent involvement. I want to explore ways our school and community can work together, share resources, and find creative solutions that reduce financial pressure and help protect opportunities for our students.
Verndale has a great school that works hard to reflect the values of our community. I would love to see even more parents involved in their children’s education. When parents, teachers, school leaders, and community members work together, our students have the strongest opportunity to succeed.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?
The biggest challenge facing our district is limited and uncertain state funding. We have a great school with amazing teachers, and we need to find ways to maintain that excellence with the resources available to us. We will continue to review our budget, ask difficult questions, look for creative solutions and partnerships, and advocate for rural school funding. My priority will be using our resources wisely while protecting the teachers, programs, and opportunities that help our students succeed.
What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?
One success I care deeply about and would continue to support is the relationships formed within our school. I love watching our teachers and staff encourage students, care for them, and help them grow. Verndale does a wonderful job making students feel known and valued. As a board member, I want to continue supporting our staff and protecting what makes those life giving relationships possible.
Incumbent
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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