Candidates can start circulating nomination papers Dec. 1
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
There are two seats on the East Troy Community School District Board of Education up for election in April.
The seats up for election this time around are held by Murry Mitten and Mike Zei. It is a three-year term.
Candidates interested in running for School Board can start circulating nomination papers on Dec. 1. Nomination papers are available at the district office, 2043 Division St., Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jan. 7, 2014, is the deadline for candidates to file their declaration of candidacy.
School District Administrator Dr. Christopher Hibner announced the election at the Nov. 11 monthly board meeting and said anyone interested in running for School Board is welcome to contact him.
“But I think the best people to talk to are right here,” he continued, motioning to the board members.
Hibner went on to list what he thinks are the “key” things a candidate for the board should consider. First and foremost, he said they should be focused on all the children in the district, from Pre-K to 12th grade, not just a single group. And they need to understand they answer to all the stakeholders – parents, kids, the community and the taxpayers.
Fiscal responsibility was a must too. “The reality is, we have only so much in funds,” he said.
Hibner said balancing all that with the responsibility of making sure every child has the opportunity to succeed by providing the tools in which to do so was what being a School Board member was all about.
He also said it was important to remember that all the laws and statues regarding education had to be followed. Something that several board members said could be difficult at times.
“I can tell you what surprised me the most was all the laws that really restricted things,” board member Martha Bresler said. “It’s kind of frustrating. We all ran to change things.”
“It’s truly been an education experience,” President Dawn Buchholtz continued. “You come in with all these preconceived ideas.”
Buchholtz said she would be happy to talk to any prospective candidates about the board and that she thinks every citizen should serve on a board at some point in their life.
“It can be very enlightening experience,” she said.
Hibner agreed, “I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than helping students succeed in a school district.”
