Staff and Consultants Southeast Service Cooperative—Rochester Staff

Suzanne Riley ............................ Executive Director .............................................................. 507-281-6673 ................................... sriley@ssc.coop Dale Walston ............................ Director of Operations ....................................................... 507-281-6675 ............................. dwalston@ssc.coop Amy Grover ............................... Director of Planning and General Administration .............. 507-281-6693 ................................agrover@ssc.coop Katie Sue Cunningham .............. Training and Program Technician ...................................... 507-281-6667 ...................... kcunningham@ssc.coop Chris Hancock ........................... Accounting Technician ....................................................... 507-281-6671 ............................. chancock@ssc.coop Kari Kubicek .............................. Program Coordinator ......................................................... 507-281-6668 .............................. kkubicek@ssc.coop Kirsten Kuehl ............................. Instructional Services Coordinator ..................................... 507-281-6670 ................................. kkuehl@ssc.coop Nicole LaChapelle ..................... Communications and Program Technician ........................ 507-281-6674 ..........................nlachapelle@ssc.coop Regan Limuti ............................. Program Assistant, Meeting Center ................................... 507-281-6666 ................................. rlimuti@ssc.coop Lori Mack .................................. Regional Education/Literacy Specialist .............................. 507-281-6691 .................................. lmack@ssc.coop Katie Schmitt ............................. Cooperative Purchasing Technician and PBIS Trainer ........ 507-281-6676 .............................. kschmitt@ssc.coop Bob Tweten .............................. Health and Safety Management Assistance Consultant .... 507-281-6663 .............................. btweten@ssc.coop

Southeast/Metro Regional Center of Excellence Staff

Ann Clark .................................. Center Director .................................................................. 507-696-7735 ................................. aclark@mnce.org Barb Marchetti .......................... Special Education Specialist ............................................... 507-696-0274 ......................... bmarchetti@mnce.org Kelly Frankenfield ..................... English Language Development Specialist ......................... 507-696-0277 ..................... kfrankenfield@mnce.org George Sand ............................. Charter School Specialist .................................................... 507-696-3721 ................................. gsand@mnce.org Andrew Schalm ......................... Mathematics Specialist ...................................................... 507-696-0254 ............................. aschalm@mnce.org Kristin Scherman ....................... Reading Specialist .............................................................. 507-696-0285 ......................... kscherman@mnce.org Carol Swanson .......................... Implementation Science Specialist .................................... 507-696-0229 ........................... cswanson@mnce.org

Consultants

Bill Colopoulos .......................... Health and Benefits Consultant ......................................... 507-206-7419 ........................ bcolopoulos@ssc.coop Pat Weir .................................... IEA Regional Manager ........................................................ 507-281-6677 ....................... patw@ieainstitute.com

2013-2014 Budget

Board of Directors

Carol Cravath, Chairperson, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Public Schools Peggy Merkel, Vice-Chairperson, Kingsland Public Schools Susan Phillips, Treasurer, Freeborn County (retired) Al Nelson, Clerk, Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools Theressa Arrick-Kruger, Houston County Mike Christensen, Red Wing Public Schools Brian Grudem, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools Molly Rieke-Hofschulte, Dover-Eyota Public Schools Stephen Rosenthal, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools Marcia Ward, Winona County

Administrative Advisory Committee (Education)

Mike Funk, Superintendent, Albert Lea Public Schools Beth Giese, Superintendent, Cannon Falls Public Schools Ed Harris, Superintendent, Chatfield Public Schools Cheryl Johnson, Director, Goodhue County Education District Craig Junker, Superintendent, Lake City Public Schools Gary Kuphal, Superintendent, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Public Schools Mark Matuska, Superintendent, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools John McDonald, Superintendent, Kingsland Public Schools Dave Thompson, Superintendent, Stewartville Public Schools Rachel Udstuen, Superintendent, Spring Grove Public Schools Ron Wilke, Superintendent, LaCrescent-Hokah Public Schools

PUSHING TOWARD

How do we know that we are heading toward excellence? For the fifth consecutive year, Southeast Service Cooperative (SSC) was honored with the national 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility for its use of flexibility and other aspects of workplace effectiveness as a workplace strategy to increase business and employee success. This prestigious award, part of the national When Work Works project administered by Families and Work Institute (FWI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognizes employers of all sizes and types in the region and across the country. SSC was also recently recognized, for the second year in a row, as one of the 2013 Best Places to Work in Southeast Minnesota by Workforce Development, Inc. This national program recognizes the best employers in local communities. Workforce Development studied companies within Freeborn, Mower, Rice, Steele, Goodhue, Olmsted, Houston Counties. These honors indicate that we are focused on developing a high-functioning workplace that attracts and retains highly competent staff to most effectively meet our member’s needs.

To continue our momentum toward excellence, our staff conducts ongoing strategic planning, with input and assistance from the Board of Directors and the Administrative Advisory Committee (AAC). This year we focused on our core values. We work toward our mission every single day by providing support, services, and solutions, ensuring that we understand our members’ needs, and identifying how we serve as an essential partner in fulfilling shared needs. We recognize that our values form the foundation on which we perform work and conduct ourselves. Core values are not descriptions of the work we do or the strategies we employ to accomplish our mission. Shared values underlie our work, how we interact with each other, and influence the strategies we employ to fulfill our mission. Core values are the basic elements of how we go about our work. They are the practices we use every day in everything we do. In a collaboration of staff, Board members, and AAC members, we have identified

SSC’s core values:

Integrity. We carry out our work with a high level of responsibility, accountability, and ethics.

Excellence. We are forward-thinking, efficient, effective, and highly competent.

Relationships. We facilitate collaboration with respect and passion to serve.

210 Wood Lake Drive SE Rochester, MN 55904 Phone: 507-288-1282

Fax: 507-288-7663 Website: www.ssc.coop

SSC Mission: Driven by the needs of our members, we provide support,

services, and solutions that increase value, maximize resources, and

promote continuous improvement.

STUDENT ENRICHMENT Regional student programs include Virtual Reality Education Pathfinder (VREP), Science and Nature Conference, SE MN Spelling Bee, Junior and Senior High Knowledge Bowl, and two Young Authors, Young Artists Conferences. Contact: Kirsten Kuehl, kkuehl@ssc.coop, 507-281-6670 Katie Sue Cunningham, kcunningham@ssc.coop, 507-281-6667

STANDARDSINSIGHTMN™ Districts who want to support their educators with unpacking standards and looking to save time and resources will access SSC’s web-based resource for professional interpretation of the Minnesota English Language Arts and Mathematics standards. It assists in the complicated work of aligning curriculum directly to benchmarks. Educators use it to target instruction so students develop the knowledge, skills, and conceptual understandings expected within each standard, then demonstrate their attainment and understanding. In StandardsInsightMN, the groundwork is completed and the framework in place so teachers can collaboratively discuss questions that are specific to their classrooms, building, and district, encouraging a culture of improvement and effective, efficient group work. Contact: Amy Grover, agrover@ssc.coop, 507-281-6693

COOPERATIVE PURCHASING Cooperative purchasing of supplies and equipment (paper, technology, office, school, building supplies and more) offers discounts with highly reputable vendors. In the coming year, we will continue site visits and introduction of newly contracted vendors. We will roll out a new MN Service Cooperative e-Procurement system, allowing members to compare vendors, pricing, and products online, then place orders through one user-friendly portal. This tool will supplement enhancements to the statewide website at www.purchasingconnection.org. Contact: Dale Walston, dwalston@ssc.coop, 507-281-6675 or Katie Schmitt, kschmitt@ssc.coop, 507-281-6676

HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR SCHOOLS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Technical assistance helps members with compliance, mock OSHA inspections, health and safety levy planning, and online staff training. Members will access comprehensive management of facility projects by the Institute for Environmental Assessment’s highly skilled professionals and labs. In 2013-2014, SSC will continue to strengthen and promote these services, respond to member needs, and ensure consistency and quality of service. We will increase safety and security support options with the addition of SafeSchools components 1) Materials Safety Data Sheets management, 2) SafeSchools Alert for safety incident reporting and tracking, 3) SafeSchools accident tracking, and 4) SafePersonnel for non-academic organizations. In coordination with the Instructional Services team, Cooperative Purchasing, Health & Safety Management Assistance, and the PBIS program, we will introduce new safety and security support services to include training in various formats, which may address such topics as building security, safety practices, crisis management, behavior management, and other related topics. Contact for Health and Safety Management Assistance: Bob Tweten, btweten@ssc.coop, 507-281-6663 Contact for Environmental Health and Safety Consulting: Pat Weir, patw@ieainstitute.com, 507-281-6677 Contact for Online Health and Safety Training: Kari Kubicek, kkubicek@ssc.coop, 507-281-6668

HEALTH AND BENEFITS Pool groups receive professional expertise and technical assistance in planning and managing group health benefits. SSC’s minimum premium, self-insured pool program and multi-region negotiation of low administrative costs translates to member savings. We continue to enhance plan management services, promote consumer directed health plans, and offer supplemental benefit options (eg, dental, vision, long-term care, disability, and life). Employee Assistance Program services of Sand Creek Group are discount priced. In health and wellness, we will offer health forums and other training. Pool members will take advantage of support services, low cost incentive items, and mini-grant funding opportunities through the SSC Health Promotion Support Program. Contacts: Suzanne Riley, sriley@ssc.coop, 507-281-6673 and Bill Colopoulos, bcolopoulos@ssc.coop Health and Wellness Promotion: Nicole LaChapelle, nlachapelle@ssc.coop, 507-281-6674

INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

Professional Development (PD). Committed to excellence, the Southeast Service Cooperative’s Instructional Services Team offers effective solutions to support educators in their mission to improve student achievement.

To this end, the team will offer a wide variety of PD opportunities throughout the year, reaching existing and new audiences. We will develop packaged service options and will pursue grant opportunities to support new and existing programs. We will also focus on strengthening and expanding our relationships and partnerships with other service organizations to bring added value to our members. Increased focus areas will include art, music, mental health, school readiness, safety and security, and STEM. Continued PD support will be coordinated in Gifted and Talented Networks for educators and parents, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS, Katie Schmitt), Math and Science Teacher Partnership (MSTP, Kari Kubicek), and Educator Evaluation planning and implementation support (Amy Grover). Contact: Lori Mack, lmack@ssc.coop, 507-281-6691 Literacy Consulting and Instructional Support. SSC will continue to enhance your local literacy initiatives with standards-based training, delivering Speaking of Literacy…™ columns, and on-site personalized coaching for teachers and professional learning communities. We will promote job-embedded professional learning with educators in their classrooms, with their students. Additional symposiums and forums will offer best practices, resources and support for the implementation of the English Language Arts and Literacy standards. New focus areas include vocabulary, writing process, early literacy, and adolescent literacy … to name a few. Contact: Lori Mack, lmack@ssc.coop, 507-281-6691 Southeast Minnesota Learner Achievement Collaborative (SEMLAC). SSC is pleased to continue coordination assistance as this group enters its third year of sustaining multi-district professional learning communities (PLCs). The two pillars of the program are 1) common professional development days for learning and networking and 2) leadership team capacity building. Nationally renowned Dr. Anthony Muhammad will share his insights on school culture and the impact of personalities on PLCs. Contact: Amy Grover, agrover@ssc.coop, 507-281-6693 Mobile Science Labs. This ongoing partnership of SSC, Mayo Clinic, and Rochester Area Math Science Partnership now offers three Labs that carry scientific equipment directly to high school science classrooms. Almost 6,000 students in our region have had the opportunity to experience the labs, following Mayo sponsored teacher academies. The new Food Science Lab will be available for rental in Fall of 2013. Contact: Amy Grover, agrover@ssc.coop, 507-281-6693

