By Press Times Staff

DE PERE – A primary will be held for the West De Pere school board to eliminate one of three candidates running for an open at-large seat.

Tom Van De Hei decided not to seek a new three-year term.

Riley Drew, Ryan Van Den Heuvel and Jamie Kinjerski have registered to run.

The district is made up of the west side of De Pere, and includes parts of the Town of Lawrence and Village of Hobart.

The Press Times emailed each candidate the same questions and gave them 100 words to respond to each.

Riley Drew

Why are you running for the West De Pere school board?

I am running out of an urge to serve my community.

I graduated from West De Pere High School.

I attended school board meetings for a period of a year and the issues of education always fascinated me, specifically parental choice and ensuring at-risk children are not left behind.

I have had a strong desire to pursue these issues and solve these problems ever since.

During that time, I also served on the committee which advocated for the passage of the referendums of 2018.

Further, I believe my youth gives me a certain perspective missing from the current school board.

Riley Drew

What’s your assessment of the district allowing students to return to classrooms when it did and continuing to allow virtual instruction for those uncomfortable about returning?

I support it, for the most part.

Our nation is experiencing one of the most divisive periods in her history, and opinions on COVID-19 are no exception to this.

In this, I appreciate the board’s willingness to compromise.

I further appreciate their commitment to parental choice, allowing parents to choose between returning their children to in-person classes or having them continue to learn virtually.

I am grateful that both options are available for the liberty and safety of both children and parents. However, I believe we also need to accommodate the concerns of teachers who are not yet comfortable returning.

What issue will you champion if elected?

The district ought to start school later in the day.

Studies have proven kids are more successful and receive better grades if school starts later.

Right now, classes start at 7:35 a.m. at the middle and high schools, something which is taking a toll on students, including anxiety, lack of focus and general exhaustion.

For those who live on the periphery of the district, children might have to be at the bus stop as early as 6:30 a.m.

Starting school 30 minutes later would be an improvement and would allow students to excel even further.

What needs to change in the district?

The district badly needs fresh blood.

I thank Mr. Van De Hei for his service and stepping down, as this will be the first time since 2014 where we have a new board member.

Further, whilst I agree the board has generally listened to parents, the board made a huge mistake during the search process for a new superintendent by adding a third candidate after the search committee already singled out two candidates.

Thankfully, this third candidate did not end up being chosen. However, it still shows that there is lots of room for improvement on the board.

What are the things the West De Pere school district is doing right?

The board has done a great job of ensuring that the education of our children is not politicized.

As a member of the board, I would like to continue this.

Furthermore, I really appreciate how they have handled the expansion projects for the high school, middle school and the new intermediate school.

Throughout the process, I could tell that the board was attentive to the concerns and desires of parents and faculty.

As a board member, I would seek to emulate this in ensuring that the parents’ wishes are my guide.

Ryan Van Den Heuvel

Why are you running for the West De Pere school board?

I have lived in this community my whole life and I feel that this is a way that I can give back to our community.

I was around when West De Pere was not looked at as one of the top schools in our area academically or athletically and over the years that has dramatically changed.

I want to help with the continued success of West De Pere.

Ryan Van Den Heuvel

What’s your assessment of the district allowing students to return to classrooms when it did and continuing to allow virtual instruction for those uncomfortable about returning?

I think they did a fantastic job.

I think West De Pere made a hard decision that wasn’t popular nationally at the time, but I believe they made the right one.

They gave parents/students the option to safely return to school or learn virtually if they weren’t comfortable attending in person.

Each family could make that decision based on what was best suited for them.

What issue will you champion if elected?

I want families to have the option to be in school safely or learn virtually.

Until the pandemic is over, that is my main focus.

We need to find a way to provide consistent structure for students while maintaining a safe working environment for teachers and staff.

Once the pandemic is over, I want to continue the path of excellence that West De Pere has been on.

The teachers and staff at all levels have provided my children with an awesome environment to grow up in.

What needs to change in the district?

I’m not sure if it needs to change, but one of the things that I believe that I can bring to the table is the knowledge and local business connections to expand West De Pere’s vocational education programs.

I believe that students should have choices at the end of their time at West De Pere. For some that choice is college, but for the students that don’t choose college, I want them to know that other successful options are available.

Jamie Kinjerski

Why are you running for the West De Pere school board?

Education is the foundation for building our community and preparing our children to succeed.

I grew up in Green Bay and am a former public school teacher and football coach. My family and I have been part of the West De Pere community for almost 15 years, and my children attend West De Pere schools.

I am passionate about public education.

I enjoy volunteering in our schools, and I enjoyed coaching Destination Imagination.

I was honored to participate in the recent superintendent selection committee.

I promise to listen to all perspectives representing our students, teachers, parents, taxpayers and the community.

Jamie Kinjerski

What’s your assessment of the district allowing students to return to classrooms when it did and continuing to allow virtual instruction for those uncomfortable about returning?

I think the district made the best decision it could at the time by providing choices for families.

In-person learning may increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission, but remote learning is challenging because some classes don’t work well via video conferences.

Our teachers have been working their absolute hardest to ensure students continue to receive the best possible education throughout the pandemic.

The transition has required that they completely rethink and revamp how they teach to reach in-person and remote students.

My children have been in-person this school year, and they feel safer with the extra precautions the district implemented.

What issue will you champion if elected?

I would work to increase community engagement with our schools.

This is a two-way street.

As community involvement increases, so does the quality of the schools and educational opportunities within the district.

Additionally, as school quality and educational opportunities increase, more people want to be a part of the community.

Some great examples of community commitment include the partnerships that the high school has with local businesses.

These partnerships provide students with unique opportunities for training and experiences outside the school while local businesses benefit by having highly motivated students learn how to succeed in their facilities.

What needs to change in the district?

Although West De Pere has an outstanding reputation throughout the state, there are still challenges with attracting and retaining high-quality teachers.

One challenge is that there are fewer students pursuing careers in education, and therefore, there are fewer potential candidates available.

In order to ensure that the West De Pere school district continues to attract and retain its exceptional teachers, it must provide supportive teaching environments and attractive compensation packages.

The community has the ability and obligation to create the kind of climate that makes teachers want to come to and stay in West De Pere.

What are the things the West De Pere school district is doing right?

Because the district takes a proactive approach to future needs, West De Pere is an appealing place for families.

The district constantly re-evaluates its needs to ensure proper staffing and resource availability.

Furthermore, the district excels in providing alternate educational pathways to appeal to various learning styles and areas of interest.

For instance, the Phantom Knight Charter School offers self-directed, project-based learning outside the traditional classroom. In addition, the high school offers a variety of classes to earn college credit.

The district’s ultimate goal is to facilitate and ensure achievement for all 4K-12th grade students.