Welcome to Ehlers’ 2020 School Finance Seminar! It’s time to focus in on building outstanding learning communities across Minnesota. From referendum planning to business management best practices and financing capital projects, our Municipal Advisors and guest speakers will give you the tools you need to develop a clear vision for your district.
Meet Our Keynote Speakers:
Susan Brower is the Minnesota State Demographer and directs the MN State Demographic Center. Susan became the State Demographer in February 2012. In that capacity, she travels the state talking with Minnesotans about the new social and economic realities that are brought about by recent demographic shifts. Susan’s work applies an understanding of demographic trends to changes in a range of areas including the state’s economy and workforce, education, health, immigration and rural population changes.
Susan joined the State Demographic Center after working as a researcher on the Minnesota Compass project at Wilder Research in St. Paul. Prior to that, she worked at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan.
Susan earned her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Michigan, specializing in demography and family sociology. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy from Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Tom Melcher retired in February from his position as School Finance Director at the Minnesota Department of Education, after a 40 year career. He continues to work part-time at the Department on a Post Retirement Option, assisting with the transition to new Division leadership and providing support to the Commissioner’s School Finance Working Group.
Before joining the Department, he was an assistant business manager with the Collier County, Florida Public Schools.
Tom holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida.