by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
Six candidates, including two former board members and two former state legislators, are vying for three open seats on the St. Cloud school board in the Nov. 6 election.
The candidates are, in alphabetical order, Zachary Dorholt, Les Green, Peter Hamerlinck, Larry Hosch, Natalie Ringsmuth and Beth Schlangen.
Earlier this year, nine people filed, but an Aug. 14 primary eliminated three of the contenders – Scott Andreason, Thomas D. Kufalk and Kathleen A. Steiner.
Green and Hamerlinck are former members of the St. Cloud school board; Dorholt and Hosch are former Minnesota legislators. Three candidates live in St. Cloud (Dorholt, Green, Schlangen); two live in St. Joseph (Hamerlinck, Hosch) and one lives in Waite Park (Ringsmuth).
The three elected as new board members will join the board at its first January meeting. The current board members are Al Dahlgren (chairman), Shannon Haws, Jeff Pollreis and Monica Segura-Schwartz.
The seats that opened for the Nov. 6 election are held by Bruce Hentges, Jerry Von Korff and Bruce Mohs. Those three decided not to file for re-election.
Board members are elected for four-year terms and each is paid $603 per month for their work.
The following, in alphabetical order, are profiles of each candidate and their viewpoints:
Dorholt
Zachary Dorholt, a former District 14B State House legislator (2013-14), has a bachelor’s degree in community management and a master’s degree in the psychology of counseling from St. Cloud State University. A St. Cloud resident, he also earned a certificate in marriage-family therapy from St. Mary’s College.
He works for CentraCare Health in its Coordinated Care and Jail Medicine Program.
He currently serves on the board for WACOSA (a local non-profit thrift store that teaches social-emotional skills for adults with disabilities). Dorholt is a member of the Independent Music Collaborative of Central Minnesota. He is also a small-business owner – co-founder of a local restaurant, The Old Capital Tavern in Sauk Rapids.
As a licensed mental-health professional, Dorholt is passionate about mental-health issues in the schools. He specializes in working with adults living with serious and persistent mental illness.
“The topic of mental health has been a front-page headline more recently than not in the news,” he said. “Through my work, this topic is a headline for me every day and will continue to be if elected to the (school) board . . . As a mental-health professional, I want to make sure our students get the help they need, without putting the burden on teachers. As a former legislator who fought, successfully, to increase school funding, I want to make sure our district is a good steward of those funds.”
In the legislature, Dorholt served as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee where he said he gained insights into what trade schools and universities are seeking in students.
He told the St. Joseph Newsleader school was not an easy or comfortable place for him when he was young.
“I didn’t really like school all that much and often found a lot of difficulty trying to stay on the right path,” he said. “I also found places of refuge and inspiration that helped me make it through – whether it was an amazing teacher or two or more extracurricular opportunities that kept me involved. I am incredibly passionate about making sure those things exist in our school today . . . As a father of three young girls, all of whom will attend our public schools, I want nothing more than for them to have the same opportunities I did.”
Dorholt’s campaign website is: www.facebook.com/IBackZach
Green
Les Green, a St. Cloud resident, was a St. Cloud school board member and chairman from 2006 to 2016.
He holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and psychology, a master’s degree in human relations and multicultural education and a doctorate degree in education. For 25 years, he has been a faculty member of St. Cloud State University (as well as an administrative member there) and a faculty member of the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University.
Green is a 12-year member and chairman of the Minnesota State Patrol Board, has served on numerous policy-making and director boards and, in a humorous aside to the St. Joseph Newsleader, he added: “(I) was a problem student in high school many years ago!”
Green said his unique combination of education and experience would make him, once again, a good fit for the school board. He noted he has an up-close and personal experience of schools because since 2017, he has chalked up more than 100 days as a substitute teacher in 20 schools in the St. Cloud, Sartell-St. Stephen and Rocori school districts. The subjects he taught included 12th-grade advanced preparation statistics and social studies, physical education, orchestra, choir, Chinese immersion, special education, early-childhood education with 4-year-old children, and as a para-professional in many special-education assignments.
