DeKalb_RFP 24-594_CESO_Response - September 9, 2024 - DCSD Board Meeting Archive

RFP 24-594:
Operations & IT Division Assessment

DeKalb County School District

July 18, 2024

Rethink Possible.
July 18, 2024

Fred Christopher
Procurement Manager
DeKalb County School District
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Dear Mr. Christopher,

The Center for Effective School Operations (CESO) is pleased to present this proposal to
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) in response to RFP 24-594. Our teams have
extensive experience partnering with school districts to implement a variety of
operational assessments. We support school districts nationwide in various ways to
rethink possible through collaboration.

CESO believes in the power of a successful, equitable learning journey for each student.
Our expertise in K-12 operations keeps districts running smoothly so leaders can focus
on what matters most. What began as a transportation organization more than 20 years
ago has transformed into a full-service consulting, management, and staffing partner
across key operational areas including Transportation, Human Resources,
Communications, Technology, Facilities, Finance, Nutrition, and Organizational Health. We
have provided services to over 230 clients across 35 states. Together, our proactive team
solves complex challenges while helping clients Rethink Possible.

We are confident that we can effectively provide DCSD with recommendations for
immediate and long-term improvements in support of the DCSD strategic plan. CESO
would commence work as soon as September 3, 2024 and as late as September 6, 2024.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert McDowell
Senior Vice President
Table of Contents
Meet CESO • 1
Compliance Information • 2
Firm Overview • 4
Scope of Services • 10
Relevant Experience & Expertise • 14
Professional References • 16
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Compliance Information •
1.1 | Business License Compliance
The Center For Effective School Operations (CESO) is a Limited Liability Company
incorporated in the State of Minnesota.

While our team will be physically present in DeKalb County to perform several aspects on
this assessment, we will be able to provide much of our service remotely.

CESO is in compliance with the stated requirements with the exceptions of Georgia
business license and special licenses.

If it is determined that CESO cannot perform the scope of work without obtaining
authority to do business in the State of Georgia, it shall complete filings as a foreign LLC
prior to the start of service.

No CESO staff presently hold any special licenses that may be required to complete the
scope work. If awarded, all relevant staff will obtain the necessary licenses before the
start of service.

1.2 | Litigation Information

1.2.1 | Contract Terminations

CESO has not ever failed to complete a contract or contracts or have defaulted or
have been declared in default on any contract.

1.2.1 | Contract Terminations
CESO has not had any legal actions filed against them for services rendered in the
past (5) years.

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RFP 24-594 Operations and IT Division Assessment PAGE 5

DeKalb County School District (“DCSD”) extends this offer to submit a proposal for the possible purchase or
lease of goods and/or services conforming to the following designated specifications, terms, and conditions. This
solicitation will require DCSD Board of Education approval.

Format and Submission of Proposals

Submittal responses to this solicitation will be received electronically on the DeKalb County School District
website at https://dekalbschoolsga.ionwave.net.

The format requirements for RFP responses are designed to ensure uniformity in the responses, provide the
information necessary to understand each offeror’s proposal, and facilitate an efficient and comprehensive
evaluation of all responses. Proposals must comply with the specifications and detailed instructions stated in
this RFP document, be signed by the certifying company official, and be presented to the DCSD Purchasing
Department according to the detailed instructions stated in this document.
• RFP responses must be submitted electronically via https://dekalbschoolsga.ionwave.net.
• Proposals must be presented in a PDF format. All attachments must be identified properly for easy
recognition and association.
• Each page of the response must be numbered.
• Each proposal must contain a detailed Table of Contents and must be organized in the same order
as the requirements are outlined in this RFP document. Each separate bullet point must be addressed
individually. A response that does not adhere to a “point-by-point” format may be disqualified.
• Responses shall be organized simply and economically. Emphasis must be placed on completeness
and clarity. Proposals that do not include all the required information may be disqualified.

All potential respondents must register as a vendor at https://dekalbschoolsga.ionwave.net.

9/3/2024 and latest __________
Time is of the essence. Specify your earliest __________ 9/6/2024 service commencement dates
after receipt of award letter.