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

Training and Support. Our experienced instructors have been certified to deliver high-quality technology training that is practical and applicable to professional needs. During the 2013-2014 year, we will offer SMART Board, Moodle, and iPad sessions and will introduce additional training opportunities in response to feedback and requests. Educators are invited to a 21st Century Leadership event featuring national expert Rob Mancabelli. SSC will tap into our connections with other respected technology integrationists to bring high-quality opportunities to our region. SSC also hosts Moodle space for member organizations. We will explore the feasibility of a regional Technology Integration Network to support successful integration of instructional technology. Contact: Kari Kubicek, kkubicek@ssc.coop, 507-281-6668 Clarity by BrightBytes. This technology integration needs assessment survey and planning tool collects data from administrators, teachers, and students in four areas (classroom, access, skills and environment). The results help educators to measure and drive technology decisions and investments, position students for success with technology, measure the impact of technology spending on student learning, and save money on technology projects and professional development. It provides a quick, efficient way to measure the degree of instructional technology integration in the classroom, resulting in a detailed report that shows technology strengths in the district, provides a plan for meeting standards, identifies professional development needs, and allows districts to track progress over time. Regional, aggregated data from BrightBytes/Clarity will help SSC develop and deliver professional development targeted to common needs and improved classroom technology integration. Contact: Kari Kubicek, kkubicek@ssc.coop, 507-281-6668

SOUTHEAST/METRO CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

This team of specialists provides coordinated technical assistance as part of the Statewide System of Support (SSOS) for Focus and Priority schools in 11 southeast counties and 7 Twin Cities/metro Minnesota counties. Work revolves around components of continuous school improvement, including needs assessment, root cause analysis, data analysis, standards alignment, instructional strategies, assessment, and instructional leadership. Contact: Ann Clark, aclark@ssc.coop, 507-696-7735.

Just for you, coming in 2014 …

WOOD LAKE MEETING CENTER EXPANSION To complement SSC’s parking lot that added 180 spots in 2012, we are doubling the Meeting Center space by expanding and redesigning the existing space and the adjacent space previously leased out. This will help us better meet SSC Member training needs and allow us to rent out SSC’s prime meeting/training space as a revenue source. Keep abreast of the construction on the WLMC Facebook page or at www.woodlakemeetingcenter.com. Contact: Nicole LaChapelle, nlachapelle@ssc.coop, 507-281-6674

STUDENT ENRICHMENT Regional student programs include Virtual Reality Education Pathfinder (VREP), Science and Nature Conference, SE MN Spelling Bee, Junior and Senior High Knowledge Bowl, and two Young Authors, Young Artists Conferences. Contact: Kirsten Kuehl, kkuehl@ssc.coop, 507-281-6670 Katie Sue Cunningham, kcunningham@ssc.coop, 507-281-6667

STANDARDSINSIGHTMN™ Districts who want to support their educators with unpacking standards and looking to save time and resources will access SSC’s web-based resource for professional interpretation of the Minnesota English Language Arts and Mathematics standards. It assists in the complicated work of aligning curriculum directly to benchmarks. Educators use it to target instruction so students develop the knowledge, skills, and conceptual understandings expected within each standard, then demonstrate their attainment and understanding. In StandardsInsightMN, the groundwork is completed and the framework in place so teachers can collaboratively discuss questions that are specific to their classrooms, building, and district, encouraging a culture of improvement and effective, efficient group work. Contact: Amy Grover, agrover@ssc.coop, 507-281-6693

COOPERATIVE PURCHASING Cooperative purchasing of supplies and equipment (paper, technology, office, school, building supplies and more) offers discounts with highly reputable vendors. In the coming year, we will continue site visits and introduction of newly contracted vendors. We will roll out a new MN Service Cooperative e-Procurement system, allowing members to compare vendors, pricing, and products online, then place orders through one user-friendly portal. This tool will supplement enhancements to the statewide website at www.purchasingconnection.org. Contact: Dale Walston, dwalston@ssc.coop, 507-281-6675 or Katie Schmitt, kschmitt@ssc.coop, 507-281-6676

HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR SCHOOLS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Technical assistance helps members with compliance, mock OSHA inspections, health and safety levy planning, and online staff training. Members will access comprehensive management of facility projects by the Institute for Environmental Assessment’s highly skilled professionals and labs. In 2013-2014, SSC will continue to strengthen and promote these services, respond to member needs, and ensure consistency and quality of service. We will increase safety and security support options with the addition of SafeSchools components 1) Materials Safety Data Sheets management, 2) SafeSchools Alert for safety incident reporting and tracking, 3) SafeSchools accident tracking, and 4) SafePersonnel for non-academic organizations. In coordination with the Instructional Services team, Cooperative Purchasing, Health & Safety Management Assistance, and the PBIS program, we will introduce new safety and security support services to include training in various formats, which may address such topics as building security, safety practices, crisis management, behavior management, and other related topics. Contact for Health and Safety Management Assistance: Bob Tweten, btweten@ssc.coop, 507-281-6663 Contact for Environmental Health and Safety Consulting: Pat Weir, patw@ieainstitute.com, 507-281-6677 Contact for Online Health and Safety Training: Kari Kubicek, kkubicek@ssc.coop, 507-281-6668

HEALTH AND BENEFITS Pool groups receive professional expertise and technical assistance in planning and managing group health benefits. SSC’s minimum premium, self-insured pool program and multi-region negotiation of low administrative costs translates to member savings. We continue to enhance plan management services, promote consumer directed health plans, and offer supplemental benefit options (eg, dental, vision, long-term care, disability, and life). Employee Assistance Program services of Sand Creek Group are discount priced. In health and wellness, we will offer health forums and other training. Pool members will take advantage of support services, low cost incentive items, and mini-grant funding opportunities through the SSC Health Promotion Support Program. Contacts: Suzanne Riley, sriley@ssc.coop, 507-281-6673 and Bill Colopoulos, bcolopoulos@ssc.coop Health and Wellness Promotion: Nicole LaChapelle, nlachapelle@ssc.coop, 507-281-6674

INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

Professional Development (PD). Committed to excellence, the Southeast Service Cooperative’s Instructional Services Team offers effective solutions to support educators in their mission to improve student achievement.

To this end, the team will offer a wide variety of PD opportunities throughout the year, reaching existing and new audiences. We will develop packaged service options and will pursue grant opportunities to support new and existing programs. We will also focus on strengthening and expanding our relationships and partnerships with other service organizations to bring added value to our members. Increased focus areas will include art, music, mental health, school readiness, safety and security, and STEM. Continued PD support will be coordinated in Gifted and Talented Networks for educators and parents, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS, Katie Schmitt), Math and Science Teacher Partnership (MSTP, Kari Kubicek), and Educator Evaluation planning and implementation support (Amy Grover). Contact: Lori Mack, lmack@ssc.coop, 507-281-6691 Literacy Consulting and Instructional Support. SSC will continue to enhance your local literacy initiatives with standards-based training, delivering Speaking of Literacy…™ columns, and on-site personalized coaching for teachers and professional learning communities. We will promote job-embedded professional learning with educators in their classrooms, with their students. Additional symposiums and forums will offer best practices, resources and support for the implementation of the English Language Arts and Literacy standards. New focus areas include vocabulary, writing process, early literacy, and adolescent literacy … to name a few. Contact: Lori Mack, lmack@ssc.coop, 507-281-6691 Southeast Minnesota Learner Achievement Collaborative (SEMLAC). SSC is pleased to continue coordination assistance as this group enters its third year of sustaining multi-district professional learning communities (PLCs). The two pillars of the program are 1) common professional development days for learning and networking and 2) leadership team capacity building. Nationally renowned Dr. Anthony Muhammad will share his insights on school culture and the impact of personalities on PLCs. Contact: Amy Grover, agrover@ssc.coop, 507-281-6693 Mobile Science Labs. This ongoing partnership of SSC, Mayo Clinic, and Rochester Area Math Science Partnership now offers three Labs that carry scientific equipment directly to high school science classrooms. Almost 6,000 students in our region have had the opportunity to experience the labs, following Mayo sponsored teacher academies. The new Food Science Lab will be available for rental in Fall of 2013. Contact: Amy Grover, agrover@ssc.coop, 507-281-6693

