We want to say thank you for two things today:

First, thank you to the six superintendent finalists for coming to Albert Lea and meeting with our school officials. Your time and efforts are appreciated by this community because this community values education. The finalists were:

♦ Cathy Bettino, superintendent of the Pine River-Backus School District.

♦ Mike Funk, superintendent of the Bird Island, Olivia, Lake Lillian School District, often termed BOLD.

♦ John Chalstrom, superintendent of the Cherokee (Iowa) Community School District.

♦ Joe Brown, superintendent, Grand Meadow School District.

♦ Jamie Skjeveland, superintendent of the Crosby-Ironton School District.

♦ Mary Smidt, superintendent of the Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley School District.

Congratulations to Funk for being offered the position. We hope our district’s children are the winners.

Second, we wish to say thank you to the community members who will sit on a citizen task force to look at solving the forecast budget shortfall as a result of expected cuts to local government aid.

The members of the task force are Mike Moore, Bryan Purdie, Corrine Tims, Claire Vermedahl, Mike Ellis, Sheila Shulz, Lenore Fries, Dennis Dieser, Yolanda Martinez, Derby Olsen, Dave Klatt and Rita Moyer.

It will be a hard job, but we are glad to see trusted names on this list.