Pat Gleason Retires From Wayzata School Board

Since Pat Gleason was elected to the 19 years ago she has seen the district change and grow.

Since she first ran and won a seat on the board in 1992, Gleason has been re-elected to the board every election until this year, when she decided not to run.

Since she started, Gleason has worked with four different superintendents, the district's student population has grown from around 5,500 to 10,400 and the general fund budget has grown from $39 million to $116 million, Gleason said.
  
"We have had several boundary changes also, mostly because the growth is in the north part of the district and the majority of the buildings are in the south," she said.

The $64 million bond issue that voters approved in June 1993 provided $52 million for the construction of the new high school, she said.

"The rest of the money paid for remodeling and updating of older buildings to accommodate the grade reconfiguration," Gleason said. 

Gleason moved to Plymouth with her family in 1979 across from Gleason Lake. Her husband, Jim Gleason, is not related to the Gleason family who had a farm and homestead in that area. His family is from the Duluth area and Pat is originally from Springfield, IL.

She grew up in a parochial school system, but fell in love with public education when she moved to the Wayzata School District and started helping out at her children's schools, first in the parent-teacher volunteer groups.

"I'd intended for my kids to go to Catholic school, but then once I walked in the doors of Birchview [Elementary School] there was no comparison," Gleason said.

When Gleason decided to run for the School Board, the district was going through some major challenges.

"We were in a $6.1 million operating debt in 1992," she said. "That September we found out that the debt was counted as revenue wrongly."

Because of the debt 52 new teachers had been laid off, which had been devastating. It was hard to go through all that, Gleason said. And negotiations the next year proved to be even more difficult.

"There was almost a strike in 1993 and what concerned me most was the way it was being handled," she said. "That year we also hired a new superintendent."

A new human resources director also was hired at the time and Gleason points to the changes made then that created a collaborative bargaining process that is "one of the best-kept secrets," Gleason said.

"What started then is a wonderful relationship between all stakeholders," she said. "Today we are trusting of each other and trustworthy. We settle things before the school year begins so teachers can concentrate on getting ready for that instead of how negotiations are going."

Budgets have always been a challenge for public school districts and school boards and Gleason is no stranger to the budget process.

"People say if they ran their business like we run a school district they'd be out of business, but you don’t have to set your budget before someone like the Legislature tells you what kind of funding you will get and that is the way education is," Gleason said. "You have to feel your way."

Past School Board member Howard Casmay who is now retired and living in Washington, D.C., had been a profound influence on the way Gleason looked at public education and the Wayzata School District. Casmay understood school finances.

"He also understood curriculum couldn't suffer," she said. "We could have cut deeper with the debt in 1992-93."

Gleason is retiring from the School Board, but will continue working as an RN. She has worked in critical care at several different hospitals and health centers in the metro and will continue to work part-time at Carlson Urgent Care Clinic. Gleason said she will remain active in the community.

"I'm stepping away, but not jumping off a cliff," Gleason said. "I want to work with a group at Interfaith Outreach on early childhood education opportunities and just spend more time in buildings with people out in the community rather than in the board room."

But she also wants to spend time with her family including her three grandchildren.

She has enjoyed getting to know people who work and volunteer for the Wayzata School District.

"These wonderful, bright, hardworking people make such a difference in the lives of these children who one day will change the world," she said. "I have learned just how deeply our staff holds the belief that they must be 'present' for those students every day because they are the most important factor in student success."

At the Dec. 12 School Board meeting, Gleason was awarded the Trojan of the Year award, which recognizes those who have made a great impact on district and school community. Board members and others recognized Gleason and talked about her impact on the district.

"Clearly she’s been an influence in my life and thousands of kids who graduated from Wayzata schools," said Board Member Susan Gaither. "I respect her courage and conviction and how she stands up for what she believes in and can plow through even when she's in the minority."

John Moroz recognized Gleason for her work throughout the years.

"Thank you on behalf of my kids and all the other kids in the district for making this the best district," Moroz said.

Board Member Carter Peterson said in a way Gleason's retirement from the board is like a graduation.

"You leave us with a AAA bond rating, one of three in state that have that," Peterson said. "You’re leaving this place in a much better place."

Gleason said she realized while at the Class of 2011's graduation none of those graduates were born yet when she started on the board.

Gleason hopes that the district embraces its new strategic roadmap, one of the last things she approved while on the board in late 2011. She sees the roadmap "as the path for the future," Gleason said.

She also hopes the future board continues to believe that the trusting, collaborative relationships among all of the stakeholders are essential to the growth and success of the district.