By Press Times Staff
Brian Chlopek and Sarah Brunette will face each other April 2 for the right to represent Zone 1 (village of Pulaski) on the Pulaski school board.
Chlopek outpolled Brunette in the Feb. 19 primary with 341 votes to 128.
Patrick Lara received 90 votes and was eliminated from the race.
In Hobart, Chlopek earned 59 votes and Brunette received 25 in the primary.
The general election winner will replace Trina Townsend, who did not seek a new three-year term.
The Press Times reached out to each candidate and gave them the same questions with a word limit of 100 for each answer.
Brian Chlopek
Occupation: Vice president at JT Engineering, Inc.
Immediate family: Wife, Courtney; son, Benson, sixth grade; daughter, Rowen, fourth grade.
Why should people vote for you?
I have a strong educational background and understand the importance of a quality education.
I’m a product of Pulaski schools, as a result I have a great sense of family and community.
I’m a great listener and understand that everyone will have a different opinion.
I’ll listen to everyone’s concerns and will use an unbiased approach to get resolutions.
I have years of management experience. I understand the ins and outs of what it takes to run successful organizations.
I care about the staff and students of the Pulaski district.
I know that you must work hard to get results.
What’s the biggest issue facing Pulaski schools?
A major challenge facing the school district is space and facilities.
Our community is growing and we are going to have to come up with a sound, logical way to address the situation that will gain the support of our staff and community.
This issue is not going to go away, and will need to be addressed in the coming years.
It never is an easy topic to address and will need community support and buy-in.
I will work with fellow board members to make sure this is accomplished to the best of my ability.
What does the next superintendent need to do to ensure growth for the district?
The next superintendent is going to have to be an ambassador of the school district and community to ensure growth for the district.
A lot goes into being an ambassador of our district.
The superintendent will have to become an active part of the community, embrace who we are, and learn who we are.
Then take this information and put it to good use.
We are a district that people want to be a part of and we need to advertise who we are and what we are about.
The next superintendent will have to do this to ensure growth.
What’s one thing you would like to see changed in the district?
One thing I would like to see changed in the community is more community involvement.
Recently, I attended the question-and-answer session for the superintendent candidate and I was really disappointed with the lack of attendance from community members.
Why was that?
Are other events held by the school district that poorly attended? If so why?
These are some of the questions I would investigate as a school board member to gain more community involvement.
I feel more involvement strengthens both the community and the district, and leads to good dialogue and results for everyone involved.
Sarah Brunette
Occupation: Insurance agent team member with Doug Prentice Insurance Agency and State Farm.
Immediate family: Mother, Lynne; father, Michael; brothers, Christopher, and Matthew; children, Saray (26), Alona (20), Willow (13) and Woodson (11).
Why should people vote for you?
I have had the privilege of my children attending our school district for their entire school careers; I would appreciate an opportunity to give something back to this amazing district and the families within it.
What is the biggest issue facing Pulaski Schools?
I believe many of our families understand the importance of great teachers and great curriculum, but I think our families would agree, our children’s safety has recently become a necessary and serious conversation we need to continue to have an open dialogue about.
Our children want to feel safe in a wholesome learning environment, and as parents, we want to feel confident that our concerns are being heard and discussed.
What does the next superintendent need to do to ensure growth for the district?
I would like to see our next superintendent work more closely with faculty and board members to create a more unified and focused approach to our growth.
What is one thing you would like to see changed in the district?
I truly love this school district and everything it has done to make our community one of the fastest growing in our area.
We have great teachers, great staff and great students.
I would like to see our district continue to focus on forging the bonds within our community that continue to build the community strength we have all come to know and appreciate here.