By Press Times Staff

HOWARD-SUAMICO – Two incumbents on the Howard-Suamico school board face three challengers in a Feb. 16 primary that will narrow the field down to four candidates for two seats in April.

Incumbents Jeff Eilers and Vanessa Moran face Greg Klimek, AJ Walker and Travis Veraghen.

The district serves 5,956 students in eight schools and nine community-based 4K sites, making it the 25th-largest school district in the state of Wisconsin.

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

Jeff Eilers

Why should people vote for you?

I’ve served tirelessly for nine years, I’ve seen the district through two referendums – start to finish – both with success.

I’ve served as the CESA 7 representative to the board for those nine years, and served on its Board of Control from vice president to treasurer.

I also serve as the delegate to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and have served a two-year term on the Policies and Resolutions Committee advocating for where time and money are used.

I’m a simple individual who has nothing but the best interest of children in mind, and I wish to continue to advocate.

Jeff Eilers

Can the district continue to pay teachers comparable to nearby districts and keep classroom sizes at their current levels without a referendum?

Without a referendum I feel it would be next to impossible to continue to pay teachers comparable to other districts and to keep class sizes at current levels.

We are a very low-spending district, which is something our board takes great pride in, we are transparent in all we do and say, and the community as a whole knows we would never ask for a referendum without first seeking to do the work in the allotted budget.

How do you believe the district should carry out instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

Carrying out instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a challenge for districts all over Wisconsin.

However, I believe our district has found a way to make it work with a cohort of both online and in-person learning.

I know not every individual is happy with the situation, and I can assure all of them we all want kids back in school all day-everyday.

However, we need to be sure it is done in the safest possible manner for everyone involved, teachers, students and support staff alike.

What should the district do for student and staff safety when dealing with a potentially deadly virus?

When dealing with a potentially deadly virus I believe the district has taken appropriate steps.

Schools were closed, virtual learning was initiated, safety mandates were put into place.

Now it is time to keep the tables moving, work on getting the teachers vaccinated, get the students back to in-person learning and try to get a little bit of the new normalcy functioning.

I am proud of the district and I hope to see our kids back to all-day, in-person learning in all grades in the very near future.

What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in the district?

The district is a great place to live.

I’m proud to be a citizen here and proud to serve on the school board, hopefully for many years to come.

If I could change one thing, I’d like to ask the administrative team to consider the views of citizens and of the board before making any final determinations on things such as when kids return to in-person learning.

I understand freedom within fences and the policy governance approach.

However, citizens need to be heard and need to know their thoughts and actions are considered and are not just words on paper.

Vanessa Moran

Why should people vote for you?

Each of the candidates bring their own unique qualifications, but my experience in the educational field sets me apart.

I was an educator for over a decade; teaching at Meadowbrook in Howard.

I made the transition into school leadership, first serving as a dean of students, then associate principal, and moving into a building principal role.

In fall, I was appointed to the role of director for the Office of Educational Opportunity by UW System President Tommy Thompson.

I bring a great deal of expertise, but more importantly, I have a heart for the students, staff, and community of Howard-Suamico.

Vanessa Moran

Can the district continue to pay teachers comparable to nearby districts and keep classroom sizes at their current levels without a referendum?

Yes; I believe that it all comes down to the choices we make and what we prioritize.

Additional aid has continued to increase for our district for nearly the past decade.

Those dollars need to be allocated towards recruiting and retaining top talent.

Studies have shown that the most important thing we can do for our students is putting the most qualified, engaging, and passionate educators in the classroom.

We have those staff.

How we ensure that they stay will mean investing in them.

And how we ensure they are most effective means that we keep class sizes manageable.

How do you believe the district should carry out instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

The district needs to take into account the individual learning needs of each student when planning for and carrying out instruction.

For some students and families, in-person learning is not just needed, but necessary.

For others, an online or hybrid model may be more appropriate.