Approval by the DeKalb County Board of Education
Official approval by the DeKalb County Board of Education is required for this procurement. No contract shall be
construed to be formed without the advance official approval of the DeKalb County Board of Education. The
successful offeror will be notified after DeKalb County Board of Education approval.

Funding Provisions
No award or contract will be made if funding is not approved by the DeKalb County Board of Education.

Compliance with Requirements
Offeror must indicate below whether or not their proposal is in complete compliance with the stated requirements.
If there are any deviations from these requirements, offeror must indicate in writing what the exact deviations are
and what actual services will be provided. Attach and label additional sheets if necessary.
___ Proposal is in complete compliance with proposal requirements.
___ Proposal deviates from stated requirements as follows:
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Firm Overview •
The Center For Effective School Operations, LCC (CESO) is located at 615 1st Ave NE,
Suite 115 Minneapolis, MN 55413. CESO’s primary contact for this proposal is Dr. Bob
McDowell, Senior Vice President. Dr. McDowell can be reached at
bob.mcdowell@theceso.com or 612-221-8869.

CESO is a Limited Liability Company that was incorporated in the State of Minnesota on
February 3, 2016 and operated under the name The Center For Efficient School
Operations until April 24, 2020 when the company’s name was legally changed to The
Center For Effective School Operations.

CESO currently has 81 employees.

Dr. Bob McDowell will be assigned to lead the overall assessment phases for this project.

2.1 | Organizational Structure
CESO is led by co-CEOs Ron Meyer and Ryan Stromberg along with our leadership team,
providing daily oversight of services.

● co-CEOs: Ron Meyer & Ryan Stromberg
○ Senior Vice President: Dr. Bob McDowell
■ Senior Facilities, Health & Safety Consultant: Doug Stahl
■ Senior Strategy Consultant: DeeDee Kahring
● Facilities Team
○ Vice President of Employee Experience: Laura Eiden
■ Human Resources Team
■ Employee Experience Team
○ Director of Technology: Dustin Lang
■ Senior Technology Consultant: John Perry
■ Technology Team
○ Vice President of Finance: Lauren Syrup
■ Finance Consulting Team
○ Senior Vice President of Transportation: Tom Platt
■ Director of Transportation: Nikki Pangerl

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■ Senior Transportation Consultant: Mike Archer
● Transportation Consulting Team

At CESO, we utilize a team approach to rethinking possibilities for school districts. Our
assessment services are no exception. The lead team members below have extensive
experience in operational assessments across the areas of this RFP.

Dr. Bob McDowell, Senior Vice President - With a career spanning 28 years in public
education, Bob has held various pivotal roles, including superintendent, assistant
superintendent, principal, assistant principal, technology coordinator, teacher, and coach.
Dr. McDowell has honed his expertise in operations and systems development,
Human-Centered Design, leadership development, continuous improvement, equity work,
adaptive strategic planning, coaching, and navigating the superintendent-school board
relationship. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology Education from the University of
Wisconsin-Stout, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of
St. Thomas, a specialist degree in Educational Administration from Minnesota
State-Mankato, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University.
Bob will serve as the lead contact and project manager for this proposal.

Tom Platt, Senior Vice President for Transportation - Tom has more than 30 years of
professional experience, over 20 of which have been providing consulting services. His
work has focused on operations, logistics, and complex problem solving for hundreds of
public and private sector clients. Tom has been at the forefront of change management
and operational improvement within the student transportation and government services
sector. He has developed a unique and nuanced understanding of how logistics impacts
successful education and government service delivery. Awareness of cross-functional
connections, the importance of data-supported analyses, and the critical manner in which
complex subjects are communicated to diverse groups of stakeholders have each been
developed and refined over Tom’s career as a trusted advisor to his clients.

Tom’s work is grounded in the understanding that informed and thoughtful decision
making coupled with empowered leadership can drive lasting and meaningful
improvement within any organization. Tom holds a degree in Maritime Transportation
from the Maine Maritime Academy, and a Master of Business Administration from the
Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.

