Editor’s Note: The following letter was submitted to the Stevens Point Public School Board on August 11, 2014.

At the last board meeting, board member Chris Scott mentioned that she has spoken to number of community members that appreciated the job that Dr. Weninger was doing as superintendent. One board member asked if there were people in the community that felt this way, they should attend a board meeting. That is why we are all here this evening.

As members of our community, all of us here today, plus additional letters from those that could not be here today, recognize the vital importance of providing students a quality education that prepares them well for the future. This education is their foundation for the future and ultimately becoming valuable members of our community and employees of area businesses. Providing a quality education requires strong leadership within the school district and we strongly support having a forward- thinking school district superintendent will ensure the strategic objectives of the school district are achieved.

A decision to operate a school district, especially the size of Stevens Point Area Public Schools, without a superintendent would create an environment that will adversely affect student learning. The past four years have been a difficult time for school districts with major systemic changes on a state and national level. Combine those state and national changes with the financially difficulties we face locally, our district has overcome major obstacles. During this tumultuous time our current superintendent, Dr. Attila Weninger, demonstrated immense leadership in moving our district forward and making major improvements.

Without having a full-time superintendent with strong leadership skills like this to guide this process, the accomplishments of the school district would have been difficult to achieve. We strongly urge you to retain Dr. Weninger as the Superintendent of the Stevens Point Area Public Schools. It was through his expertise and passion that help create the district’s strategic objectives that will prepare students for the future.

Sincerely,

Al Marten, Cliff King, Scott Glinski, Denny Peterson, Doug Ballweg, Dave Worth, Bob Spoerl, Eric Hofmeister, Pete McPartland, Jim Fetherston, Joe Kinsell, Dick Okray, Steve Regnier, Bernie Patterson, Rick Rettler, Terry Rothman, Chuck Nason, Bob and Mary Willians, Dan Mahoney, Dan Schlutter, Patty Dreier, Keith Pilger, Andrew Halverson, John Noel, Jim Anderson, Sue Budjac, Steve Smith, Jeff Martin.