By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
There are three candidates for the open East Troy Community School District Board of Education seat held by incumbent Martha Bresler. Jody Heimos and Gina Dingman have challenged Bresler and voters will go to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 17, to choose two of the candidates to continue on in the April 7 Spring General Election.
The candidates come from varied backgrounds and experiences. Bresler is a retried East Troy schoolteacher and has been on the School Board for six years. Dingman is a local real estate agent, who has never held office before. Heimos is the executive director at Edwards YMCA Camp in East Troy.
All are married with children who either are attending the East Troy schools, or have attended in the past and believe they have much to offer the district and the community.
“I’m extremely passionate, that’s really what has driven me to run for the board,” Dingman said. “I’m passionate about making these changes; I can’t sit back and just watch anymore.”
Heimos said he choose to run this time around because he “wanted to be more active in his kids education” and to “ensure that the children of East Troy are getting the best educational experience to further them along their chose paths to prosperity.
“I had the privilege to work for the East Troy Community School District for 34 years as a teacher,” Bresler said. “I continue to have a great deal of interest in the district and believe that I can be an effective advocate for the district and its children.”
The referendum
All the candidates have said they are focused on moving the district forward and are in support of the district’s two referendum questions on the April ballot to address the facility needs at the schools.
Bresler, being one of the board members who helped draft the referendum questions, said it’s imperative to get the district’s facilities into the 21st century to provide the students with the education they deserve.
With the new referendum proposals, a new pre-kindergarten through first grade would be built at the Prairie View site, with the possibility of the new school being a Pre-K through second grade if the second referendum questions is approved by the voters.
“It makes more sense to keep all the elementary kids at one location,” Heimos said. “They have the property there and it was the original plan. So I don’t see why they wouldn’t go for it and then raise the other buildings.”
“I think it’s a very good solution for the kids it gives the taxpayers to vote if they’re in agreement to spend a little money to get it done there right way,” Dingman said. “When they were going to Doubek they were just putting a Band-Aid on things, the Prairie View site seems to be what’s the community is looking for.”
“Bringing the schools down to two campuses will help with the operational issues, too,” Bresler said.
Operational shortfalls
Those operational shortfalls have been looming in the background for several years with the district cutting more than $5 million in expenses over the last several years to stay within its budget. But with projected cuts in state aid that are facing all districts, the issue has become forefront.
Because the district has had three failed facility needs referendums in the past several years, movement on a possible operational referendum has taken a backseat because district officials have said the “plan” was to address the facilities first.
Bresler has brought up the operational shortfalls at several recent board meetings and said she thinks it’s still going to be a problem, but that if the facility needs referendum(s) pass, it will go a long way to cutting operational costs.
Heimos said he would need to do a little more research into the problem before commenting on what he thought could be a solution, but that community involvement was key to solving any issue in the district.
Dingman, being a businesswoman, said there were always ways to cut costs and making East Troy the “district of choice” was one of the ways to solve the problem.
“I think it’s very important to continue to do a better job of promoting our schools,” Dingman said. “Accomplishments and athletics via a better website and other advertising avenues to get the word out to surrounding communities to get more students in on open enrollment. We need to do a better job at branding ourselves.”
Local control
Heimos said he thought one of the challenges facing the district and education in general is the chipping away at local control by the government.
“I’m all about local control,” Heimos said. “About letting teachers teach, supporting the School District and about the kids harnessing their talent and potential. I want to compete against other schools and win as far as education standards.”
Bresler said she sees far too much time spent by teachers and administration dealing with reporting and keeping track of things to adhere to the mandates and ultimately, it’s hurting the kids.
“Every minute is less time in the classroom with the kids,” Bresler said.
Martha Bresler
Incumbent Martha Bresler, 74, has served on the East Troy School Board for six years. She has lived in East Troy for 44 years with her husband Fred Bresler Jr. They have two adult children, Jennifer and Samuel.
“I think I’m as passionate about education today as when I started,” Bresler said. “I still find a lot of satisfaction in working with students and being part of groups that explore ways in where they learn how to do things.”
Bresler was a teacher in the East Troy School District for 34 years and said she wants to continue being an advocate for the students in the district.
She said one of her concerns about the district and education in general, is the “education climate in the state” with legislators making decisions from a “business point of view” instead of from an educational standpoint.
“The thought that it’s okay to siphon off millions of public dollars to fund private schools is amazing to me,” Bresler said. “Even our founding fathers understood the importance of education.”
Bresler holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Lawrence University in Appleton and a Masters of Science in mathematics from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
She served on the Wisconsin Mathematics Council Vestry, St. John in the Wilderness in Elkhorn, and Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Gina Dingman
Gina Dingman, 45, has lived in East Troy for 24 years and is a real estate agent with offices in the village.
She studied at University of Milwaukee and Waukesha County Technical College and has taken continuing education and ethics classes.
She and her husband Donald have two children, Alexys, 22, and Vanessa, 16.
Dingman is a United Way of Walworth County board member, Lakeland Builders past board member, Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors member, served as chairperson with the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dingman is also heading up the School District’s “Vote Yes” campaign to help get the word out about the April 7 facility needs referendum.
“I am seeking the board position to be the voice for the many people in our community who feel their ideas and opinions are not being heard,” Dingman wrote in her candidate biography form.