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

Training and Support. Our experienced instructors have been certified to deliver high-quality technology training that is practical and applicable to professional needs. During the 2013-2014 year, we will offer SMART Board, Moodle, and iPad sessions and will introduce additional training opportunities in response to feedback and requests. Educators are invited to a 21st Century Leadership event featuring national expert Rob Mancabelli. SSC will tap into our connections with other respected technology integrationists to bring high-quality opportunities to our region. SSC also hosts Moodle space for member organizations. We will explore the feasibility of a regional Technology Integration Network to support successful integration of instructional technology. Contact: Kari Kubicek, kkubicek@ssc.coop, 507-281-6668 Clarity by BrightBytes. This technology integration needs assessment survey and planning tool collects data from administrators, teachers, and students in four areas (classroom, access, skills and environment). The results help educators to measure and drive technology decisions and investments, position students for success with technology, measure the impact of technology spending on student learning, and save money on technology projects and professional development. It provides a quick, efficient way to measure the degree of instructional technology integration in the classroom, resulting in a detailed report that shows technology strengths in the district, provides a plan for meeting standards, identifies professional development needs, and allows districts to track progress over time. Regional, aggregated data from BrightBytes/Clarity will help SSC develop and deliver professional development targeted to common needs and improved classroom technology integration. Contact: Kari Kubicek, kkubicek@ssc.coop, 507-281-6668

SOUTHEAST/METRO CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

This team of specialists provides coordinated technical assistance as part of the Statewide System of Support (SSOS) for Focus and Priority schools in 11 southeast counties and 7 Twin Cities/metro Minnesota counties. Work revolves around components of continuous school improvement, including needs assessment, root cause analysis, data analysis, standards alignment, instructional strategies, assessment, and instructional leadership. Contact: Ann Clark, aclark@ssc.coop, 507-696-7735.

Just for you, coming in 2014 …

WOOD LAKE MEETING CENTER EXPANSION To complement SSC’s parking lot that added 180 spots in 2012, we are doubling the Meeting Center space by expanding and redesigning the existing space and the adjacent space previously leased out. This will help us better meet SSC Member training needs and allow us to rent out SSC’s prime meeting/training space as a revenue source. Keep abreast of the construction on the WLMC Facebook page or at www.woodlakemeetingcenter.com. Contact: Nicole LaChapelle, nlachapelle@ssc.coop, 507-281-6674

Staff and Consultants Southeast Service Cooperative—Rochester Staff

Suzanne Riley ............................ Executive Director .............................................................. 507-281-6673 ................................... sriley@ssc.coop Dale Walston ............................ Director of Operations ....................................................... 507-281-6675 ............................. dwalston@ssc.coop Amy Grover ............................... Director of Planning and General Administration .............. 507-281-6693 ................................agrover@ssc.coop Katie Sue Cunningham .............. Training and Program Technician ...................................... 507-281-6667 ...................... kcunningham@ssc.coop Chris Hancock ........................... Accounting Technician ....................................................... 507-281-6671 ............................. chancock@ssc.coop Kari Kubicek .............................. Program Coordinator ......................................................... 507-281-6668 .............................. kkubicek@ssc.coop Kirsten Kuehl ............................. Instructional Services Coordinator ..................................... 507-281-6670 ................................. kkuehl@ssc.coop Nicole LaChapelle ..................... Communications and Program Technician ........................ 507-281-6674 ..........................nlachapelle@ssc.coop Lori Mack .................................. Regional Education/Literacy Specialist .............................. 507-281-6691 .................................. lmack@ssc.coop Katie Schmitt ............................. Cooperative Purchasing Technician and PBIS Trainer ........ 507-281-6676 .............................. kschmitt@ssc.coop Bob Tweten .............................. Health and Safety Management Assistance Consultant .... 507-281-6663 .............................. btweten@ssc.coop

