Albert Lea board reviews MSBA survey, opts for limited public input during superintendent interviews

The Albert Lea Public School District school board reviewed a 420‑response public engagement survey prepared by the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) and voted to invite a limited set of community and staff representatives to submit anonymous written feedback during round‑two superintendent interviews.

MSBA consultant Barb Dorn presented a 21‑page summary of the survey, which she said drew responses from a “good cross section” of district constituents and closely aligned with the school board’s own hiring criteria. The board decided to use Option 3 from MSBA’s public‑input options — an audience input form completed anonymously by invited representatives after each finalist interview — rather than opening the board’s interview schedule to broad public questioning or relying solely on the written summary.

Why the choice matters

The decision shapes who has a formalized channel to record impressions of finalists. Under the option the board adopted, invited representatives will watch scheduled interviews and submit up to three strengths and three areas for growth for each finalist via an electronic form. MSBA said the form responses will be provided to the board anonymously before deliberations.

What the survey showed

Dorn told the board 420 people completed the survey — above MSBA’s statistical expectation for a district with 3,220 students — and that respondents included staff, parents/guardians, students and community members. Top technical…