Goodbye Gail

Earlier this month, longtime School board Member Gail Morrison announced she would resign her position. Last Thursday, she attended her final meeting. There her colleagues honored her with a reception and expressed their gratitude. Here are some snippets of their parting statements:

• Superintendent Randy Clegg: "On a personal note, over the past years it has been my privilege to have worked with Gail. I have greatly valued her council, her insights, observations and her ideas," Clegg said. "Gail's long history in the community and knowledge of the school district has been an invaluable asset to me and to the board."

• Board Member Dan Luth: "I'm really, really going to miss you," Luth said. "Those who have watched you and I on the board for the last decade know that we've had our disagreements, sometimes quite viciously. That's more on my side than yours. You've always been gracious."

Luth and Morrison had an adversarial relationship at times. However, Luth said that the two figured out how to work together harmoniously the year he was vice-chair and she was chair.

"I think there were people out there thinking, 'Oh boy, how is this going to work?'" Luth recalled. "But we made it work. I think at the time that was a turning point for us."

Luth said that Morrison's successor would have "Big shoes to fill."
"A lot of years of experience will walk out the door with you," Luth said. "You've had a huge positive impact on this district that will be felt for many years to come."

• Board Member DeeDee Currier, who has known Morrison for decades: "As I was thinking about it this afternoon of course I began to tear up. Gail helped start the whole volunteer effort in our district," Currier said. "You've been a wonderful mentor, a wonderful role model and certainly a contributor to education in Minnesota as well as in this district."

• Board Member Sandy Sweep: "It has been such an honor to serve with you the last three years. I know that the board has been going through some tough changes. I admired your clarity, your conciseness, your research and knowledge of the issues."

• Board Member Jim Schmid: "(I'm) a new board member and you were welcoming and supportive. I was very appreciative of that. I'm very happy for your next stage of life."

• Board Member Paula Teiken: "What I would really like to say is that I'm going to miss your leadership. I've always looked to you in the short time I've been hereof advice. I do wish you the best."

• Chair Ron Hill: "I respect you more than you probably know," Hill said. "You've been compassionate. You've been a leader and you helped me grow, you helped me change."

• Morrison's final thoughts: "It is with mixed feelings that I'm leaving the school board. I'm very excited about this next chapter but also feeling great affection for this community and district."

In one way or another, Morrison has been involved in the district for 25 years, as a parent, an employee and finally as a member of the board for almost 11 years. 

Morrison said she would cherish many memories of ISD 191.

"Just like any parent I remember the first day of kindergarten for my children. the anxiousness and excitement associated with that important life marker. I still tear up with pride when I think of their walk across the stage to receive their diploma as graduates of Burnsville High School."

She described the last few years as tough, but rewarding.

"This is an exciting time to be involved in public education. I don't recall a time when the stakes were so high, the challenges so great and the resources so stretched," Morrison said. "As a community we have high expectations, as we should. never done a better job of meeting the needs of each student and that gives me great pride."