Editor’s Note: In Tuesday’s primary election, district residents voted for two of the five candidates running for office. Results of the election were unavailable before the Times Herald deadline but are scheduled to be posted early Wednesday on this website.
Addressing issues such as high taxes, curriculum changes and school safety, five School Board candidates on Feb. 12 presented their reasons for wanting to serve the Gillett community.
School pride was evident at the voter forum sponsored by the Gillett Education Association and Gillett Parent Teacher Organization. Candidates had an easy time describing three reasons to be proud of the Gillett School District, identifying the staff and students, extra curricular offerings and a friendly community, along with other positives.
Challenges facing the district were also easy to identify, with school finances topping the list for most candidates.
“Having to do more with less,” said candidate John Timm, referring to declining state aid. Timm is completing his first term on the School Board.
“I think we need to be more creative on the financial side of things,” he said.
The loss of students through open enrollment is another concern, and he said offering a learning environment that will retain these students would improve the district’s finances.
Expanding the opportunities for students is one way to keep students in the district, according to Nanette Mohr, who is nearing the end of her 18th year on the School Board.
“One thing we’re looking at now is working with other school districts and with NWTC (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College),” she said. Sports co-op agreements with the Suring School District are another means of maintaining programs for students.
“There are many ways we’re working on it but just don’t see the instant turn-around within a year,” she said.
Providing a safe and positive learning environment was a top priority for candidate Brandon Nygaard, a 2010 graduate of Gillett High School.
“We need to make sure every student in our district wants to be here, not only from a safety standpoint. You can’t force an education down a person’s throat,” he said.
For Paul Herzog, changes in curriculum to meet new educational standards were a concern.
“We have to take a hard look at them. We have a seventh-grade class, and I’m sure some other classes, that are struggling with the curriculum,” he said.
Jamie Heroux said the renewal of the district’s charter schools needs to be considered. The Gillett School District operates Cre8, an art-infused school at Gillett Elementary, and GOAL Academy, a career-focused school at the secondary school.
“Are the charters doing what they set out to do, which is to bring students into the school district and increase the education of the children in those charters? Those are the two measurables,” Heroux said.
He said the charter schools compel the district to operate three schools from the resources of one community.
“We need to come together as a community and have one school which is very efficient,” he said.
The candidates’ viewpoints regarding charter schools were of particular interest to Tom Davis, a parent who attended the forum. Two of his children are enrolled in a charter school in the district, while the third is at a grade level that does not offer a charter school and attends the traditional school.
“My kids go to school here, and I’m concerned about what’s going on,” he said.
Candidates also expressed their views regarding staffing issues, describing the best way to attract and retain good staff members and whether the district should use contracted services for transportation, food service and janitorial work.
The district already contracts with a private company for transportation, and no candidates were in favor of ending that relationship. As for the other two services, Herzog said it’s important to keep Gillett-area personnel in these positions.
Nygaard agreed, saying decisions regarding contracted services should be based on financial impact and the ability to retain the employees already working in the positions. Mohr said if the food service department is run by a contractor, it is important to continue to provide a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and work to increase the number of students opting for school meals.
Heroux said school authorities have more control over personnel decisions with district-run services and can build up an employee’s performance to meet district ideals. Money is not the only issue to consider, he said.
District resident Kirk Young said the forum touched on many important issues. He attended the event to hear the candidates’ views, so he could make a better choice at the polls. He left satisfied, with a clear idea of his top candidates.
In the spring election on April 1, two candidates will be selected for three-year terms.
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