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Ron Meyer, co-Chief Executive Officer – Ron has worked in finance and operations for
over 15 years. His school career began in transportation operations, where he held
leadership positions in multiple school districts, including as the Director of
Transportation at South Washington County Schools, one of the largest in Minnesota. He
transitioned to school finance, where he has held both controller-level and executive
CFO/COO-level roles in several districts. Ron has also owned and operated small
businesses in the insurance and school operations space and served on the school board
for the Eastern Carver County School District in Minnesota. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in
Communications and a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University.

Lauren Syrup, CPA, Vice President of Finance Consulting – Lauren Syrup, CPA, joined
the CESO team in 2022 as a Finance Consultant after spending over a decade in finance
and accounting roles, most recently as the Director of Finance in Orono Public Schools
(MN). Her combination of big-picture strategic thinking and in-depth knowledge of K-12
finance operations has made her a powerful resource for school district teams. Before
her five-year run in Orono, Lauren spent four years in the private sector, serving as
Accounting Manager and Senior Financial Accountant for a Minneapolis-based Fortune
100. Before that she spent three years as a Governmental Auditor for several Minnesota
School Districts. Lauren graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2008 with
a B.S. in Accounting and earned her MBA in 2019 from Hamline University (St. Paul).
Lauren has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2012.

Margo Bauck, Finance Strategist - Margo worked in school finance and operations in
four school districts during her over thirty-five-year career, retiring in 2019. Her experience
includes public communication in all areas of school finance and operations and the
implementation of processes that contribute towards the long-term fiscal health of the
district. Margo’s passion for her work was and continues to be the belief that we
positively impact students, staff, families, and communities through sound fiscal and
operational management. She advocates for equitable allocation of limited resources to
ensure the successful education of all students.

Margo is the 2019 Minnesota Association of School Business Officials (MASBO)
Outstanding Lifetime Contribution Award recipient and Past President of MASBO. She
was a member of MASBO, the International Association of School Business Officials
(ASBO), and Schoolfinances.com. Margo served in various leadership roles in MASBO,
Schools for Equity in Education, Schoolfinances.com, and the MN Department of
Education. She was a MASBO mentor. She presented for the Minnesota School Boards

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Association, MASBO, Schoolfinances.com, Ehler’s school finance workshops, and MN
State University.

Kris Kratz, Finance Consultant - With over 15 years of experience in finance - with the
past eight in district or school-adjacent roles - Kris Kratz brings a compelling mix of public
and private sector knowledge to our CESO team. In her role, she provides leadership and
guidance to district clients by advocating for accounting best practices, assisting with
MDE reporting and project management, and more. Kris holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Accounting with an emphasis on Information Systems from St. Cloud State
University and is a member of the Minnesota Association for School Business Officials
(MASBO).

Ryan Stromberg, co-Chief Executive Officer - Ryan brings over 22 years of HR and
executive leadership experience to CESO. Over his career, Ryan has overseen all aspects
of the human resources function in two public education systems in Minnesota. While
working in schools, Ryan completed his graduate degree in leadership and organizational
development at the University of St. Thomas. At CESO, Ryan consults with school
districts of all sizes on the best structures and protocols to help them care for their
employees.

Christa Zirbes, Vice President of Human Resources - With more than ten years of
experience as a human resources professional, Christa is passionate about putting care
for people at the heart of HR functions and supporting organizational decisions using
data analytics to shed light on key questions. Prior to joining CESO, she was the backbone
for all human resources in Spring Lake Park Schools (MN). As Vice President of
Consulting Practice, she now focuses on developing processes, systems, and analytics to
ensure we are delivering the biggest impact and results for our clients.

Kate Howard, Senior Employee Experience Consultant - Kate Howard believes that
Human Resources teams should be approachable, nurturing, and empowering to build
authentic, positive relationships with employees. In her role as an Employee Experience
Consultant at CESO, she finds energy by building sustainable cultures, processes, and
systems for our clients.

She received her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in HR Development from the University
of Minnesota and her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Hamline University. In
addition to teaching high school language arts, she also has over 15 years of experience
with human resources and organizational development work in nonprofit, private, and
educational settings including building departments from the ground up.

