New Decorah School Board member Krista Vanden Brink shares her thoughts about educational leadership

decorahnews.com recently interviewed new Decorah Community School Board member Krista Vanden Brink regarding thoughts about her new responsibilities.

Vanden Brink said she had thought about running for a position for many years, but the timing with younger children, who are now in their freshmen and senior years, would have made it difficult at an earlier time.  Vanden Brink is an RN and Administrator at Winneshiek County Public Health and feels now is an opportune time to serve when both health care and education are facing changes and challenges. She also feels that in this position she has some perspective on public and private sector funding, the restrictions put on various "pots of money," and the issues of compliance with rules, regulations and policies. Her current role also provides her an appreciation for health issues, and the importance of physical activity for youth.

Vanden Brink has also been on the Decorah Shareholders group, has enjoyed that, and particularly appreciates the firsthand perspective she got regarding the challenges that John Cline and West Side students and staff are experiencing. She also notes increasing enrollment and challenges in regard to special needs students.

She is concerned about continued funding, quality and needing to do more with less.  She feels education is much like healthcare in its challenges -  to continue to provide quality services (based on data and outcomes), which is an expectation put upon us, and to continually do it with less money.  The legislature needs to set Allowable Growth well in advance so school districts can plan.

She believes the public  wants the best for our students.  They want them to receive a good education but they want it done in an affordable, fiscally responsible manner.  Decorah will need to be sure to use the good times to plan for the bad times.  "In the meantime, we have great students and we have teachers and staff who really want the students to succeed (and they do!) and the School Board wants to do what's best for the students.  That makes for a strong school district."