KAXE contacted candidates twice using contact information filed by the candidates to invite them to participate in our Election Guide.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published as submitted.
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Delane Klemetsen
Age on Election Day: 54
City/Township of residence: Littlefork
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
James Kennedy Trucking as a truck driver, operator, and supervisor.
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I am an alumni of the district. My children have all attended school and graduated from Littlefork-Big Falls and now my grand children are attending school here as well. I am deeply rooted in this community and I want to see our district be successful many years into the future.
I am also the union steward in my current employment and am familiar with union procedures and contract negotiations.
As a supervisor, I assist management with workflow and managing employee workflow and finding ways to be more efficient.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
As a school board member, I am looking to keep the students and staff as a priority. Without them, there would be no school in our community. The district provides good jobs to our town and keeps the economy as a whole healthy. This school is a great source of pride for all of us who live here, and we are all proud of the legacy that has been built in the district.
Why are you running for office?
I'd like to see more transparency from the administration and better support for our staff. We are lucky to have great teachers and support staff here. Also, the taxpayers of this district have a right to know what is happening at the school. As I mentioned earlier, it is a big part of our community as a whole and everyone here is invested in the success of the school.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
More transparency from the administration. Better communication to taxpayers, staff members, and parents. Many people from this community feel like they are in the dark about decisions that are being made within this important fixture of our community. One of the biggest complaints I have heard is that there is no communication or consistency in enforcing and applying policies. I hope to drive improvement in that area. We have a great district here, there should be nothing to hide. Everyone supports the success and betterment of this school.
What are your district's biggest strengths?
The staff. The individuals who work here care about each individual student. You know that they are making a big impact here when you see so many students who graduate from here and aspire to return as educators themselves so that they can make a difference for other kids as well. I think that speaks volumes about the people that we have working here.
What are the biggest challenges facing your district, and how do you plan to overcome them?
Communication and transparency between the community, staff, and administration. I plan to work on bridging that gap between administration and staff, parents, and taxpayers. I'd like to see our board meetings publicized, and find better channels for staff and the community to communicate with decision-makers in the district.
I also believe the current board is not always fully informed when making decisions. I plan to be a board member who asks questions and pushes for a full understanding of issues before making decisions. I think there needs to be more accountability on the school board and administration for well-thought out decisions on policy, staffing, facility maintenance, and finances. As decisions makers, we need to have a full understanding of the issues and possible solutions.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in your school board?
I have noticed that many other school districts publish their school board meetings, I would like to see our district do this as well. Many people in our community are shift workers, or working long hours, and cannot make it to 7:00pm meetings so that they can stay educated. I think publishing our meetings online will allow more members of our community to stay educated and involved.
I also want members of the Littlefork-Big Falls community to call me or any board member they feel comfortable talking to and voice their ideas or concerns for our district. I want people involved with the school to feel like they have someone they can go to when they aren't feeling heard.
What education policy or funding changes would you advocate for at the state level?
I plan to advocate for policies that are not "one size fits all." Often, policies at the state level are tailored to metro school districts and don't always fit well into rural schools. I don't believe that is right. Rural school districts need to be represented before sweeping policies are made.
I also plan to continue learning more about issues affecting our school and education in our state. I will be attending any and all school board member trainings and education as soon as possible so that I can be a good representative for our school community.
Chelsey Melander
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.
