Questions by Stevens Point Area League of Women Voters

What background qualifies you for this position?

I am excited about education and what it can do for our children.  I am married and have four children.  As a parent with children who are in or have been in our District, I have been able to see our District in action which allows me a real time perspective of what is going on in our schools.   My public experience includes being a member of the School Board, Portage County Supervisors, Madison PTO  along with involvement in other community boards. Given my experience from a variety of boards, I know what it takes to be an effective board member who does his homework.

What strengths and interests do you bring to the board?

I have a diverse business background that has given the necessary tools to be an effective member of the Board.  My professional career has taught me fiscal responsibility and the need to work within a budget. It has also given me the necessary skills to analyze a situation in order to make the best decision for our children and District.  I am a person who is willing to think outside of the box.  My interest is simply to ensure that our children receive a world class education with the resources that we have.

As a board member, how would you foster a more positive public opinion of the board? 

There are several ways to foster a more positive image for the Board.  The first is to make the Board meetings effective and efficient. We need to bring back the committee structure to do the work of the Board. The agenda also needs to be streamlined to help us meet a 10PM deadline in order to be more accessible to the public. It is clear through my experiences on the Board that we have created a bureaucratic nightmare that only serves to frustrate the public and members of Board.  I would encourage that we rethink that method of operation. The Board needs to get back to the basics on everything it does, making decisions in the best interest of our children.

What is your knowledge and understanding of the current public school funding situation in Wisconsin?

The most effective way to influence the state policy regarding funding is by electing candidates who are willing to stand up for education and who are willing to fund it. However, it is also our responsibility to show that the dollars we use locally are spent wisely. We need to show Madison that we are making the best use of our funding to provide a quality education for our children.