By Kris Leonhardt
Editor-in-Chief
GREEN BAY – On April 4, Green Bay Area Public School District voters will choose from four candidates running for two available seats on the school board.
We reached out to the candidates to learn more about them and why they are running.
Following are the responses for all four candidates:
Noah Becker
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that qualify you to take a leadership role serving on the Green Bay Area School Board:
I served as the main student board representative for the 2020-21 school year. Through that service, I have gained experience with the board’s practices and procedures. Most importantly, I am a recent West High School graduate. With my recent boots-on-the-ground experience as a student, I know about the many things that we’re doing well and about the things that need improvement. I hope to bring new leadership and ideas to the board. I was active in politics as the district dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, and I learned so much from that experience that I would love to bring to the board.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I am running to ensure that budget shortfalls do not negatively affect our teachers, students, and families. I am committed to preserving our historic schools, and minimizing any building closures. Green Bay West, apart from being my alma mater, is a key part of Green Bay history. The East-West football rivalry is one of the oldest continuous high school football rivalries in the country and many of our families have several generations of West and East graduates. Besides the historical aspect, West High School is important for families who live and work in the neighborhood. I will vote “no” on any plan that does not preserve all four of our high schools. I plan to keep as many of our schools open as possible as we work through enrollment decline and budget issues.
I will bring new ideas to the table, and I’m willing to consider creative solutions to tackle the enrollment decline and funding issues. I plan to take a direct role in decision-making as a Board member. Board members should make decisions based on a wide range of information, not just the Administration’s recommendations. Elected Board members are there to actively represent their constituents, and bring forward new ideas. I also would like to evaluate school start times. We know that a later start time, potentially with multiple start time options, is healthier for students, reduces traffic accidents, and increases learning and productivity.
Finally, we need to be creatively looking for solutions to increase student achievement. Student achievement is more than a report generated in Madison, and the individual successes of our Green Bay students matters most. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic caused even straight-A students to lose ground, and I will research and work to implement creative solutions to help make up for the ground lost during the pandemic.
What are the top three issues facing the district and how would you approach addressing them?
First, the district is facing a serious budget crunch for two reasons: a state funding formula that has been unfair to Green Bay since at least the 1990s and declining enrollment due to population shifts. There will be recommendations to close and consolidate buildings, but before closing any school I would insist on other changes, such as moving central office functions from downtown to open spaces in our school buildings.
Second, I have heard a lot about student and teacher safety. We need to have safe, respectful schools and invest in mental health support for our students, which will reduce problematic behaviors and drug abuse.
Third, the complexity of our large district can make it difficult for families to navigate the system. I would like to streamline the process for families, especially those with students receiving special education services. Families should not have to reach out to multiple departments for answers to important questions about their child’s education.
Paul Boucher
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that qualify you to take a leadership role serving on the Green Bay Area School Board:
I went to both public and private schools growing up in the GB area. I graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1984. Having earned six varsity letters. I attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and attained a bachelor of science degree in sociology. (The Sociology program at UW is considered one of the best top programs in America). While enrolled, I participated in NCAA Athletics as a member of the Big Ten Conference. After graduating I was employed at Georgetown University and was promoted to a position at the Georgetown University Law Center. I have been doing Social Research and collecting data on the local community for decades in the hope of bettering life for all.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I am running because I think that I can make a difference. I believe in the importance of democracy and education and I hope that by participating in the process that my ideas and perspectives will motivate and enlighten the community. I want to change the status quo. We need to drastically change the way we think about, view and act in the educational environment to address the hostility problem that have become the norm. Complacency and Monotony are our worst enemies. Let’s not become comfortably numb to the realities that torment us, both locally and abroad – homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, obesity, domestic abuse, violence, political naïveté, apathy.
What are the top three issues facing the district and how would you approach addressing them?
1) I want to help increase enrollment and graduation rates.
2) Develop and expand the programs associated with diversity, inclusion and female empowerment. .
3) I want to grow the athletic programs to elevate our students, faculty and academic achievements to new unprecedented levels We need to institute programs that will support and enhance the inspirational learning experience . We need to provide students with the opportunities and vision to prepare for their future. Youth athletic programs will allow all students with the tools they need to be healthy, well adjusted community members. Gymnastics, swimming, roller skating and dance for all grade levels will cultivate the mindset of being able and capable to take on any challenges that students may be faced in their future . Morning stretch programs and a light breakfast will prepare students for their day. Designing and building an after school hangout for children to listen music and sing Karaoke will develop a sense of camaraderie that has been missing. After school art, cooking and music classes will allow for more well rounded students. More dynamic soft surfaces playgrounds with will keep children wanting to go to school.