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Sara Riegel, Employee Experience Consultant - Sara has 7+ years of experience as a
human resources professional, specializing in employee benefits administration,
employee compensation, and HRIS analytics. Before joining CESO, she worked as a
Compensation and Benefits Specialist with Edina Public Schools and as an Assistant
Manager of Benefits and HRIS with Lakeville Area Schools. Sara is passionate about
helping educational institutions by guiding process improvement and increasing
efficiency, leading to a greater experience for the staff and students they serve.

DeeDee Kahring, Senior Strategy Consultant - DeeDee Kahring maximizes clients'
operations across the board, focusing on Finance, Thought & Strategy Coaching. and
Superintendent Aftercare Solutions. Previously the Executive Director of Finance &
Operations for Wayzata Public Schools (Minnesota), DeeDee is well-known in K-12
education and brings a wealth of knowledge to her clients from her highly successful
career. She has also led finance and business operations for other Minnesota school
districts including Eastern Carver County Schools and Cambridge-Istanti Schools as well
as public companies like Springsted Incorporated and Emerson Automation Solutions.

Her comprehensive experience managing complex projects - like long-range planning,
capital project funding, special project planning, referenda, negotiations costing models,
property purchases, and construction budgeting - combined with her passion for
coaching fellow leaders make her an ideal partner to drive financial stability and
leadership retention for our clients. DeeDee earned her Bachelor's in Finance from
Minnesota State University-Mankato and her Master's of Business administration from
the University of Iowa.

Doug Stahl, Senior Facilities, Health & Safety, and Security Consultant - Doug has 40+
years of school facilities experience. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas
with a degree in business, he began his career at Spring Lake Park Schools where he held
several buildings and grounds positions and led planning committees and bond projects.
His expertise in long-term facility maintenance plans as well as building safety and
security planning, building automation, and strategic planning makes him a valuable
resource for clients. Doug also holds a Minnesota Chief C Boiler Operator’s License and
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Certification.

Mike Archer, Director of Transportation Consulting Services - Mike has advised over
100 school districts throughout his 13+ years of experience in school transportation
operations. He has served as a GIS specialist, routing and planning manager, operations
manager, and consultant. Mike brings expertise in the areas of GIS mapping, technology

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implementation, analytics, and change management. He consistently leverages data
analysis to support recommendations for his clients and to manage daily operations
effectively. In addition to his work with pupil transportation, he also has experience with
trucking and public transit. Mike holds a bachelor's degree from Penn State University.

Shannon Connolly, Project Consultant - Shannon joined CESO to lead the routing,
customer service and operations management functions for school districts contracted
school transportation services in the Twin Cities Region. This industry and customer
experience provides an excellent foundation for Shannon’s role in assessing school
district customer needs and evaluating contracted service operations. Shannon also
provides direct experience with establishing and understanding the value of solid
customer relationships with school staff, families and operators. Since beginning her
consulting work within CESO, Shannon has participated in multiple projects related to
RFP development, routing efficiency and process design.

Rich Enga, Project Consultant - Rich has been a student transportation management
practitioner for over 20 years. He joined CESO in its earliest years and has been
instrumental to its success and growth ever since. In addition to being one of CESO’s
most senior in-house Transportation Directors, Rich has focused his energy on all
matters related to transportation operations and safety. He is our internal expert on, and
leads the implementation of, best practices for internal operating procedures related to
fleet and safety training. He has assisted many school districts with initiatives related to
these functions throughout his career. Rich holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) from St.
Cloud State University with a concentration in management.

Dustin Lang, Director of Technology—Dustin has over 15 years of technology experience.
He oversees the company’s internal IT department and collaborates with school districts
to fix IT needs. Dustin is responsible for CESO’s technology transformation initiatives,
which will take CESO into the next decade. He is passionate about all things technology.
Before joining CESO, Dustin held positions at Apple, USA Security, Code42, Veritas, and
Matrix/NDI.

John Perry, Senior Technology Consultant - John has worked in Educational Technology
for over 20 years, specializing in the recovery of struggling systems. His early work was
with the Financial Crisis and Asset Management Team (FCMAT) where he consulted for
the State of California to support school districts in trouble. He then worked for multiple
districts directly, focusing on building sustainable systems and practices through
planning, documentation, and workflow automation. Mr. Perry continues his work in a

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metro district where he has streamlined over 40 learning systems. He has a background
in networking, system administration, student information system management,
technology leadership, and human-centered design.