Green said he knows first-hand the disruptive behaviors faced by teachers regarding classroom discipline and, thus, the value of having para-professionals in classrooms as stabilizers and tutors so all students can learn without disruptions.
“My experience does not make me better than other candidates,” he said. “It’s the value I can add to the oversight and policy-making responsibilities of the board as a whole. It’s obvious people like Larry Hosch and Peter Hamerlinck also have experiences that bring value. I think it is the mix of this experience and calm level-headed interaction with district administrators, teachers and staff that will make the board an asset to our educational system.”
Hamerlinck
A St. Joseph resident, Peter Hamerlinck is an account manager with IVO Networks and also does public-address announcements and management for many sports at Apollo High School where he graduated in 1984.
He is the father of two Apollo graduates and the stepfather to three Apollo graduates. He is also a graduate of St. Cloud State University.
A previous St. Cloud school board member, he served from 2011-14 and ran unsuccessfully again for the board in 2016.
Among Hamerlinck’s volunteer activities are: the Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society, SpareKey, Daughters of the American Revolution, Central Minnesota Youth Soccer, Apollo Astronettes and the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon.
His school work includes being a member of the board Legislative Committee, Superintendent’s Ad Hoc Student Activities Committee and the Student Activities Advisory Committee.
In 2007, he received the Award of Excellence from the Minnesota Elementary Principals’ Association. He was also honored with a 2009 Partners in Education Award and a 2009 Achievement in Education Award from the Central Minnesota Optimist Club. He has served on many school-bond leadership committees, school-design committees and as co-president for the Kennedy School PTA.
Hamerlinck said he is a firm believer that each student is a unique individual with special talents and specific needs that must be nurtured by teachers, staff and parents all working together.
Testing should not be a be-all-end-all approach, he said, but as a tool to design curriculum to fit each student’s talents, needs and potential. That isn’t possible, he added, without adequate funding for ongoing, up-to-date teacher training.
As an Apollo graduate, Hamerlinck is determined to lead the way for an upgrade the physical structure of that school, which has not changed much at all since the 1980s. He is also in favor of starting a magnet high school in St. Joseph.
Safety and security is another concern for Hamerlinck. He said the school board must work with state and local legislators for funding for security programs. Much has been done on that score, but more must be done, he added.
Special-education programs in the district are grossly underfunded by state and federal funds, Hamerlinck said, forcing the district to make up for the shortfall by using money from the general-education fund. That shortfall, he said, must be addressed.
“I will be a good school board member because I listen to and research all sides of issues,” he told the Newsleader. ” . . . I believe we must continually work to improve student achievement . . . We need to have current and relevant curriculum. I would see that we continue to implement and review advanced methods of using technology in the classroom.”
The “image” of the school district has been tarnished by a barrage of misinformation and baseless gossip, Hamerlinck believes. Students, parents, teachers and staff must be pro-active in showing and telling others the great things happening in local schools.
Hamerlinck’s website is www.peterhamerlinck.com
Hosch
Larry Hosch of St. Joseph is currently the business development director for the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp.
He served as mayor of St. Joseph from 2001-05 and served four terms as State House representative for District 14B, until 2012.
Hosch has worked as a social worker, roofer and construction employee and is co-owner of Lamar Homes and Remodeling.
He earned a degree in social work from St. John’s University and has a graduate degree in program development, policy and administration from Augsburg University.
He has served as a member of the St. Joseph Economic Development Authority, board director for Independent Lifestyles Inc., board director for Central Minnesota Health Center, coaches two youth baseball teams and enjoys long-distance running.
Hosch said he feels a personal, family investment in education because of his three young boys, pre-school to fifth grade at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph.
As a school-board member, Hosch said he would like to focus on three key areas: 1. Working to make the St. Cloud school district a destination district for students throughout the region who want access to a wealth of education options. 2. Working to better integrate educational offerings and curriculum with local employees to better prepare students for the needs of the future workforce in business and industry. 3. Provide leadership and stability within the board to have a high-functioning, professional and engaged board to provide policy direction to the district’s leadership and staff.
