4 seek 2 seats on Gillett School Board

At least one new face will join the Gillett School Board at the next swearing-in ceremony.

One incumbent and three challengers will compete for two seats in the April 7 election. The winners will serve three-year terms.

Jamie J. Heroux is the incumbent. Challengers are Nicole Blaskowski, Ben Korth and Elizabeth Telford.

What made you decide to run for this position?

Blaskowski: As a mother of three children in the Gillett School District, I felt that to ensure my children receive the best possible education and school experiences, I needed to be a part of the team that guides the decisions that make it possible. I want to be an advocate for all students, school staff and community members who have a vested interest in our school community.

Heroux: I believe our community deserves an education system where every student can succeed. Before running again, I reflected on whether I was up for another three years. As a parent who has seen our district’s strengths and challenges, and with 11 years of board service, I still have the energy and desire to serve. As an engineer and problem solver, I bring analytical, unbiased decision-making. I would like to use my experience and strengths to help the district succeed.

Korth: I believe that fresh perspective is something that would be beneficial to the district. As a parent of two young kids that attend Gillett Schools, I see what the value of the school is not only to my kids but for the future generations and the community as a whole. We’re already doing great things here, but there’s still great potential in this district, and I believe we can achieve it together.

Telford: I care about the education and community that my children and their peers are growing up in. Our school district creates a sense of community in our area. Our schools provide not only an education to our youths but local jobs, activities, sports and camaraderie. I was once blessed with a public education provided by my community that helped me shape my life. I wish to now be an advocate for our children and future generations.

What experience do you have to serve in this position?

Blaskowski: Having served a career in law enforcement, volunteering and holding board positions with several nonprofit groups, I have experience working for publicly funded organizations. I understand the challenges that exist with restricted budgets and how to maximize what is received that will make the biggest impact for those we serve. Through my professional and volunteer experience, I have gained knowledge in policy and performance improvement, data analysis, fiscal management and parliamentary procedures.

Heroux: My 11 years on the Gillett School Board have provided valuable governance experience. I currently serve as board president and am on the CESA 8 board of control. All four of my children attended and graduated from Gillett schools, giving me firsthand parental perspective. I’ve served on multiple committees and attended Wisconsin Association of School Boards training sessions. This combination of leadership, parental insight and professional development uniquely qualifies me for this position.

Korth: As a business owner and AEMT, something I pride myself in is being able to think outside of the box. I’m not afraid to have difficult, candid conversations and ask the tough questions. With living, working and volunteering in the community, I see the vast different demographics we have here. I realize that not everyone’s at the same place in life, but they should have the same voice, and it should be heard.

Telford: Before becoming a local business owner, I was a registered nurse in our community. It has been an honor to serve all ages, cultures, businesses as well as local governments. I’ve worked closely with the families of those who have children in the district and those who no longer do. I would like to bring all of the diverse perspectives I have experienced to our school board to best serve our students, families and taxpayers.

What is one of the biggest challenges facing the school district, and how do you plan to address it?

Blaskowski: The biggest challenge facing our school district is its current financial situation. Historically, there has been a lack of proper management of the district’s finances, which we are now seeing the dramatic impacts of. Having knowledge and experience in financial management, I plan to make it a priority to study and dissect our district’s budget. I want to ensure our community that every dollar coming in is being utilized to its maximum potential.

Heroux: Our biggest challenge is balancing safety, fiscal responsibility, quality staff and programs, and facility stewardship. Positive change requires honestly assessing areas needing improvement through community, teacher and student input, then working collaboratively. Our buildings, ranging from the 1920s to 1990s, require ongoing maintenance to stay relevant with today’s technology and safety standards. I’ll advocate for fair staff wages with accountability, quality programs at all levels and careful spending that balances student needs with taxpayer needs.

Korth: Our district is facing many hard decisions in the coming months. As a member of the strategic planning committee, I agree that recruiting and retaining competent, caring and passionate staff should be our No. 1 priority. While I do not think throwing money at a problem necessarily solves it, the staff should be compensated a fair and competitive wage. This needs to be achieved while being fiscally responsible and completely transparent with the district.

Telford: Our current biggest challenge is how to simply maintain our current state of the district. The upcoming referendum vote in April would hopefully allow the district to maintain and improve some areas while being fiscally responsible. I am actively addressing this by encouraging families and constituents to involve themselves in the referendum informational meetings to understand just how important this referendum is for the livelihood of a quality school district and the opportunities for our students.

Do you favor searching for new revenue streams or reducing programs, staff or other expenses?

Blaskowski: Realistically, there are very little cuts to be made. I’m planning to search for additional funding through grants, community partnerships and possibly growing the Tiger Enterprise program. If anything, our district could use additional student support staff, not less. Many of our school clubs and activities run on donations, fundraising and volunteers. Our music, tech ed and ag departments are a crucial part of our school programming, and we cannot afford to cut those.

Heroux: State-imposed revenue limits since 1993 severely limit school district options. Our current referendum addresses revenue shortfalls. If it fails, I will not favor closing the school but will listen to community input about what type of school they want. If it passes, I’ll advocate spending on current programs, not new initiatives or pet projects. Community input and fiscal responsibility will guide my approach and decisions to balancing our budget.

Korth: I believe that there has to be a combination of these for the district to be successful. I think there was a disservice done to both the students and community by removing the wraparound care. It’s something that attracts families to the district and gets them in the door, and I think this should be brought back. I also think that there are areas where some cuts could be made to reduce duplicating job responsibilities.

Telford: The schools are the heart of our community. I do not wish to see any programs cut, essential staff to be cut or the district dissolved. If we want a quality community, then research shows we need to maintain a quality and competitive school district. Advocating for rural school funding both on a state and federal level, promoting community discussion and engagement such as the strategic planning, and fiscal transparency is what I favor.

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com