Scope of Services •
3.1 | Methodology and Strategy
CESO understands that DCSD is requesting an assessment of its Operations and
Information and Instructional Technology Divisions. All of our assessments begin with a
baseline understanding of the system’s structure and responsiveness to the district's
policy requirements and strategic objectives. To do this, we will look at the district’s
organizational structure and governance as well as leadership and management
processes across district departments. This will be a critical precursor to achieving the
other requirements identified in the RFP.

The consulting staff assigned to the work plan have conducted over thirty similar
assessments for school districts large and small in more than thirty states and 3
Canadian provinces. This wealth of knowledge and experience will enable an efficient
approach to the work and a minimally disruptive process to DCSD operations. It will
consist of seven core components:

1. Project Kickoff—We begin our projects with an event, in person or virtually, to
introduce and establish strong working relationships between our teams and
DCSD-selected teams. This is also the time we clarify expectations, timelines, and
personnel involvement. We believe this assists with the project's flow and allows
DCSD team members to put names on the faces they will be interacting with.

2. Information Gathering and Analysis – We will gather and review items not limited
to policies, regulations, procedures, organization charts and reporting structures,
contracts, decision-making processes, budgets, strategic plans, operational plans,
facility plans, financial documentation, training and professional development, and
similar documentary information that assists in establishing a first layer of
understanding regarding the organization and operations of the leadership team
and district departments. This analysis will provide a robust preliminary
understanding of the system and its performance.

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3. Observations and Interviews - Experienced and knowledgeable consultants and
practicing K-12 professionals who support CESO management contracts, will be
assigned to conduct onsite observations, plus in-person and online interviews of
DCSD department staff and other key stakeholders and focus groups. The purpose
is to expand and contextualize the initial understanding garnered from the data
and information review and ensure we have a complete, accurate, and thorough
understanding from which to conduct its assessment.

4. Survey - Our team, in collaboration with identified leaders, will determine the scope
of utilization surveys of identified employee stakeholders. These perception
surveys will allow stakeholders a different avenue for providing insights and
feedback with an additional goal of determining if potential cost savings outweigh
potential adverse effects on the system. Once completed, CESO consultants will
analyze the results and develop a theme-based report. The results will also be
used as qualitative data points for the final report summary and
recommendations.

5. Assessment and Comparison – Across the divisions, we will evaluate personnel
management practices, operational practices, and the technical capabilities of
each. Our team will coalesce and combine all of the data, information,
observations, and interview results to assess and analyze for effectiveness and
efficiency first and foremost against the unique requirements of the DCSD
strategic direction and operational realities. It will also incorporate a comparison
with best practices we have garnered across years of work with hundreds of other
school districts and education agencies throughout North America.

6. Summary Report and Recommendations - The final component of the process will
be the creation of a customized, comprehensive report that will include:

a. Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities

b. Summary of the overall assessment and comparison

c. Recommended next steps (Roadmap) prioritized by:

i. Do now

ii. Do soon

iii. Do later

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7. Consultation on Next Actions - The team will meet with designated district leaders
and stakeholders to review the Summary Report and Recommendations, and the
actions outlined in the Summary Report.

3.2 | Draft Schedule

Month Milestone Deliverable

September 2024 Introductory meetings/Begin Data Finalize timeline processes
Collection/Determine Survey needs and people

September -October Data Collection, Interviews, Initial data collected, Focus
2024 Observations, Focus Groups, and Groups, Interviews, and
Surveys Observations

October-November Completion of Data collection, Data Data collection completed
2024 Analysis

November-December Complete Data Analysis and Data analysis complete
2024 necessary follow-up

December 2024 Report Delivery Comprehensive Summary and
Recommendations

3.3 | Capability
We have built a team of industry experts in all things related to school district operations,
to include communications, facilities, finance, human resources, nutrition services,
organizational health and leadership, technology, and transportation. Our specialty is
rethinking possible with districts to allow leaders to focus on what matters most, while
serving all students. The depth of our teams can be seen on our website, and are filled
with professionals who have served as superintendents, directors, coordinators,
specialists, and many other critical roles. To effectively service the needs of DeKalb
County School District, we have planned for the necessary staff to ensure that the
assessments move forward smoothly without interruption. There is no challenge facing a
district that our team hasn’t taken on.

