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NEW ULM -- Members of the New Ulm School Board shared what they learned from the Minnesota School Board Association's annual winter meeting during a school board meeting Thursday.
The meeting brought school board members from across Minnesota to participate in panels and discussions amongst each other. Most members of the New Ulm School Board were able to attend and shared what they took away from the meeting.
Board member Melissa Sunderman attended panels on AI and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. She said the AI presentation was not what she was expecting going in. They did an overview of usage and non-usage instead of giving scenarios surrounding AI usage in schools.
The LGBTQ+ youth panel was hosted by students, and Sunderman said she was able to take away plenty from the panel.
"I think all the students that were there were amazing," she said. "They spoke so well and eloquently. It was very knowledgeable and I think it was very good."
She also thanked fellow board member Matt Ringhofer, as he was one of the staff involved in putting the panel together.
Board member Christie Dewanz was moved by a panel on dyslexia and how much it affects students. The panel involved an exercise where one-half of the audience received a normal handout, while the other half received a handout that was modified to show what a dyslexic person might see.
Neither side knew about this difference, and they each read their handout to the other group. Dewanz said a response from someone with an unchanged handout highlighted the panel's messaging.
"One of the members on the other side of the room's first thought was, 'How did you ever get to be a board member if you can’t read a simple paragraph?'" She said. "That really highlights the struggles [they face]. I didn’t realize exactly how to imagine they were struggling. A lot of respect for kids to work their way through that."
Ringhofer attended a panel on current court cases regarding LGBTQ+ supports within schools. He said these cases will have a major impact on school districts across the state, which he believes will be positive for LGBTQ+ students.
Superintendent Sean Koster thanked the board members who were able to attend for sharing what they learned and how it impacted their thoughts on the current state of education. He said the board has been out in full force to conferences like this, which is not always a given.
"I wanted to give a shout-out to you for all the time and commitment you put into learning and growing as a school board," Koster said. "One of the comments I consistently hear across the state is that sometimes it’s hard to get their board members to go to conferences and be engaged on a different level. You all do that and do it well."