The Herald asked Tomah Area School District Board candidates to fill out this questionnaire. Here are their answers.
Name: Jenny Walworth
Background: I am the mother of three children. I am a 1996 graduate of Tomah High School. My husband and I own and operate Walworth Cranberry. I have a degree from Western Technical College in Supervisory Management-Business Administration.
Why are you running for School Board? I am running for school board because our district continues to decline in many areas and our students are suffering greatly because of it.
Why do you believe you are qualified? I believe that I am qualified because I have the common sense, drive and fortitude to address and correct the problems many others do not. Additionally, as a parent I know what problems our kids are facing as I hear it every day.
What are the most pressing issues (no more than three), you think the Tomah Area School District needs to address and why? Bullying, transparency and curriculum are the three most pressing issues the district faces. Bullying: Students need a resource to report anything happening to them or others. Transparency: Parents want simple yet informative communication on all issues facing the district including where the money is being spent. Curriculum: Common Core is failing our students. Not all kids learn in the same way so they should not be penalized for learning in a way that is the best for them but does not conform to Common Core.
How would you address the issues you described? Accountability for bullying must happen immediately with the boards input on disciplinary action. An anonymous text line or app needs to be created for the older students to report what is happening to them. Reports that parents can send directly to the board from the parents of younger students also needs to happen. The district also needs to increase its communication and give access to the information parents needs the most. And lastly the curriculum is a huge problem. Alternative instruction needs to be allowed for those kids with full credit.
Name: Mike Gnewikow
Background:
I am the current School Board President. I am a 1991 graduate of Tomah High School and have lived in the Tomah are my entire life. I am a cranberry grower in Warrens. My wife and I put four boys through the Tomah School District and continue to be involved in many district and community groups and organizations.
Why are you running for School Board?
Being a Tomah alumni and having recently put four children through the district, I want to continue to help the school district and Tomah community continue to grow and succeed. Now that our boys have moved on to college and into the workforce, I feel I can take the experiences we shared as a family and use them to my advantage to help the district succeed.
Why do you believe you are qualified?
I think my knowledge and experiences in many different areas at key attributes that will allow me to assist in offering the best education possible to our children. My first term was in many ways a learning experience that will only help me be better equipped to make decisions that will benefit the district and community going forward.
What are the most pressing issues (no more than three), you think the county needs to address and why?
I think one major issue is dealing with the recent lack of federal funding for our school districts. This lack of funding has created issues with trying to maintain and expand on what type of education we can offer. However, the vote on the operational referendum goes, we will still need to make some very tough decisions in how we can best move forward and help our children not only succeed in the classroom but also be prepared for life after High School.
Another thing we need to address in the district is some of the aging buildings we operate in. We continue to offer a great education at all levels, but aging buildings makes this an even tougher task to accomplish, and we try to find ways to utilize what we have in the most effective manner. Addressing this issue going forward will be a huge undertaking.
A third issue we need to continue to address is attracting and keeping quality employees into our workforce as teachers, administrators and support staff. Our current staff is amazing, and we need to continue to find ways to keep our quality members to stay here for their career and to be able to be a place of interest for new applicants to want to come and be a part of.
How would you address the issues you described?
Addressing the issues we have is always a difficult one and having a strong, experienced School Board is an important part of the system. The lack of federal funding will need to be addressed by trying to engage our politicians and support platforms in a positive manner that will hopefully garnish their future support. Then we need to have educated members who are willing to work together with our administration and staff members to find the best ways to utilize whatever funds we have to offer the best education we can.
Our aging buildings will need to be addressed immediately. We need to engage the community and help educate them on the needs that are apparent and find out how we can best come up with a solution. Working together with the entire community to get their understanding and support will be a key factor in taking the next step towards solutions in these regards.
It is always difficult to attract and retain quality employees in any field. I think it is important to create a team atmosphere where everyone wants to be a part of that winning team. Each staff member needs to realize they are an important member of that team, and we will only succeed if they are allowed to also succeed at whatever they are doing in their particular role. We can only be a very strong district if we all work together and do what we can to make the team stronger.
To use our Timberwolves mentality: the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is in the pack.
Name: Rick Murray
Background: I have been married to my wife Wendy for almost 24 years. She is employed by the Tomah School District as an 8th grade Math Teacher. We have three children Kenric (Super Senior), Rylie (Senior) and Kamryn (Junior) all attending the Tomah High School. I was born and raised in Tomah and currently am employed at Murray's on Main as the Operations Manager. My goal is to continue with what we as a Board have started and help shape the district for years to come.
Why do you believe you are qualified?
I am currently serving a 2-year term on the Tomah School Board. Which I have been appointed to the Facilities, Transportation and the Technology Committees. I also serve on several committees within the City of Tomah which include Public Housing Authority (Board Chair) and the Ambulance Commission. While working on these different committees, you must have an open mind when it comes to the different issues you might run into and realize that your ideas might not always be the best. But, making sure you are committed to how the Board votes on different issues and support them.
What are the most pressing issues (no more than three), you think the Tomah Area School District needs to address and why?
School Funding- State representatives are putting the funding on the taxpayer's shoulders rather than them facing the issues themselves.
Referendum outcome on April 4th Ballot- If the referendum passes or not, we will have some very tough decisions to make in the next couple of years.
Finding and Keeping Qualified Teachers within the District- We have to find ways to make the teaching profession an important part of this community.
How would you address the issues you described?
School Funding: We must get our current representatives in Madison to look at the funding procedures.
Referendum: I want to be able to help find solutions to keep the Tomah School District a vital part of this community. Without great schools our community will suffer.
Finding and keeping qualified teachers: We must be willing to talk with the teachers and find out what is needed to keep them in the profession rather than leaving for other lines of work. We must continue to build them up not tear them down.
Nelson Mandela said it best " Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"...
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