3.4 | Why CESO?
CESO is uniquely positioned for the work outlined in this RFP. Our core values of curiosity,
sincerity, and inclusivity cause us to regularly Rethink Possible focusing on support for
every student, every partner and every community. Choosing CESO and CST brings to you

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the power of our firms as a genuinely full-service advisory and management firm that
provides expertise and supplemental support for all operational areas in the public sector
entities across North America.

CESO has supported hundreds of organizations in three countries on a broad range of
topics focused on improving efficiency and effectiveness. Our other clients have included
universities, colleges, and community colleges; rural, suburban, and urban school districts
and cities; private investment firms; private sector service providers; and professional
associations. CESO helps maximize the value of money spent on public services. Our
focus is on addressing complex challenges through a structured and disciplined
analytical process that allows our clients to select the best options for addressing issues
and concerns within all aspects of organizational management. We have expertise in the
complexities of organizational structure and design, change management, leadership,
and decision-making.

Our consulting services are focused on addressing various operational concerns for
organizations. Our projects help optimize the balance between the efficiency and
effectiveness of their operations. We have focused extensively on designing
decision-making processes that allow school districts, municipal governments, colleges
and universities, and quasi-governmental entities to balance best the use of their
financial, technical, human resource, and capital assets.

Our team is a potent combination of education veterans and cross-disciplinary experts
who understand the gray areas of leadership, operations, and consultation. We have
successfully completed over thirty assessments at various scales, and understand that
every district is unique. We’ll come to the table ready to listen, advocate for your
community, and look at every challenge through a lens of inclusivity and curiosity.

At CESO, we create conditions where leaders become free to focus on what matters
most: leading your district toward greater effectiveness so that learners get more of what
they need to thrive. Every step of the way, we’ll help you Rethink Possible to put every
possible education dollar where it belongs — in the classroom. We believe this will be true
for DCSD!

3.5 | Emergency Service
For any emergency situations, district staff may contact Dr. Bob McDowell, CESO’s SVP, at
612-221-8869.

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Relevant Experience & Expertise •
City of Austin Fleet Mobility Services
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767
Angela Vogel, Director of Human Resources
angela.vogel@austintexas.gov
512-974-1540
Classification Study 5/23/2023 - present

Austin Public Schools
401 3rd Ave NW
Austin, MN 55912
Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent
joey.page@austin.k12.mn.us
507-460-1900
Business Review, Communications, Human Resources, Transportation 9/20/2023 -
present

Centennial School District
4707 North Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014
Patrick Chaffey - Executive Director of Business Services
pchaffey@isd12.org
763-792-6031
Communications, Finance, Human Resources, Transportation 7/1/2021- present

Diné College
Tsaile, AZ 86556
Ms. Bo Lewis - Vice President of Finance and Administration
928-724-6677
bolewis@dinecollege.edu
Facilities Maintenance and Operations Assessment 10/1/2023
Facility Operations Review 2/23/2023

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Hastings Public Schools
1000 West 11th St.
Hastings, MN 55033
Cathy Moen, Director of Human Resources
cmoen@isd200.org
651-480-7002
Human Resources Support, Operations Study, Transportation Support 10/17/2017 -
present

Minneapolis Public Schools
1250 W. Broadway Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Alicia Miller - Senior Human Resources Officer
alicia.miller@mpls.k12.mn.us
612-668-5428
Business Process Review, Operations Support, Transportation Support 11/6/2020 -
present

Montgomery County Schools
15 W. Gude, Suite 400
Rockville, MA, 20850
Dana Davison - Chief of District Operations
Dana_E_Davison@mcpsmd.org
240-740-6245
Operations Review 6/1/2023 - present

Salt Lake City Schools
465 SOuth 400 East, Suite 300
Salt Lake City, UT, 84111
Logan Hall - Executive Director of Human Resources
logan.hall@slcschools.org
801-578-8340
Classification Study 11/4/22 - 1/5/2023

