Milaca School Board voters' guide

With the general election swiftly approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters seek out the candidates they feel best represent their values in office. The Union-Times asked the candidates running for Milaca School Board seven questions to help voters make their choice:

1. What is your education background and current occupation?

2. What are your previously elected, appointed or volunteer positions?

3. What motivates you to want to become, or continue as, a school board member?

4. Every council, board, and organization benefits by having individuals with varying skills and expertise. How might you contribute and add value to the school board and the district?

5. What are the major challenges facing the district in the next year and beyond? How do you think the school board should address these challenges?

6. Why should people trust that you will make decisions in the best interest of the school district and its students and staff?

7. How can the school board and its members be more accessible to the community?

Answers are listed in alphabetical order by the candidates’ last names. Three candidates may be elected.

Samantha Lange

1. I hold an Associate of Arts degree from Hennepin Community College and a certificate in Law Enforcement from Hennepin Technical College. I have over 20 years of experience with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a licensed police officer. Currently, I work as a Transport and Court Security Deputy.

2. I was elected as a Milaca School Board Member in 2020. Through the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, I teach the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program to elementary students. In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering at Milaca Public Schools, whether as a chaperone for the marching band, helping serve lunches in the cafeteria, or accompanying students on school field trips.

3. I was born and raised in Milaca, and this is my community. As a law enforcement officer, I am dedicated to serving my community and wish to continue this service as a school board member. I believe public education is crucial in our children’s lives, and I am committed to ensuring that Milaca Public Schools provide the best possible education for their students.

4. I believe that students should have a safe and secure environment in which to receive their education. My experience in security and law enforcement can contribute to ensuring that Milaca Public Schools provide a safe learning environment for all students.

5. Over the past four years as a school board member, I have witnessed significant budget cuts, which unfortunately led to the reduction of staff members. This has been one of the most challenging aspects of my role. A major ongoing challenge for Milaca Public Schools is financial instability. The unpredictability of state funding makes it difficult for the school to maintain a balanced budget. Additionally, declining student enrollment presents another challenge. I am willing to collaborate with stakeholders to explore solutions to these issues. One potential approach is for our school board to engage with state representatives to educate them about Milaca Public Schools and our district’s needs and challenges.

6. I believe in transparency. First and foremost, Milaca Public Schools is dedicated to our students. If re-elected for another four years, I will work with current board members to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students while also ensuring that our staff is properly trained in their roles.

7. One way to achieve this is by being present at community events or volunteering for school functions.

Rakesh Muraharishetty

1. I hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Master’s in Business Administration and Master’s in Predictive Analytics. I specialize in Business Architecture, Strategy, and Corporate Governance.

2. I have served as a Governance Board Member and volunteered with several foundations, grant-making bodies, and nonprofit organizations, including AmeriCorps, Teach for America, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and United Way.

3. As a candidate for the Milaca School District board, I am driven by a commitment to education and community service. My background in business strategy and governance has prepared me to bring creative funding solutions and cost-effective strategies to address financial pressures while ensuring high-quality education. My experience organizing nationwide events with AmeriCorps has equipped me with skills to promote better teaching practices and strategic collaboration. I am passionate about fostering equitable, innovative educational environments that empower students to succeed.

4. I bring a unique blend of business architecture, financial expertise and community service. My experience in securing funding and building partnerships with organizations like AmeriCorps and Teach for America will help enhance district programs. I am dedicated to using data-driven decision-making to ensure accountability, equity and continuous improvement for the district.

5. The district must address financial constraints, equitable access, teacher retention and technology integration. I believe in strategic financial management, prioritizing teacher support and a forward-thinking approach to technology to create a sustainable, equitable learning environment.

6. With a proven track record in governance and education-focused service, I am committed to transparent, collaborative and equity-driven decision-making that prioritizes the needs of students and staff.

7. The board can improve accessibility through open communication, virtual meetings, transparency, community engagement and clear contact options.

Nathan Neuhart

1. Masters in public administration; Bachelor’s of arts in psychology; operations manager.

2. Current Milaca School Board Member; Minnesota Father’s and Families Network (MFFN) Executive Board Member; Minnesota Family Support and Recovery Council (MFSRC) Executive Board member; Father’s Group facilitator.

3. I am motivated to continue with the school board because I care deeply about our kids, our community and believe that having a strong voice for education, not for indoctrination is the best way to improve community. It is all part of what makes living in this district amazing.

