Meet the candidates: Albany Area School Board

Incumbents Scott Hanson, Dustin Henkelman and Tim Sands and candidate Shalon Ronning are vying for four seats on the Albany Area School Board. 

Scott Hansen

Age: 50

Occupation: Information technology

Why are you running for this position? I am passionate about education and want to continue to work at making our schools better and to provide the best opportunities for kids and for our community. We have achieved many great accomplishments over the past decade, and I hope to continue to be a part of supporting and guiding us into the future.

 What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? School funding is one of our biggest challenges. We are among the lowest funded school districts in the state. We rank 33rd from the bottom out of 328. We are also in the less than one-third of districts without a voter approved operating levy. Because of deficiencies in the state funding formula, levies in Albany cost a lot more than most other parts of the state. I am very active with the organization Schools Advocating for Fair Funding, which focuses on addressing these deficiencies in the funding formula for districts like ours.

Are there other issues you want to address? Although in most areas we rank significantly above the state average and are generally equal or above most of our neighboring districts in academic achievement based on state testing scores, there are still opportunities to give our kids an edge both academically and through unique experiences. I hope to help renew our focus in encouraging and enabling staff looking to implement innovative new approaches into their teaching, looking to introduce more experiential learning, working to offer unique experiences and finding other ways to differentiate instruction to each student’s needs.

Dustin Henkelman

Age: 39

Occupation: Senior client operation specialist 

Why are you running for this position? I am seeking to be elected to the Albany Area School Board so I can continue my efforts in preserving and building a strong district. Districts across the state, especially rural districts like ours, are faced with many challenges. Through listening to community members and paying attention to our district’s current needs, I aim to help keep our district financially stable and academically strong. I am very active in attending district and community events, have three children in the district and am devoted to Albany Area Schools’ success. I love the Purple Pride and am devoted to preserving and growing that along with the district. 

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? There are many issues districts face statewide and locally. Transportation, fair funding, fair wages, ever-changing academic requirements, facility and ground maintenance and many more issues affect our district every year. I won’t pick just one issue but will devote my time and energy to helping our wonderful district manage our funds while keeping our staff’s, our district’s and our community’s needs and interests in mind. 

Shalon Ronning

Age: 33

Occupation: Optometrist

Why are you running for this position? I am a proud graduate of Albany High School and am now a parent to three children who will attend that same school. I want to be involved with making impactful decisions for the school in which my children will attend; the same school that was the foundation of my educational experiences, which helped to forge my aptitude for critical decision making. I strongly believe a quality school system is the foundation for a healthy community and there is no better way to make a lasting impact on the community than by being a member of the school board.

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? There isn’t any one issue I find particularly pressing at this time, but Albany High School has an incredible reputation, which is due to the culmination of quality education, strong athletics, safety and inclusivity. Our world is rapidly evolving, and the school board must make decisions to preserve our school’s reputation while embracing changes and setting students and educators up for continued success. A crucial part of this success is proper budgeting to make the most efficient use of every dollar, ensuring our educators are well paid, our students have every opportunity and our facilities are up to date.

Tim Sands

Occupation: Sales account executive

Why am I running for this position? When I was asked to run for school board four years ago, I said I had a passion for the cause, and that passion remains as strong as ever. Over these past four years, I have gained valuable experience and met many wonderful people who are equally dedicated to the mission. I am proud of the progress we have made, the talented staff and students here, and I am eager to continue contributing to this positive momentum. While we will undoubtedly face challenges, we are well-prepared to meet them head-on, ensuring our continued success. ... 

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? Like many public schools in Minnesota, we face ongoing challenges that we must continually work to address. One of the key issues we may encounter is potential budget cuts, driven by inflation, a reduction in state aid, or the formula used at the state level to distribute funding to schools like ours. Additionally, the expiration of federal COVID relief dollars will impact our financial landscape. As a school board, we are committed to protecting our taxpayers while doing our best to balance what I call the “three-legged stool” — meeting the needs of our community members, our dedicated teachers and staff and, of course, our Albany Area students. ...

Are there other issues you want to address? As a member of the Albany Area School Board, I am grateful for your continued support and am asking for your help in continuing the important work of putting our students first. With your help, we will ensure that both our students and staff reach their full potential. I am motivated by the best interests of all students, staff and community members, and I am dedicated to keeping our district strong. Together, we can make sure Albany Area Schools remains a place of excellence.