Hosch said he is confident his experiences as mayor, legislator, business owner and work on boards and committees will suit him well as a school board member.
“I am inspired every day I walk into our schools and see the work that is being done,” Hosch said. “I see joy in kids’ faces, I see a dedication and sense of duty from our teachers and staff, and I see an environment that I know will prepare our kids to operate as engaged and productive citizens in an increasingly global society and economy.”
The Hosch website is www.larryhosch.org
Ringsmuth
Natalie Ringsmuth, a Waite Park resident, is the founder of UniteCloud, a local nonprofit organization that promotes cultural, racial and religious understanding.
In addition, she is a member of the charter school STRIDE Academy’s School Board, currently as vice president and has served as a member of STRIDE’s Academic Excellence Committee. She serves on the St. Cloud State University Community Anti-Racism Education Team.
Ringsmuth also works as a legal assistant for Tripiciano Immigration Law firm in St. Cloud. Among her memberships are United Way of Central Minnesota and ministry leadership team at Westwood Church. She and her husband have three children – one at STRIDE Academy, two at North Junior High School.
A graduate of Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, Ringsmuth earned a music degree from Concordia College, Moorhead and has taught music for many years in schools (including one in Atlanta) and also in churches. She is also a piano teacher.
Ringsmuth said she is keenly aware of how the student population in St. Cloud has changed in recent years, bringing challenges and opportunities related to diversity and the number of students learning English.
As a longtime educator and STRIDE School Board member, Ringsmuth said she is well qualified to serve on the St. Cloud school board because she understands firsthand the needs of students, teachers and how “success” must be measured individually, with each student’s needs and goals in mind.
As qualifications, Ringsmuth said she is an experienced board member, a former educator and a parent of young students.
“I know that my children are getting a quality education that challenges them academically and allows them to grow socially in a diverse environment,” she said. “Because my husband and I chose (School District) 742 for our children, we believe they will be well prepared for college and the real-world workforce. I believe in our schools, our teachers and every child who is within our care.”
For more about Ringsmuth, visit her campaign website at vote@natalieringsmuth.com
Schlangen
Beth Schlangen, who moved back to St. Cloud about a year ago, is a retired registered nurse who attended Technical High School years ago and then graduated from Apollo High School in 1971.
Schlangen earned a three-year nursing degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Duluth. She worked as an RN at Swift County Hospital in Benson and at the Golden Living Center/Meadow Lane, also in Benson. She retired in 2016.
She was a member of the Benson Christian School for 26 years until just recently. She is a member of the Benton County Minnesota Republicans organization.
Schools and students, Schlangen believes, must get back on track with an education that takes into account biblical values so that children can easily tell the difference between right and wrong.
When she first pondered running for the school board, Schlangen said she prayed and that God told her she should do it.
Schlangen said she would push for mental-health services for children who need them and help ensure that students receive the best skills possible to make their lives successful in the working world.
Objective assessment of problems and solutions is what Schlangen learned in her years of nursing teamwork, she said, adding she would apply those objective evaluations to the learning process in schools.
Schlangen said she has deep concerns about sex education programs in the school. Students, she said, are becoming confused about gender and other issues because of how sex education is taught.
She is also in favor of using tax credits in the form of vouchers for children to attend parochial schools. Parents should have a choice as to where to send their children to school, she said, and vouchers would help them in that decision.
“When I became a child of God, the Bible became my guidebook,” she told the Newsleader. “I looked to God’s word for direction and asked ‘What would Jesus do?’ I followed those principles when training my children. If they were disobedient, we found what God said and consequences of disobedience versus obeying God and being blessed. This was the intent when our founding fathers started a public-school system for all children. They published a Bible to be in every school.”
Schlangen said she would use any monetary compensation for being a board member to give to a school in need of her choice.