“As a real estate agent I am in contact with citizens from all walks of life and income levels, from the first-time homebuyers, starting families to retired residents who want to stay in our community,” she wrote. “I want to help the board accomplish many goals to make our school district the most desired school in our area. I also want to help promote all of the great strides and many awards our students and teachers have received. It is important to help the students, teachers, staff, coaches, etc., get the tools they need to be successful.”
Jody Heimos
Jody Heimos, 41, is an 11-year resident of East Troy. He and his wife Casey have two children, ages 14 and 11, in the School District, and a 2-year-old.
He said his reason for running for School Board was to ensure the children of East Troy are getting the best educational experience.
“I hope to assist the community in deciding the best course of action for our community School District, as I believe it is a community effort as opposed to unilateral decision,” Heimos wrote in his candidate biography form. “Although we have little power in regard to federal and state mandates, I hope to challenge certain curriculum within Common Core. I believe educators should be given the latitude to teach, instead of continually fulfilling state and federal standardized methods of trying to fit every child into a particular category.”
Heimos holds a Bachelor of Science in outdoor education and is the executive director of YMCA’s Camp Edwards.
He is the board president of the Kiwanis of Greater East Troy, is an East Troy Parks and Recreation volunteer (baseball/softball coach), former board member of Lake Beulah Protective and Improvement Association and a standards visitor for American Camping Association.
Where to vote
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Feb. 17. Area municipalities voting in the School Board election are:
Town of Troy, N8870 Briggs St.;
Town of East Troy, N9330 Stewart School Road;
Village of East Troy, 2015 Energy Dr.;
Town of LaFayette, W4614 Potter Road, Elkhorn;
Town of Spring Prairie, N6097 Highway 120, Burlington;
Town of Eagle, 820 E. Main St.;
Village of Mukwonago, 625 S Rochester St.; and
Town of LaGrange, N7899 Highway H.
Incumbent Martha Bresler, 74, has served on the East Troy School Board for six years. She has lived in East Troy for 44 years with her husband Fred Bresler Jr. They have two adult children, Jennifer and Samuel.
“I think I’m as passionate about education today as when I started,” Bresler said. “I still find a lot of satisfaction in working with students and being part of groups that explore ways in where they learn how to do things.”
Bresler was a teacher in the East Troy School District for 34 years and said she wants to continue being an advocate for the students in the district.
She said one of her concerns about the district and education in general, is the “education climate in the state” with legislators making decisions from a “business point of view” instead of from an educational standpoint.
“The thought that it’s okay to siphon off millions of public dollars to fund private schools is amazing to me,” Bresler said. “Even our founding fathers understood the importance of education.”
Bresler holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Lawrence University in Appleton and a Masters of Science in mathematics from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
She served on the Wisconsin Mathematics Council Vestry, St. John in the Wilderness in Elkhorn, and Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Gina Dingman
Gina Dingman, 45, has lived in East Troy for 24 years and is a real estate agent with offices in the village.
She studied at University of Milwaukee and Waukesha County Technical College and has taken continuing education and ethics classes.
She and her husband Donald have two children, Alexys, 22, and Vanessa, 16.
Dingman is a United Way of Walworth County board member, Lakeland Builders past board member, Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors member, served as chairperson with the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dingman is also heading up the School District’s “Vote Yes” campaign to help get the word out about the April 7 facility needs referendum.
“I am seeking the board position to be the voice for the many people in our community who feel their ideas and opinions are not being heard,” Dingman wrote in her candidate biography form.
“As a real estate agent I am in contact with citizens from all walks of life and income levels, from the first-time homebuyers, starting families to retired residents who want to stay in our community,” she wrote. “I want to help the board accomplish many goals to make our school district the most desired school in our area. I also want to help promote all of the great strides and many awards our students and teachers have received. It is important to help the students, teachers, staff, coaches, etc., get the tools they need to be successful.”
Jody Heimos
Jody Heimos, 41, is an 11-year resident of East Troy. He and his wife Casey have two children, ages 14 and 11, in the School District, and a 2-year-old.
He said his reason for running for School Board was to ensure the children of East Troy are getting the best educational experience.
“I hope to assist the community in deciding the best course of action for our community School District, as I believe it is a community effort as opposed to unilateral decision,” Heimos wrote in his candidate biography form. “Although we have little power in regard to federal and state mandates, I hope to challenge certain curriculum within Common Core. I believe educators should be given the latitude to teach, instead of continually fulfilling state and federal standardized methods of trying to fit every child into a particular category.”
Heimos holds a Bachelor of Science in outdoor education and is the executive director of YMCA’s Camp Edwards.
He is the board president of the Kiwanis of Greater East Troy, is an East Troy Parks and Recreation volunteer (baseball/softball coach), former board member of Lake Beulah Protective and Improvement Association and a standards visitor for American Camping Association.
Where to vote
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Feb. 17. Area municipalities voting in the School Board election are:
Town of Troy, N8870 Briggs St.;
Town of East Troy, N9330 Stewart School Road;
Village of East Troy, 2015 Energy Dr.;
Town of LaFayette, W4614 Potter Road, Elkhorn;
Town of Spring Prairie, N6097 Highway 120, Burlington;
Town of Eagle, 820 E. Main St.;
Village of Mukwonago, 625 S Rochester St.; and
Town of LaGrange, N7899 Highway H.