Southeast/Metro Regional Center of Excellence Staff

Ann Clark .................................. Center Director .................................................................. 507-696-7735 ................................. aclark@mnce.org Barb Marchetti .......................... Special Education Specialist ............................................... 507-696-0274 ......................... bmarchetti@mnce.org Kelly Frankenfield ..................... English Language Development Specialist ......................... 507-696-0277 ..................... kfrankenfield@mnce.org George Sand ............................. Charter School Specialist .................................................... 507-696-3721 ................................. gsand@mnce.org Andrew Schalm ......................... Mathematics Specialist ...................................................... 507-696-0254 ............................. aschalm@mnce.org Kristin Scherman ....................... Reading Specialist .............................................................. 507-696-0285 ......................... kscherman@mnce.org Carol Swanson .......................... Implementation Science Specialist .................................... 507-696-0229 ........................... cswanson@mnce.org

Consultants

Bill Colopoulos .......................... Health and Benefits Consultant ......................................... 507-206-7419 ........................ bcolopoulos@ssc.coop Pat Weir .................................... IEA Regional Manager ........................................................ 507-281-6677 ....................... patw@ieainstitute.com

2013-2014 Budget

Board of Directors

Carol Cravath, Chairperson, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Public Schools Peggy Merkel, Vice-Chairperson, Kingsland Public Schools Susan Phillips, Treasurer, Freeborn County (retired) Al Nelson, Clerk, Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools Theressa Arrick-Kruger, Houston County Mike Christensen, Red Wing Public Schools Brian Grudem, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools Molly Rieke-Hofschulte, Dover-Eyota Public Schools Stephen Rosenthal, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools Marcia Ward, Winona County

Administrative Advisory Committee (Education)

Mike Funk, Superintendent, Albert Lea Public Schools Beth Giese, Superintendent, Cannon Falls Public Schools Ed Harris, Superintendent, Chatfield Public Schools Cheryl Johnson, Director, Goodhue County Education District Craig Junker, Superintendent, Lake City Public Schools Gary Kuphal, Superintendent, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Public Schools Mark Matuska, Superintendent, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools John McDonald, Superintendent, Kingsland Public Schools Dave Thompson, Superintendent, Stewartville Public Schools Rachel Udstuen, Superintendent, Spring Grove Public Schools Ron Wilke, Superintendent, LaCrescent-Hokah Public Schools

PUSHING TOWARD

How do we know that we are heading toward excellence? For the fifth consecutive year, Southeast Service Cooperative (SSC) was honored with the national 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility for its use of flexibility and other aspects of workplace effectiveness as a workplace strategy to increase business and employee success. This prestigious award, part of the national When Work Works project administered by Families and Work Institute (FWI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognizes employers of all sizes and types in the region and across the country. SSC was also recently recognized, for the second year in a row, as one of the 2013 Best Places to Work in Southeast Minnesota by Workforce Development, Inc. This national program recognizes the best employers in local communities. Workforce Development studied companies within Freeborn, Mower, Rice, Steele, Goodhue, Olmsted, Houston Counties. These honors indicate that we are focused on developing a high-functioning workplace that attracts and retains highly competent staff to most effectively meet our member’s needs.

To continue our momentum toward excellence, our staff conducts ongoing strategic planning, with input and assistance from the Board of Directors and the Administrative Advisory Committee (AAC). This year we focused on our core values. We work toward our mission every single day by providing support, services, and solutions, ensuring that we understand our members’ needs, and identifying how we serve as an essential partner in fulfilling shared needs. We recognize that our values form the foundation on which we perform work and conduct ourselves. Core values are not descriptions of the work we do or the strategies we employ to accomplish our mission. Shared values underlie our work, how we interact with each other, and influence the strategies we employ to fulfill our mission. Core values are the basic elements of how we go about our work. They are the practices we use every day in everything we do. In a collaboration of staff, Board members, and AAC members, we have identified

SSC’s core values:

Integrity. We carry out our work with a high level of responsibility, accountability, and ethics.

Excellence. We are forward-thinking, efficient, effective, and highly competent.

Relationships. We facilitate collaboration with respect and passion to serve.

210 Wood Lake Drive SE Rochester, MN 55904 Phone: 507-288-1282

Fax: 507-288-7663 Website: www.ssc.coop

SSC Mission: Driven by the needs of our members, we provide support,

services, and solutions that increase value, maximize resources, and

promote continuous improvement.