School board incumbent files for re-election

Published 8:07 pm Monday, August 13, 2018

A current school board member filing for re-election said voters should have clear differences when choosing between election candidates — specifically, incumbents — this November.

Jill Marin

School board director Jill Marin filed for re-election to Albert Lea Area Schools’ school board Monday. Marin’s filing means each of the school board’s three current members up for re-election — Marin, vice chairman Dave Klatt and treasurer Mark Ciota — have filed for the chance to return to the school board.

Marin said the district has some good things going on, such as work toward different pathways for students after graduating high school, but she sees areas for improvements.

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That list of improvements includes integrity and transparency with the public; an open climate in the district, board and community; better public relations; improved meeting management and documentation; addressing bullying and more work bettering student preparation post-graduation.

Marin said she believes she offers a unique perspective to the board. She is a licensed private-practice marriage and family therapist and a chemical dependency chaplain at Fountain Centers, and she said she brings a knowledge of family and social systems to the board.

“It’s good to have a variety of viewpoints on the board … but the important thing is that everyone should be able to express their viewpoints and feel that their voices are heard and respected,” she said.

If elected, this would be Marin’s fourth term on the school board.

“I feel that my work is not done,” Marin said. “I believe that we can become better in some of these important areas, and I’m hopeful. I’m hopeful for the future that we can make some strides in the right direction.”

About Sarah Kocher

Sarah covers education and arts and culture for the Tribune.

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