Jack Jensen
8480 Pelican Court
Chanhassen, MN 55317
"I was born in South Dakota and lived most of my life in St. Louis Park, MN.  My wife of 25 years, Maureen, and I have lived in Chanhassen for 14 years.  Son Garrett, 22, attends St. Cloud State University; son Chris, 20, attends the University of MN; daughter Taylor, 10, and son Charlie, 7, both attend Bluff Creek Elementary school.
"I am self-employed and have been for more than 14 years.  My embroidery, advertising, and graphic design business is located in Chanhassen.  I have 22 years experience working with children and families as a volunteer."
1) School size.  "It is not fair to the average or even the below average athlete if they want to participate in high school sports.  I don't think smaller school districts would be correct, but definitely smaller high schools would benefit more students in every opportunity -- smaller sizes for better learning, double the parti-cipation in sports, etc."
2) Essential elements.  "Education is about 'total development' for children to be capable, competent, to acquire skills and abilities that help develop their poten-tial.  A career and meaningful work is only one of the benefits of a quality edu-cation.  How one leads their lives during and after this education is another.
"Using the district's vision and com-munity values is an important way we instill them upon the children going through the system.  I would also like to go through and check to see what, at the administration level, we really need and can we do without so it wouldn't compro-mise our children's education."
3) Concern for children.  "If elected I will continually call for decisions to be looked at in the light of current education-al and developmental research.  With our children's teachers currently and in the past at Bluff Creek Elementary and Chan-hassen Elementary and Early Childhood Center, we have had excellent communi-cation.
"However, 'the district' is ineffective in informing stakeholders about major decisions and does not adequately seek input  from the larger community.  Our attitude needs to change, and we need to see that all members of the community are stakeholders (and taxpayers) in our schools and children's development.
"The school board needs to lead the way in being open and proactive in all communication.  Let the community know what's going on, what is being consid-ered, and proactively seek input from all.  If elected to the school I will proactively and continually seek input from all of the citizens of School District 112."
4) Truth.  "I feel this is a very odd question but I would hope that everyone in the district seeks truth and looks to wherever they must to find it."
5) Superintendent's salary.  "The sal-ary is public information but I haven't been able to find what the benefit package is yet.  I do think that the salary we pay in this school district (as others) is too exces-sive for the size and types of problems within this district."

Jim Leone
2890 Autumn Woods Drive
Chaska, MN 55318
"I was born and raised in Grand Rap-ids, Michigan, and have been a resident of School District 12 for eleven years.  I am the Vice President of Operations at The Instant Web Companies.  My wife is Lisa.  Our children are Andrew, 20; Jennifer, 18; Elise, 16; Ashley, 12; and Beret, 7."
1) School size.  "Fair or unfair, unfor-tunately it has become a question of money.  Certainly not as many students actually get to play basketball, but they are offered so many more opportunities in countless other activities that most smaller schools cannot offer.
"What isn't fair is not providing an attitude of excellence for our sports pro-grams and organization for them to excel.  In addition, while the district has grown, essentially the same dollars are being spent on the existing programs, so as to exacerbate the point that's being made.
"I would propose an allocation of 'X' dollars per pupil that would be allocated to allow our existing and future sports to excel, while still providing club and other opportunities for students to participate.  I would also suggest unconventional ap-proaches to raising funds by promoting partnerships between the district, partici-pants, and the community."
2) Essential elements.  "High student performance; safe, orderly, and caring schools; quality teachers, administration, and staff; strong family, community, and business support; effective and efficient operations.  'It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare.  It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.'  --Seneca."
3) Concern for children.  "I try to keep in mind that kids are our future.  Building character, teaching them right from wrong, and providing them oppor-tunities to succeed are important.  Letting them know that I have high expectations for them, but also showing them how to reach their goals through using good judgment, self-discipline, perseverance, and integrity.
"Sometimes these opportunities are readily apparent, sometimes you have to search to find them, and sometimes when you do find them you need to apply them with 'tough love.'"
4) Truth.  "I generally don't jump to conclusions, but rather dig deep into the issues, ask many questions, analyze the data, and listen prior to coming to a deci-sion.  Fundamental to this, however, is strong faith with a solid moral compass."
5) Superintendent's salary.  "I don't know, to either question.  With this being said, I am both appalled by some of the salaries and 'packages' that I've read that superintendents have gotten and also be-lieve strongly in paying for performance, including appropriately paying for attract-ing the right talent.  If the goals are set correctly and they are achieved, we should be happy to reasonably pay for reaching them."

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