Meet candidates running for the Sheboygan Falls School District board
SHEBOYGAN FALLS - Two of seven seats on the Sheboygan Falls School District board are up for election April 4.
Four candidates are running for the seats, including incumbents Victoria Bramstedt and Michele Meerdink and challengers Robyn Denning and Gary Thelen.
Board members serve a three-year term and are paid $1,322 per year.
In February, the Sheboygan Press asked the candidates about their priorities if elected Here's what they said.
Meet the candidates
Name: Victoria Bramstedt
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired
Education: Technical degree in drafting and associate degree in networking from Lakeshore Technical College
Have you attended Sheboygan Falls schools, had children who attended Sheboygan Falls schools, and/or worked in the district? I graduated from Sheboygan Falls, and my children attended Sheboygan Falls. I have other family members currently attending, and I have a family member who currently works in the district.
Name: Robyn Denning
Age: 47
Occupation: Certified health educator and yoga instructor at Elevate Yoga
Education: I graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School and attended college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. I have my cosmetology license and also hold several health certificates from ECornell and Wellness Forum Health.
Have you attended Sheboygan Falls schools, had children who attended Sheboygan Falls schools, and/or worked in the district? I attended Sheboygan Falls. I have children and nieces and nephews who are in the Sheboygan Falls school district as well.
Website: Robyn Denning on Facebook or www.tulawellness.space
Name: Gary Thelen
Age: 71
Occupation: Retired
Education: Graduated from Campbellsport High School. Spent four years in the U.S. Air Force. Earned an auto body apprenticeship through Milwaukee Area Technical College. Completed the Family Alliance School Board Academy training program.
Have you attended Sheboygan Falls schools, had children who attended Sheboygan Falls schools, and/or worked in the district? No. We moved to Sheboygan Falls in 2015.
Website: www.thelenforschoolboard.com
Name: Michele (Mickey) Meerdink
Age: Not provided
Occupation: Retired medical assistant of 24 years
Education: Sheboygan Falls High School, Oshkosh and Phoenix medical and dental college
Have you attended Sheboygan Falls schools, had children who attended Sheboygan Falls schools, and/or worked in the district? I am a 1965 Sheboygan Falls High School graduate. My four children graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School and nine of my grandchildren attend this school as well; two have already graduated and three of my granddaughters will graduate this year. I am excited about the direction of Sheboygan Falls School District and its future. It is very important to me that we keep the education, safety and well-being of each student at the forefront of our decisions.
Why are you running for school board?
Bramstedt: I believe all kids can and want to learn and I want to be a part of giving them the best opportunity to do so.
Denning: Schools drive the vibrancy of local community. We have children and family in the Sheboygan Falls School District. My husband and I enjoy coaching community soccer and embrace getting to know the kids and the parents. I can offer integrity and genuine interest in the vitality of the school and community. I also believe that my connection to the community will serve me well in representing the best interests of parents and children.
Meerdink: I want to bring back the good reputation that we once had. It seems to be slipping. We need to have more communication between our board and the community.
Thelen: I fear that we're getting away from teaching reading, writing and math. Too many social issues are distracting from academics. I feel too many students have no sense of where they want to be once they graduate.
What makes you a good candidate for school board?
Bramstedt: I’m a good listener and I focus on finding solutions.
Denning: I am genuinely interested in serving the district because I realize how the district can affect our community as a whole. We have kids and family in Falls, so I have a personal, vested interest in the safety and vitality of the district. I am passionate and have the time that it takes to put into important decisions in regards to the direction of the district.
Meerdink: I have served on the Sheboygan Falls School Board for the past three years and have gained a wealth of knowledge about the school district. This past term has given me the opportunity to see what it takes to keep a school system functioning at a high level of efficiency. I am committed to our school system, I am able to see the big picture, and have a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of our schools.
Thelen: I'm passionate about seeing children from all walks of life getting the best education possible so they can find success after graduation. I can bring years of real life experiences to the board.
What are the most important challenges facing Sheboygan Falls schools? If elected, how will you address them?
Bramstedt: Politics in education is the biggest challenge because it touches everything in education, from attendance, culture, curriculum, discipline, finance, staffing, students, parents and more. You address it by finding common ground and moving forward with common goals. Schools should foster a desire to learn and explore. To do that, students need to feel safe and supported, and schools need to work with parents and the community to make sure all students feel safe and supported so they can do their best learning and growing.
Denning: It’s vital that kids and parents feel confident that safety is a priority in the SFSD. Safety needs to work 100% of the time; failure can be catastrophic. I hope to contribute to swift, thoughtful direction, in regards to proactive safety solutions. Additionally, I am concerned about student health, from a physical, mental and emotional standpoint. The demand on parents is increasing and schools can provide support, outlets and stability to offer families relief. My intention is to find out where problems exist and then to discuss and offer well-thought-out options for solutions.
