The Henton Headlines

The Henton Headlines: February 24, 2022

THE HENTON HEADLINES
February 24, 2022
Here’s the scoop for the week

Ed. Orgs. Opposed to Education Savings Accounts:

The education organizations sent a letter to the Senate Education Committee objecting to SF 1525, a proposal that would establish education savings accounts to be used for private schools. Feel free to reference/use the letter in your advocacy efforts. 

MASE & MASA Meet With Congressional Representatives:

MASE President Jamie Nord, MASE Past-President Sarah Mittlestadt and MASA Federal Advocacy Chair Superintendent Theresa Battle, Vice-Chair Sue Chase and MASA President Dan Bittman led meetings with all ten of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation, or their legislative assistants. Topics discussed include:

• Gratitude for American Rescue Plan funds along with the request the deadline for their use be extended. Also noted that the needs of our students and staff will not go away once the funds expire.
• The long overdue need to fully fund IDEA. 
• Staffing shortages including education support professionals, teachers and bus drivers. Asked for incentives like loan forgiveness, grow your own programs, flexibility on CDL requirements, and a waiver on earning limits for those on social security.
• The cumbersome and labor intensive process of the Civil Rights Data Collection. One district submitted the data five times alone on Feb. 23. 
• The long overdue need to reevaluate and revise Title I formulas.
• The loss of revenue as a result of the free nutrition programs during the pandemic. Asked for reimbursement to districts and better ways to measure childhood poverty.
• Federal grant opportunities often do not include cooperatives and intermediate school districts. When using “LEA” in bill language, ASEAs or ESAs need to be added.

Leadership Matters:

"Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be." - George Sheehan

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Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar.

Feb. 25	Digital Learning Day
March 1	MDE: Statutory Deadline for Dissemination of Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Information to Families
March 1	First day of Women's History Month
March 4	Maintenance Workers Appreciation Day & Employee Appreciation Day
March 9	MASA Great Start & Finance Academy | Minneapolis Marriott NW
	MASA Board Meeting | Minneapolis Marriot NW
March 10 - 11	MASA/MASE Spring Conference | Register Online
April 20	MASA Great Start Cohort
June 23-24	MASA Board of Directors Retreat | Minneapolis Marriott NW
October 1	MASA Board of Directors Meeting | Madden's on Gull Lake
October 2-4	MASA Fall Conference | Madden's on Gull Lake
February 16-23, 2023	AASA NCE | San Antonio, TX

The Henton Headlines: February 17, 2022

THE HENTON HEADLINES
February 10, 2022
Here’s the scoop for the week

Parent Rights:

A number of bills have been introduced regarding the rights of parents who have children in Minnesota’s public schools. MASA joined MSBA and AMSD in sending a letter to the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee affirming our desire to engage parents in our public schools. Included in the communication to the committee was a compilation of MSBA Model Policies and MN statutes already requiring parent involvement. 

Expect the discussion on parent rights to be present during this legislative session. You might want to think about all the ways you involve parents and share that information when you meet with senators and representatives during your Days at the Capitol, or during other events when you come in contact with legislators.

Leadership Matters:

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Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar.

Feb. 1	First Day of African American History Month
Feb. 21	President's Day
Feb. 21 - 25	Public Schools Week
Feb. 25	Digital Learning Day
March 1	MDE: Statutory Deadline for Dissemination of Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Information to Families
March 1	First day of Women's History Month
March 4	Maintenance Workers Appreciation Day & Employee Appreciation Day
March 9	MASA Great Start & Finance Academy | Minneapolis Marriott NW
	MASA Board Meeting | Minneapolis Marriot NW
March 10 - 11	MASA/MASE Spring Conference | Register Online
April 20	MASA Great Start Cohort
June 23-24	MASA Board of Directors Retreat | Minneapolis Marriott NW
October 1	MASA Board of Directors Meeting | Madden's on Gull Lake
October 2-4	MASA Fall Conference | Madden's on Gull Lake

The Henton Headlines: February 10, 2022

THE HENTON HEADLINES
February 10, 2022
Here’s the scoop for the week

Annual MASE/MASA Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington D.C. moves to virtual format:

Beginning last fall, MASA staff contacted Minnesota’s eight representatives and two senators in congress asking for in-person meetings the week of February 21.  After countless emails back and forth, few in-person meetings were offered by our elected officials and most of the meetings we were able to schedule will be with their aides. Consequently, the planned trip moved to one of virtual meetings. It would not be a prudent use of the organization’s funds to travel to D.C. to participate in virtual meetings.

If you have topics you would like us to discuss in our virtual meetings with our congressional legislators, please send them to me and I will be sure to address them in our meetings.

Little Falls Assistant Superintendent selected for award!

Aaron Sinclair was named the “Change Management District Leader of the Year!”  The award was presented at the National Conference on Digital Convergence. According to information released on the award, “The Change-Management District Leader of the Year award goes to the district leader who has demonstrated effective leadership through second-order change using Modern Teacher’s Digital Convergence Framework.”  Congratulations Assistant Superintendent Sinclair!

Need Confidential Professional Advice?