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St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools
3303 33rd Ave. NE
St. Anthony, MN 55418
Dr. Renee Corneille - Superintendent
rcorneille@isd282.org
612-298-1979
Communications, Finance, Technology, Transportation 5/14/2021 - present

St. Francis Area Schools
4115 Ambassador Boulevard NW
St. Francis, MN 55070
Karsten Anderson - Superintendent
763-753-7040
Karsten.Anderson@isd15.org
Finance Support, Operations Assessment, Technology Assessment, Technology Support
10/14/2022 - present

Professional References •
The following pages contain letters of recommendation from current and previous
clients.

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Division of Human Resources
1250 W Broadway
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411-2533
Phone: 612.668.5428 / Fax: 612.668.0505

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to enthusiastically recommend the Center for Effective School Operations (CESO) based on their
exemplary service and invaluable contributions to Minneapolis Public Schools over the past year. CESO has been an
essential partner during a uniquely challenging time in our district, demonstrating genuine care, outstanding
professionalism, and expertise in human resources, change management, and organizational leadership and
development throughout our collaboration.

CESO has provided comprehensive support within the Division of Human Resources (HR). They conducted thorough
assessments of four distinct departments within HR, as well as the Division of HR as a whole, delivering insightful
analyses that have informed our strategic decisions and operational improvements. Additionally, their expertise in
executive coaching and interim HR director support has been instrumental in maintaining continuity and leadership
stability during transitional phases.

In addition to their evaluative roles, CESO has excelled in project planning and execution. They have facilitated critical
focus groups and surveys, gathering crucial feedback from stakeholders, and recommended initiatives based on the
results of the assessment that are aligned with the needs of our department, district, and greater community. Their
ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, while navigating the intricate dynamics of a large organization, is
commendable.

CESO has consistently demonstrated initiative and proactivity in their approach. They have taken on responsibilities
beyond the scope of their contractual obligations, willingly tackling additional tasks and alleviating workload
pressures for our staff. Their commitment to excellence is evident in their meticulous attention to detail and their
proactive management of complexities inherent in our organizational structure.

Throughout our partnership, CESO has not only met but consistently exceeded our expectations. Their
professionalism, reliability, and collaborative spirit have made them an indispensable asset to our team. I have no
hesitation in recommending CESO for any organization seeking a partner who can deliver exceptional results and
navigate challenges with skill and dedication.

Should you require any further information or clarification regarding CESO's performance, please do not hesitate to
contact me at 612-986-5369 or Alicia.miller@mpls.k12.mn.us. Thank you for considering this recommendation.

Respectfully,

Alicia Miller
Senior Human Resources Officer
July 9, 2024

To Whom It May Concern:

The purpose of this letter is to highly recommend the Center for Efficient School Operations (CESO) to
complete a comprehensive assessment of operations in your school district. My association with CESO
spans about 20 years with three public school districts in Minnesota. With each experience, CESO has
fulfilled its promises with a high-quality work product and recommendations focused on ensuring efficient
and effective school operations.

In St. Francis Area Schools, CESO provided assessments of operations in the business, technology, and
transportation departments. Their proposals were no-nonsense, comprehensive and cost effective. In
addition, their proposals:

● included feedback from key individuals in each department;
● relied on expertise from multiple CESO employees who have strong experience in high
performing districts;
● provided options (often listed as do now, do soon, do later) that were understandable and
actionable; and
● included cost estimates based on industry standards from comparable districts.

Just as important, CESO will help guide implementation processes with whatever options, if any, are
selected. For example, this summer CESO will continue to work with St. Francis Area Schools on
implementing routing changes with a new software program; overall changes will provide better service
for a cheaper cost. Within the technology department, organizational structural changes will reflect
feedback from technicians as well as leaders; these changes will incorporate recommendations about
wages and responsibilities.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly endorse CESO for any school district seeking a reliable and effective
partner to assess and enhance their operations. If you would like further information, please contact me at
651-347-2965 (phone or text) or Karsten.Anderson@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Karsten Anderson

Karsten Anderson
Superintendent

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