“My new title is the outgoing superintendent of Wayzata Public Schools after serving 18 years in this role and 25 years prior to that in various educational positions. After 43 years, I'm retiring in about 2 weeks from tonight.”

Announcing his retirement and tenure.

“It's been a great honor and I would just like to take an opportunity to thank you to the Wayzata City Council, Mr. Mayor and those mayors prior to you, and the city staff. We so much appreciate the collaboration and the work that we've done together over the years on a number of projects and just really appreciate hopefully from your perspectives as well being mutual strategic partners.”

Expressing gratitude for the partnership with the city.

“The City of Wayzata has been very good to our school district and the beautification and all of the changes that have taken place over the 18 years that I've been here in downtown Wayzata and throughout the community is just really incredible.”

Praising the city's development and support.

“On July 1st, I'll be officially joining the community as the Wayzata schools' next superintendent.”

Announcing his start date.

“I also want to just let you know that how fortunate I feel to be joining a school system that works so well with its community partners, like the city of Wayzata. And I know that great communities are built on those partnerships, and they when our leadership teams work together, all of our residents, our students, our families, everybody, our businesses, everybody benefits from that.”

Emphasizing the importance of community partnerships.

“A big part of what attracted me to Wayzata... is just how well cared for it is and just the the grounded approach of the school district that has a commitment to just everyday sustained excellence that year over year has produced just an amazing culture for students and staff.”

Explaining his reasons for joining Wayzata Schools.

“We don't know of any. We We don't know of any.”

Responding to a question about other senior care facilities with an ownership structure, indicating the uniqueness of their model.

“It's a great question because it hasn't been done.”

Confirming the novelty of the ownership model for senior living.

“COVID disrupted the senior living space quite significantly. And if you looked at the market today, many senior living communities are trading or selling at extremely high premiums. And the reason for that was is from 2020 till about 2025, nothing was getting built.”

Explaining delays in senior living construction and market conditions.

“In addition, the state of Minnesota changed the building code standards in 2023. Assisted livings could be built like an apartment in the past and they can't anymore. So, I-2 construction is the requirement. It requires significantly more um construction costs associated with it.”

Explaining changes in building codes affecting senior living costs.

“I'm a big believer that this is a game changer. I was one of the founding members of the Watermark Senior Living and we started to approach the design and how senior living was approached from a wellness and well-being perspective and not a nursing home perspective and people just said that's never going to work.”

Expressing confidence in the innovative senior living model.

“I I think this is a nice use. I supported the the initial appeared here and I think this is still something that our community needs. It has been a little disappointing that it has taken so long, but I understand the rationale and I recall um the the neighborhood being really supportive of this, so I I'm in favor of offering this extension.”

Expressing support for the One Wayzata project and its extension.

“Well, I you know, likewise, I'm enthused about the project. I think it'd be a great asset to the community. Um I think city, you know, wants to be a good partner and we've tried. Uh I think we've been patient. Um I got to tell you though, I lack some confidence in this development. I think it's been taken a long time and um uh I know we've got some rationale about why, but it's taken an an unusually long time.”

Expressing concerns about the One Wayzata project's delays and questioning confidence in the development.