4. I come from 16 years in government work, the last eight being a supervisor. This is valuable as I understand how decisions that are made at the state level can have an impact on a local level. Both positive and negative. Being involved with other professional boards I have learned to not be swayed by public or popular views on an issue, but to look at facts and make informed decisions. I am a problem solver and am always looking at situations from different points of views to make an informed and solid decision on any particular item that may arise.

5. One of the challenges that face our school is funding. By working closely with other board members and administration we have been able to improve the fiscal health of our district over the past few years. This has allowed us to be able to meet the needs of our district and students. We can continue to do this by having candid conversations about the needs of our district and prioritizing projects as they come up.

6. I look at the facts of a situation and determine what is best for our students, our school district and our community. This is done through expressing my thoughts on a subject and listening to the opinions of others. There have been multiple situations in other professional boards where my opinions and thoughts on something went against what the majority opinion was. By sharing my views and expressing my concerns we were more able to adhere to the function and purpose of our boards by looking at the situations through the lens of the boards mission rather than being swayed by ‘current fads.’

7. The number one way to do this is for the community to be more involved. By coming to school board meetings when the times are good rather than just when there are concerns the community can see how well Milaca Schools functions and can gain a higher understanding of our school. Each board member has their contact information available and I believe having an open door policy for members of our community is vital to the success of our school.

Aimee Struffert

1. I am a 1974 graduate of Milaca High School, Anoka Ramsey Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social work from St. Cloud State University. I have worked at the St. Cloud Hospital as a laundry lead for the past eight years.

2. I have been on the Milaca School Board for 27 years. I held positions of clerk, treasurer, vice chair and am currently chairperson. I was the parent adviser to the Title 1 program and active in PTO in the late 1980’s, marching band chaperone for junior and senior high. I have been part of the Central Mille Lacs County United Way for over 20 years, was a 4-H leader and am a support person currently to the Brookside 4-H club.

3. I’m interested in being re-elected to continue to support all of our stakeholders, students, parents and community members. I believe all my years on the board is an important piece for moving forward to continue the quality education for the taxpayers money. I bring expertise and experience of what has happened on the board and what is possible to continue to strive for. Our community reflects an older population that is helping to raise their grandchildren. I believe I represent that group that is watching the money that is used to provide education for the community. I believe that the board needs to continue to have me as part of it as more of a historian in what we have and what we possibly could do in the future. I have never come with a personal agenda and have worked with the stakeholders to get the best education possible for our students. I want to continue to help the district with following the community’s wants and needs, to be fiscally responsible and provide the students with great education. This has been my community for all of my life and I am proud of what the school and community has accomplished.

4. As a retired social worker and a 27 year veteran on the board, I have knowledge of past and current needs to provide a positive future for our students and community.

5. Funding will always be a high priority as declining enrollment affects how we can provide for our students in having a variety of classes available with an appropriate number of teachers available. The school and the board are told what we must have in our curriculum with state and federal mandates that are not fully funded. One example is, Milaca Schools is supposed to be funded for the special education costs, however, it is a lower amount that is promised and needed to provide all the opportunities for the students. The changing world wants schools to provide a larger variety of classes, fitting the changing needs of the world. These cost money that most schools cannot afford to have going for years. I am proud that the house is built each year and has the budget set before the start of the construction as sold to the highest bidder. Our newest area of the High School has the Career Technical Area for the students to work on other wood projects. Internships for students in marketing class for real life experience, these are just two examples of the school trying to provide. The money from the state and federal governments must adjust for inflation, but the downside is the taxes go up. Currently the superintendent and business manager have been able to predict close to the number of students to match the need for teachers and number for classes to offer.

6. I understand the needs of many of the community members in I am on social security and understand how to budget my money to have food on the table and my bills paid. I still work to make ends meet and have affordable health insurance. I have never had an agenda to push my personal interests, just wanting what is best for the students. My vote is for the majority of the students as the board cannot guarantee that the decisions benefit equally to all. I believe that I have not made any decisions that were not a benefit for the community and students, while on the board. As board members are individuals, one voice-one vote, on each agenda item, I will continue to support the decisions of the final vote total.

7. Communication is a goal that the current board members are focusing on to get others involved in the future for the school. I want more people of all ages to attend the meetings to see what really is happening in the business/governing side of the school. More calls to the board members on the topics that affect your student and community. Keep finding the members in the places of business and tell us what your concerns are.