Meerdink: I feel one of the most important challenges our school system faces is keeping open communication. We need to have better communication between our school board members, all staff members, students and the community. I would like to look into ways that the board can be approached with confidence that the issue(s) are being heard and will be taken care of.
Thelen: Finding educational programs that inspire kids from all walks of life to succeed. We need to hire great teachers who can bring academic success to all our students. Parents' rights in the school system are a must. We need to write policies that ensure parents are aware of all issues concerning their children.
Once elected, how will you ensure you are representing the diverse needs of students, staff, parents and community members?
Bramstedt: By listening to all voices and finding solutions that support students to be lifelong learners.
Denning: It’s our duty to create a culture that intentionally serves kids, parents and community. It’s important that school board members be approachable, so parents share their top concerns and genuinely feel heard. This enables the board to decipher the true consensus of the district residents.
Meerdink: Every student is unique. I feel that teachers/staff need to understand all the different types of diversity they may encounter in their classrooms. I feel it's important to know your students, know their strengths and weaknesses, and find a way to help them learn in a way they understand.
Thelen: All students, staff, administration and parents need to feel safe and respected in our school system. This is a hot topic that needs honest discussion with parents, the citizens of our community and our schools.
What can the district do to retain and recruit top talent?
Bramstedt: Provide a fair and realistic compensation plan. Support teachers with professional development and opportunities to grow. Encourage teachers to learn from and support each other. Provide mental health support and growth opportunities. Provide a culture where everyone is encouraged to try things out, to learn and to grow.
Denning: Attracting and retaining staff becomes a non-issue when they are fulfilled in their career. We need to be safe, supportive and inclusive. I have experience and passion surrounding this topic and look forward to expanding on the complexity of how this is achieved, should I hold a board position.
Meerdink: We need to compensate the teachers as well as all the staff that we have. We need more aids to help the teachers. Our teachers have great ideas, but we need to back them up.
Thelen: One thing I hear from friends that are or have been teachers is they just want to teach and not have to deal with all the social issues. Great teachers are worth their weight in gold. We need to find financial incentives that reward success. Let them teach.
Do you support or oppose having evidence-based LGBTQ+ representation in district library materials and curricula?
Bramstedt: Students need age-appropriate instruction that helps them distinguish healthy relationships from unhealthy ones. They need information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. They need to understand that sexual relationships come with a range of risks, both physical and emotional, and wise decisions are important. They need to know their parents have the best advice when making these decisions.
Denning: It is important that non-fiction materials are evidence-based, accurate and age-appropriate. While there is a process for parents to dispute current books, it may be time to investigate a standardized review process for library materials entering the Sheboygan Falls School District, to ensure quality and consistency.
Meerdink: Did not respond to this question.
Thelen: I support age-appropriate materials in our libraries. As a founding member of the Sheboygan Falls Community Group, we've found material that has no place in school libraries and material that others thought was inappropriate to be OK. We need to use common sense in regards to what we put in our libraries.
School funding continues to be a topic of debate within the state Legislature. What budget priorities would you advocate for in order to further support the students of the Sheboygan Falls School District?
Bramstedt:
Review of the revenue limit, the amount of money school districts can receive. This limit was set in 1990s and basically has not been raised. It should reflect changes in inflation, at least.
More for special education costs.
Support for student and staff mental health.
Denning: Budget priorities must align with our values as a district. Creating an optimal learning environment that is safe, stable and inclusive is a priority. Fairness, transparency and flexibility should also be considered in regards to budget decisions.
Meerdink: We need to pay our staff fairly; offer higher wages for new teachers as well as compensate those teachers who have been in the district for several years. We need to offer continuing education classes, offer higher wages for substitute teachers (Sheboygan Area School District pays $200 per day). I would like to see our school supply teachers with necessary items so that they are not having to spend their own money on supplies for their classrooms. I also feel we need to offer more fresh food options for our breakfast and lunch programs.
Thelen: I feel we need grants and funding for proven programs that better prepare our students for life after high school. Technical and trade skills pay very well and are in high demand. Job shadowing and hands-on experiences can help students find careers that align with their career interests.
How to vote
To vote, you must be registered and present a photo ID. You can register to vote in advance or at the polling place the day of the election. For more about registration or early voting hours, call your municipal clerk's office. Polls will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on April 4.
You must vote at the polling location of the ward in which you live. As a result of redistricting, some wards have changed. Find your voting location and a sample ballot at myvote.wi.gov.
Reach Maya Hilty at 920-400-7485 or MHilty@sheboygan.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan Falls School District board candidates share priorities
