What an Honor

On Friday, January I was named by the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to the 2018 All State School Board, the MSBA’s most prestigious honor. How grateful I am for that honor. My appointment to the Robbinsdale School Board in 2002, followed by elections in 2003, 2008, 2012, and 2016. With the appointment in 2002, I was told that Robbinsdale became the first all-female school in the state of Minnesota. I also became the first person of color and African American ever appointed or elected to the Robbinsdale board.

Thinking back on my time on the board, I realize there may be many new to the community, who might wonder, why was Ms. Bassett selected? I thought I’d share a few of the many special moments that I have experienced while serving on the board. Here are some highlights: a multi-year (2005 – 2018) Robbinsdale appointee to the West Metro Education Program (WMEP) Joint Powers Board: serving as the chairwoman from 2011 – 2015. That service occurred during high profile times, including navigating the organization through the successful conveyance of its two magnet schools, FAIR Crystal and FAIR Downtown.

My four-term appointment to Intermediate School District 287 Board was another highlight. I am particularly proud of my work on the 287 board finance committee. My work at 287 included decision making leading to the construction of the 287 South Education Center in Richfield, which bears the name of all directors including former director Linda Johnson and me, as the Robbinsdale reps. Speaking of construction, Former director Johnson and I also served on the screening committee with the administration in the selection of the AS&TR as the firm for the plans for the new Forest Elementary School in Crystal, dedicated in 2005.

As an appointee of the MN Department of Education (MDE) Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force from 2011 – 2012, my testimony at the legislature along with others, helped preserve over $ 2,000,000 in integration revenue. I was later thrilled when the board adopted the concept I proposed that launched the 281 Community Connection Committee. I’m proud to have served on that committee since its inception. How thrilled I was when our board committee was selected to present at the National School Board Association (NSB) 74th Annual National Conference (2014), and at the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) Leadership Conference (2013). As a director, I have also been able to work in the community with the National Coalition of Survivors for Violence Prevention, a youth violence prevention initiative; as past treasurer of the Minneapolis Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 2015 – 2016.

In 2009, I returned to college and took one class at a time until graduation with a BA degree in Public Administration, in 2015. I have been blessed to have a meaningful work life throughout my tenure on the board.

In 2015, I co-founded the Minnesota African Heritage School Board Directors Group (MAHSBD). This year, MAHSBD, along with the newly formed Latino Heritage School Board Directors Group (LHSBDG), held a legislative forum during the MSBA Annual Leadership Conference. The event was a smashing success. The event was attended by school board directors from across the state, two Minnesota Senators, and four State Representatives. The sessions are designed to provide professional development for newly elected and continuing directors with leadership.

As a widowed mother of a Robbinsdale graduate; a step-grandmother to 6 children and step great- grandmother to 10 Children, and step-mother to two deceased children, I know how important public school is. I am very grateful and proud of the great honor of being named to the 2018 All State School Board by the MSBA.