I believe the priorities for our district should be centered around mental health; not just for our students, but for our staff as well.

This has been a highly traumatic period of time for many, and we will need to devote significant time and resources toward ensuring both academic and social/emotional needs are met.

What should the district do for student and staff safety when dealing with a potentially deadly virus?

I believe that it is important to get students back to in-person learning as quickly as possible, as safely as possible.

We have staff who are themselves, or who have family who are, immunocompromised, who have had to say goodbye to loved ones due to COVID, or who have underlying medical conditions.

No educator should have to choose between their life and their love for teaching.

We need to take these factors into consideration when devising a reopening plan, and make every effort to ensure both a safe working and learning environment.

What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in the district?

One thing I would like to see changed in the district is our system of board governance.

We operate under a model called policy governance.

I’ve been very forthcoming about how I feel about this particular style of governance and believe that we need to adopt a new system that allows for the board to be able to maintain more authority, while also allowing for the necessary autonomy.

It should include avenues for more community input, increased transparency, and allow the board to truly serve as the voice of the community; rather than serving as the voice of the district.

Greg Klimek

Why should people vote for you?

I have been actively supporting needs in the Howard-Suamico School District for more than 10 years.

I have served on the Howard-Suamico Education Foundation Board, co-chaired two Referendum Task Forces and co-chaired the Upward Together Capital Campaign, all of which enhanced opportunity for current and future students attending the Howard-Suamico District.

This district and community has been part of my life for nearly 50 years, and being a business owner has prepared me to embrace change and make difficult decisions.

After years of considering this option, I feel the time to engage deeper is now.

Greg Klimek

Can the district continue to pay teachers comparable to nearby districts and keep classroom sizes at their current levels without a referendum?

After community support with a successful referendum in 2018, HSSD added 35 positions to reduce class sizes.

In addition, they increased pay and benefits to compete in our local market, as well as attract top talent, with a cost of just over $1 million.

The reason the district needs referendum support is because it’s on the low end of state funding, due to a formula established in 1990 when our community was much smaller.

Without the state funding formula being changed, our district needs community support through a referendum to maintain current class sizes and retain quality teaching staff.

How do you believe the district should carry out instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

I believe the school board and district invested a lot of time and thought into decisions they felt were best for students and staff during the pandemic.

Students need to be in school and employees need to be safe, which makes returning to school in-person a complex issue.

I believe it’s important that the school board continues to engage with experts in the community to ensure a safe return to the classroom for all.

As a candidate, I don’t believe it’s right to second-guess difficult decisions that were made without having been involved in the entire process.

What should the district do for student and staff safety when dealing with a potentially deadly virus?

I believe the district should continue to work closely with experts in the community to understand how to best mitigate risks for staff and students.

I think it’s important that all necessary precautions are taking place and to be transparent with staff and families when cases arise in the schools.

What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in the district?

I believe a dynamic school district adds tremendous value to a small community.

We are blessed here in Howard-Suamico to have just that.

I would like to see transparency and communication with Howard-Suamico residents and families remain a priority.

I would also like to see greater collaboration between village leaders and the school district so both parties understand the needs and goals of the other.

AJ Walker

Why should people vote for you?

Some of us have found our niche.

We are educators or engineers or stay-at-home parents, etc.

I am a public servant, and I enjoy this role.

Much of my adult life has been dedicated to public service.

I am running with the hope of offering a different perspective on how we engage our students, and how these students interact with the communities they inhabit.

I believe in leading from the front, and my candidacy is about being a voice for community stakeholders who want to know more about students’ educational and social needs.

AJ Walker

Can the district continue to pay teachers comparable to nearby districts and keep classroom sizes at their current levels without a referendum?

We have some funding issues within the district that have a lingering complexity.

We must address our enrollment numbers first.

I believe there is a holistic approach to the conversation about class size and this also requires some tough conversations about competitive compensation; however, our district must maintain comparable wages to neighboring districts.

