Tony Reichenberger On The Issues

The ISD194 School Board has been in the past well known as being antagonistic, dysfunctional and inefficient. I've worked with teachers, administrators and other board members to collaborate to change this dynamic on the board for the better, and I aim to continue to do so. We're moving in the right direction and  I'm interested in collaborating with Board Members, parents, teachers and the people of Lakeville/ Elko/ New Market and surrounding areas, and demonstrating to our kids how public service should work for the benefit of all. 

The primary goal of anyone in education should be to get our children prepared to succeed for college and the workforce. Getting kids to learn, innovate, comprehend and excel leads to their success, improved confidence and self-esteem, and also elevates the school district and community.  

Technology is a wonderful tool and what it is capable of is growing exponentially. We need to ensure that our children first understand fundamentals, rationale and the "how to" before depending on any technology. Reliance on technology, inside and outside of the classroom, before comprehending facts and functions only trains our children to push buttons, not learn.

This includes how we deal with AI as it becomes more prevalent in our society. 

Effective financial management means working the best one can with the resources available.  As someone who had previously worked for a Public Finance firm working on funding Minnesota cities and schools, I have the knowledge and understanding of how Minnesota school budgets function and how taxpayer dollars are best utilized. 

The financial condition of the ISD 194 School District continues to improve and I want to work to continue the financial health of the district. 

How our district have treated those entrusted with our children has been improving but still needs more work. Poor teaching conditions are poor learning conditions for out kids. The average salary of a Lakeville teacher is notably below Farmington, Northfield and Prior Lake, and substantially below Burnsville and Rosemount-Apple Valley- Eagan.  We are losing good educators to neighboring cities. Keeping quality teachers here should be a priority. 

Investing in teachers invests in the community. 

Lakeville is one of the fastest growing cities in the state, and that results in stress on existing educational institutions. Long term planning for new schools, personnel and budgeting are paramount to ensuring our school system maintains it's respect as one of the best school systems in Minnesota. 

As a Board Member, I look to continue to work with the Board and with city officials on the best way to help manage the growth in Lakeville and the surrounding communities to ensure our schools can keep pace with that growth. 

 Education is a collaborative effort among the student, family, school and community. It is important for me to continue to seek student, parent and community participation in making significant district decisions. I support finding solutions to enrich the programming and learning experience for all our students, and focus on a sustained and broad-based effort to improve our systems—curriculum, processes, operations and behaviors--where everyone is welcomed to participate fully because then we all benefit. 

If you can and would like to volunteer for our campaign for Lakeville Area Public Schools, you are more than welcome to join!  You can reach out to us at reichenbergerforlakeville@gmail.com

Don't have time to volunteer? You can still support our organization by making a donation. Your contribution will help us continue our work and make a difference in our community.