Thanks to the generosity of the MASA Foundation, a Professional Assistance Team (P.A.T.) stands ready to be of assistance to you. All members of the team are experienced educators who will be able to consult with you and share advice. Don’t hesitate to lean on them for support during your most challenging days as a leader. 

We are in the business of helping others and telling them to take care of themselves.  It’s OK to ask for assistance for yourself!

Joe Gothard
Superintendent
Saint Paul Public Schools
Cell: 651-587-2895
Office: 651-767-8152
[email protected]

Jerry Nesland
Cell: 218-640-0267
Office: 218-894-2439
Home: 218-385-3194
[email protected]

Jeff Olson
Cell: 507-340-0628
Home: 507-934-9195
[email protected]

Patty Phillips
Cell: 651-357-0996
[email protected]

Gary Prest
Cell: 612-202-4684
Office: 612-626-8647
[email protected]

Leadership Matters:

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Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar.

Feb. 1	First Day of African American History Month
Feb. 7 - 11	National School Counseling Week
Feb. 21	President's Day
Feb. 21 - 25	Public Schools Week
Feb. 25	Digital Learning Day
March 1	MDE: Statutory Deadline for Dissemination of Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Information to Families
March 1	First day of Women's History Month
March 4	Maintenance Workers Appreciation Day & Employee Appreciation Day
March 9	MASA Great Start & Finance Academy | Minneapolis Marriott NW
	MASA Board Meeting | Minneapolis Marriot NW
March 10 - 11	MASA/MASE Spring Conference
April 20	MASA Great Start Cohort
June 23-24	MASA Board of Directors Retreat | Minneapolis Marriott NW
October 1	MASA Board of Directors Meeting | Madden's on Gull Lake
October 2-4	MASA Fall Conference | Madden's on Gull Lake

The Henton Headlines: February 3, 2022

THE HENTON HEADLINES
February 3, 2022
Here’s the scoop for the week

Superintendent Vacancies: If CNN wants to know, you probably do, too!

Last week a reporter from CNN contacted me regarding superintendent vacancies. MASA staff compiled data that follows. Please note there may have been additional vacancies not shared with MASA, or that occurred in the summer of the year compiled. Currently, we have 39 superintendent vacancies and are aware of at least two more that will be posted next week. 

SUPERINTENDENT VACANCIES HISTORICAL DATA

Year	Openings
Spring 2021	54 superintendent openings
Spring 2020	51 superintendent openings
Spring 2019	57 superintendent openings
Spring 2018	42 superintendent openings
Spring 2017	61 superintendent openings
Spring 2016	48 superintendent openings
Spring 2015	39 superintendent openings
Spring 2014	47 superintendent openings
Spring 2013	42 superintendent openings
Spring 2012	48 superintendent openings
Spring 2011	52 superintendent openings
Spring 2010	57 superintendent openings
Spring 2009	48 superintendent openings
Spring 2008	56 superintendent openings
Spring 2007	26 superintendent openings
Spring 2006	62 superintendent openings
Spring 2005	65 superintendent openings
Spring 2004	54 superintendent openings
Spring 2003	54 superintendent openings
Spring 2002	31 superintendent openings
Spring 2001	44 superintendent openings
	Total Positions: 1038
	Average over 21 years: 49

 

There are 36 Aspiring Superintendents who will successfully complete MASA’s Aspiring Superintendents Academy in March, 2022. Some have already applied for superintendent positions. Data on the makeup of the academy is included below.

ASPIRING SUPERINTENDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

*15 Metro
*21 Greater Minnesota

*17 Principals
*3 Assistant Superintendents
*2 Executive Directors
*2 Finance
*5 Special Education
*3 Directors of Teaching and Learning
*1 Director of Community Education
*1 Director of Student Support Services
*1 Advocate
*1 Educational Consultant

*8 BIPOC Members

 *15 males
 *21 females

Note that we had three people drop out: two males from Greater MN and one female from the metro area.

Don Lifto & Bill Morris article on Community Feedback Surveys:

Should you be interested in conducting a community survey, this article will be helpful in determining how you may want to move forward. Congratulations to our colleagues Don Lifto and Bill Morris for another national publication. We are fortunate to have you in our own backyard!

“What’s Your Community Thinking?  Survey Methodology Defines What You Hear,” by Don. E. Lifto and William D. Morris, is reprinted with permission from the February 2022 issue of School Administrator magazine, published by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. 

Leadership Matters:

“Leadership is a dynamic process that expresses our skill, our aspirations, and our essence as human beings.” - Catherine Robinson-Walker

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Detailed information may be found at
https://www.mnasa.org/whats-new.html and the MASA Calendar.

Jan. 31 - Feb. 4	Black Lives Matter at School Week
Feb. 1	DUE MDE: Annual Immunization Status Report
Feb. 1	First Day of African American History Month
Feb. 7 - 11	National School Counseling Week
Feb. 21	President's Day
Feb. 21 - 25	Public Schools Week
Feb. 25	Digital Learning Day
March 1	MDE: Statutory Deadline for Dissemination of Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Information to Families
March 9	MASA Great Start & Finance Academy | Minneapolis Marriott NW
	MASA Board Meeting | Minneapolis Marriot NW
March 10 - 11	MASA/MASE Spring Conference