NEW ULM – Don Deslauriers ran for a seat on the District 88 School Board four years ago as a write-in candidate and got elected.

Since that election, it is my impression that he has pulled his own weight and done his share of the work.

Deslauriers is now running for a second term, in part to make efficient use of the knowledge acquired through his first-term service.

“I have learned and a lot and feel that there is more to learn,” the candidate says. “I wanted to see the next four years through, whether the referendum (to build a new high school and remodel existing ones held last August) passed or not.”

Deslauriers is one of five candidates running for three four-year seats. The others are fellow incumbents Steve Gag and Duane Winter and challengers Eric Gramentz and Melissa Sunderman.

Deslauriers was born and raised on a farm by Canby. He graduated from Canby High School in 1986 and earned an associate’s degree in electronics at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, S.D. Deslauriers has lived in New Ulm the last 18 years. He is employed by Allina Clinical Equipment Services as a biomedical technician based out of the New Ulm Medical Center.

Deslauriers and and his wife Tammy, a registered nurse at the New Ulm Medical Center, have three children. Their daughter Macey graduated from New Ulm High School in 2008. Their son Max is a sophomore, and their daughter Morgan a seventh-grader, at New Ulm High School.

The candidate notes that his service on the board is a point in his favor.

“… I have spent four years on the board already, so I have a good understanding of what is going on,” he says, when asked to assess his qualifications to serve.

“I have been involved on many different committees and am familiar with the duties of being on the school board. I have been on activity, policy, finance, and insurance committees.”

“Serving on different committees the last four years has been challenging,” adds Deslauriers. “There are many different parts that have to come together to have a successful school system. Also knowing the roles and expectations of the board has been helpful.”

Deslauriers – who originally got elected on what some perceived as a faculty-friendly reputation – continues to see staff as one of the biggest assets of the district.

“The teachers are exceptional, and this is reflected in the the test scores,” he says. “We also had to transition to a new superintendent. This has been a smooth process. Harold Remme did such a great job for so many years for District 88. One of our strengths was replacing him with Mr. Bertrang. He is challenging staff to strive to be the best.

“Some of the weaknesses of the district would be things that we are already working on to be strengths,” Deslauriers continues. “By passing the referendum, we can increase the size of rooms for students; make the school attractive for families looking to move to the area; increase industrial education programs, which businesses in town have provided input they are looking for; and increase safety and security in our schools.”

Deslauriers advocates against micromanagement on the board’s part.

“Being on the board, we make sure policies are being followed,” he says. “Not taking a real hands-on approach, but making sure we have the staff in place to carry out our goals for the school and students.”

“We are in an exciting time,” he adds, referring to upcoming school improvements. “We have committees in place, along with public input about the building project. Keeping this in mind, we have to build it with our ‘needs,’ not our ‘wants.’ It will be a tough transition to go through, but the end result will only help the community. Not only today, but well into the future.”