A Legacy of Service and Succession

By Superintendent of Hudson Community School District, Dr. Anthony Voss 

Matt Sallee  

A common them almost always emerges when asking board members what drew them to board service. Matt's answer eight years ago was no different. He talked about the  experience his own children had in Hudson and was grateful they had the opportunities they  did at Hudson. When he originally ran, he felt this was a great way to give back to his  community and ensuring that all students have the same positive experiences as his own  children.  

As he finishes up his final term on the board, Matt offers sage advice and reflections from his time on the Board.  

“I have truly enjoyed the experience these last 8 years being part of such an outstanding  team. We are extremely fortunate to live in a community with outstanding students, teachers,  staff, and parents. Hudson's reputation speaks for itself and high performing students and  instructors are considered the norm. This is certainly not the case in every district and Hudson  should never take that for granted. During my time on the board, I quickly realized how  fortunate our district is to have such a strong and experienced team of school administrators.  The level of professionalism exhibited by the administration cascades down into the entire  district and sets the bar at a high level constantly driving for excellence. I’ve always been proud  to say I was part of such a well run organization.”  

One constant facing school boards is the need to make tough decisions. My approach  was to always bring an open mind, lean on the experience gained from years of working with  people in business, and at the end of the day let common sense guide us to the best solutions.  

As a board we accomplished some great things in the last 8 years. Some of the  highlights I'm most proud of include:  

- Keeping the school open through the vast majority of the pandemic  

Remodel of the Elementary  

- Successfully passing a bond issue to renovate and expand the high school  - Working in good faith to pay our teachers the best we can while remaining fiscally  responsible  

- Helping to manage the school budget to ensure full transparency and an extreme level  of financial responsibility for the tax payers in the city of Hudson  

 As for some parting words of advice for his successors, Matt offers the following: 

- Take the time to understand the financials...it's very complicated, but important  - Keep an open mind, but let common sense guide you  

- Lean on your board president's expertise and past experiences. Dave is an  outstanding person who brings a wealth of, "been there, done that" experience.  Matt brought a wealth of experience to his service that only strengthened the work of  the entire Board. He was a good listener, and when he did speak it was always through a lens  of common sense. Matt's strengths were many, but among them are his keen business  acumen. I could always count on him to ask thoughtful questions, particularly around the areas  of school finance.  

Thank you for your service, Matt! We are better because of your leadership! 

Brenda Klenk 

When Brenda decided to run for school board 8 years ago, she did so out of a desire to serve her community. She felt her own children had excellent experiences in school and 

wanted to ensure that all children have the same great experience. Four years later, she ran again because she felt passionate about being a voice for her neighbors, friends, and community. She felt that it's not enough to sit around and talk about what you want to happen.  It's much better to volunteer your time and be part of the process.  

She was passionate about giving our students multiple career opportunities so they are ready for whatever path they decide to choose upon graduation. She believed that having classes and hands-on experiences while in high school would give our students a greater understanding to make educated decisions about their future, hopefully leading them to a successful career.  

So, as Brenda's service on the Hudson Board of Directors comes to a conclusion this month, I invited her to share with me her reflections on this service and what she takes away  from it. Here is what she told me.  

As I reflect on the past eight years as a school board member, the words care,  collaboration, and opportunity come to mind. Through interactions with administrators, staff, and parents, it is abundantly clear how much each of us cares about our students and takes pride in our school. We see daily the focus on our students’ well-being not only physically but  socially as well as the mental health of our students. We all grasp the importance in the  decisions we make and how they affect how our children learn and grow in the classroom and  also help them see and expand their potential.  

I’m especially proud of the many updates that have been accomplished in my time as a board member. From the elementary wing upgrades to the large renovation of the middle  school and the innovative addition of the high school, the key to making it all happen has been the collaboration of the school and the community. We work together to make the best  decisions for our current enrollment while also thinking ahead to what the future of Hudson  Schools will look like.  

The ability to serve as a board member gave me the opportunity to learn about school  governance and how the puzzle pieces all have to fit together to make the school run  successfully. I have the highest regard for the teachers at Hudson as well as the administrative  team, support staff, and my fellow board members. While there have been occasions we have  disagreed on topics, we have been able to have meaningful conversations where each  viewpoint is heard and respected. Opportunities abound when you put your heads together  with a shared vision of creating effective learning environments that result in success for all  students!  

Brenda's strengths are varied. As a starting point, it is incredibly clear to me that she cares very deeply about our school district. Further, she always centered her decisions on what was best for the students in our school district. From a practical standpoint, Brenda was a key advisor on issues of policy, becoming someone I could rely on to ensure our policy was well written, consistent and without error. Anytime a new policy was before the board, before taking  the final vote, one of her colleagues inevitably would ask, 'Brenda, have you looked this over'?  Thank you for your service, Brenda. You will absolutely be missed!