Howard-Suamico School District has to remain competitive for top educational talent.

My heart tells me that there will need to be some thoughtful compromise in the coming years, because referendums are wearing down our community stakeholders.

How do you believe the district should carry out instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

I am a school resource officer, and I strongly believe that school is the safest place for students.

However, we must weigh the safety of both student and staff.

My duties put me in harm’s way, and I had a nightmarish COVID experience.

No one should have to go through what I went through.

Nevertheless, I also see the depression, anxiety and safety issues students are dealing with at home.

These are complex issues.

Vaccinations are paramount, but so is getting our students back into their social circles where physical interaction with peers and teachers can help heal emotional trauma.

What should the district do for student and staff safety when dealing with a potentially deadly virus?

We must dedicate ourselves to safety and be done with the rancor that has permeated American society.

People die from COVID, and the threat is real.

As a police officer who works directly with students, I am fearful and worried that there will be lasting mental health implications for our students, and their progress needs to come first.

We must aggressively vaccinate teachers and staff while reopening schools.

My candidacy is built around strategic decision-making, and we must tend to our students emotional and mental well-being before we experience untenable numbers of student educational decline.

What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in the district?

Transparency is the bedrock of good communication.

I have spoken with so many people who are upset and confused about the actions of the school board.

They talk to me about not understanding current issues within the district, while some just want to be heard.

I believe the current board is working hard to find solutions during the pandemic, but some of our members are failing at being accessible.

I want to change that.

Travis Veraghen

Why should people vote for you?

I will put in the work to gain a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing HSSD.

I will consistently advocate for the interests of the community that I represent.

I will challenge decisions that I believe are not in the best interest of the students and our community, and I am not afraid to be a voice of reasonable dissent.

I believe that our school is our community’s most valuable asset and will work hard to ensure its long-term success.

In addition to advocacy, I will communicate effectively with my constituency to help inform both our views.

Travis Veraghen

Can the district continue to pay teachers comparable to nearby districts and keep classroom sizes at their current levels without a referendum?

This is a very difficult issue to address within the constraints of the current state funding model.

The simple answer to this question is yes.

However, this would require significant sacrifice in other areas.

Attracting and retaining talented teachers is the No. 1 driver of academic success.

Right now, we need an operational referendum to achieve this balance.

As we continue down the road, I think it is imperative for us to move away from a dependence on referendums.

This can be done through a combination of policy advocacy through our legislators and a conservative fiscal policy.

How do you believe the district should carry out instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

I have been a vocal advocate for the safe return to in-person learning.

I helped organize and facilitate communication, engaged school board members and administration, and wrote and delivered a petition signed by over 1,100 individuals.

The community, medical experts and national data all agree this is in the best interest of the students and can be accomplished.

Many schools, including in Northeast Wisconsin have been in-person, full-time safely during this pandemic.

The key is to have a clear plan and accountability from all parties.

I am happy to see the district making progress toward this goal.

What should the district do for student and staff safety when dealing with a potentially deadly virus?

The district should follow risk mitigation criteria to ensure a safe return to in-person learning.

Local health partners, as well as national data, are readily available on this subject.

In addition, there are districts throughout Northeast Wisconsin who have remained safely in-person for months.

I think we need to learn from their successes and their challenges, instead of forging a new path.

I applaud the measures we are currently taking, such as masking, sanitizing and distancing to the extent possible.

These measures have contributed to the lack of spread among our students and staff.

What’s one thing you’d like to see changed in the district?

I would like to see more transparent decision-making.

In part due to our policy governance model, our board rarely votes on non-procedural issues.

The disruption caused by COVID highlighted this shortcoming as the board did not vote on the decision to suspend nor resume in-person learning.

This is just one example of a lack of transparency and accountability in decision-making.

I believe the board should represent the voice of the community, and the community should have a clear understanding as to how decisions are made.

If I am elected, I will work to make this a reality.