by Zach Miller
Quick Summary
The State Library Services Team – Jacqueline Blagsvedt, Emily Kissane, Jennifer Nelson, and Jennifer Verbrugge – was one of seven state organizations chosen for the 2014 Governor's Continuous Improvement Awards.
The State Library Services Team – Jacqueline Blagsvedt, Emily Kissane, Jennifer Nelson, and Jennifer Verbrugge – was one of seven state organizations chosen for the 2014 Governor's Continuous Improvement Awards. The Office of Continuous Improvement chose State Library Services for its efforts to streamline state and federal education programs.
Assistant Commissioner of Education Kevin McHenry summarized the team's achievements:
"Their combined efforts to align program applications, reporting and administration with state statutes, work collaboratively with colleagues in School and Agency Finance and incorporate plain language have led to improved processes and an increased amount of funds available for competitive grants. Specifically, State Library Services increased federal Library Services and Technology Act competitive grant awards by 58 percent in one year, resulting in more options for funding local projects.
"But perhaps the most far-reaching impact of streamlining federal and state program administration has been to allow 1.25 FTE to focus on key priorities for State Library Services and the Minnesota Department of Education – achieving the goals articulated in the Governor's Seven Point Plan for Better Schools. State Library Services staff now work with libraries across the state to improve their capacity to deliver quality early childhood learning experiences and to connect schools and libraries to foster academic success and close the achievement gap."
Please visit the Minnesota Office of Continuous Improvement website for more information.