Lynn Gerlach
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that qualify you to take a leadership role serving on the Green Bay Area School Board:
A graduate of UW-Eau Claire (long ago), I began my career as a licensed teacher in Appleton Public Schools at age 21, teaching English and drama. Three years later, as a mother and a U.S. Army wife, I was teaching kindergarten in San Antonio, Tex. Raising my children and supporting my husband’s military career, I taught English, speech and drama in five states and coached cheerleading, debate, forensic speaking, and one-act-play competition. When my husband retired from the Army, I began teaching at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay the day it opened. Eventually, I became director of admissions and student activities for NDA and then spent three years administering the Professional Development Certificate program for teachers at UWGB as part of the state’s Institute for Learning Partnership. Since 2004 I have worked as a marketing and communication manager and consultant. I’ve lived in seven states, moved 25 times in my adult life, and experienced diverse schools and communities. I now have three grandchildren in college and two in high school. I happen to believe that Green Bay is a uniquely wonderful city, and I have adopted it as my permanent home. Since returning in 2018, I have served one term on Green Bay City Council.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I am running for the board of education because citizens have asked me to serve. At this point in my life, I am free to offer my time and energy for the greater good – truly a blessing. While I’ve never taught in Green Bay public schools, I consider it a privilege to be trusted to help make the hard decisions now facing the district. I have great respect for members of the current board and for administrative leadership, and I count among my friends both current and former district teachers and leaders. I share with teachers the passion for teaching, with parents the concern for their children’s well-being and future, and with the community at large a dedication to shaping future leaders.
What are the top three issues facing the district and how would you approach addressing them?
That is probably a debatable point; I can’t say for sure these are definitely the top three, but I do believe they’re all urgent:
1) The financial challenges facing the district.
2) Declining student population and the challenge of properly assigning resources.
3) The politicization of public schools to win non-school-related political goals.
In addressing all three of these issues, I will take the same approach I took as a member of City Council: Do my research; ask questions; consult a variety of resources; vote my conscience. As for the funding threat, we simply must convince state legislators to reimburse public schools the way they used to. Wisconsin public schools used to be a model for the nation; no longer. We need our property taxes to support the schools that teach all children – at a funding level that allows us to address diverse student needs. The second issue, declining student population, is on its way to a solution, thanks to wise board decisions. I fully support the work of the consultant hired to assess all our district facilities and have studied the reports. And I am deeply grateful to the citizens serving on the blue-ribbon panel: They are well-chosen, and I stay abreast of their work. The third issue, politicization of public schools for a variety of purposes, is a tougher nut to crack. While I understand that people want to choose sides on hot button issues and try to “win,” the truth is that we will never end such distractions and disruptions until we can listen to each other and find common ground on which to cooperate. Much of the anxiety is based on fear, and fear is usually based on lack of knowledge. It’s natural for humans to fear what they don’t understand or find unusual. We all have to work toward respectful, open-hearted dialogue and mutual learning. I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy more.
Laura McCoy
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that qualify you to take a leadership role serving on the Green Bay Area School Board:
I am a graduate of New London public schools and have a bachelor of arts degree from UW-Whitewater. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, I worked as a legal assistant in St. Paul, Minn., and Madison, Wis. I have lived in Green Bay for 23 plus years and both my children are graduates of Aldo Leopold Community School and East High School.
In addition to being the current school board president, I have served as past board clerk and treasurer and past member of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Policy & Resolution Committee. I have also served as a member of district task forces and works groups dedicated to issues ranging from district safety to sustainability.
Within my community, I have volunteered with organizations including my neighborhood association, the Brown County Historical Society, Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization and The Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board. I am currently the vice chair of the Brown County Human Services Board.
Why are you running for office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I am running for re-election to the Green Bay School Board because I firmly believe that a strong public school system is foundational to the strength of our community, our quality of life and our economy. I believed this to be true the first time I ran for office and the six years I have served have only reinforced this belief.
I want to continue to advocate for our children, our families, our district staff and the community I am proud to serve. I will continue to expand my relationships with constituents, community leaders and elected officials. These partnerships are essential to strong schools and a healthy, vibrant community.
I will focus on leading our board through our current search for a new superintendent, addressing our issues around literacy and aggressively seeking equitable usage of our district buildings and financial resources.
What are the top three issues facing the district and how would you approach addressing them?
As I have already noted, we are currently working to select a new superintendent. Choosing the individual who will lead our district into the future is one of the primary responsibilities of any school board, and the process is complex and rigorous. I look forward to completing the process and welcoming our new Superintendent this coming summer.
Declining literacy rates are a state and nationwide issue, and our district is no different. If elected, I will be asking our new Superintendent to make this a top priority. I am committed to including the voices of teachers, parents, students and staff in achieving much-needed change.
Reduced birth rates, the school voucher program and student mobility, as well as the challenges of our state’s public school funding formula, have forced us to re-examine the size of our district and how our facilities are being utilized. We’ve taken steps toward addressing this issue by commissioning a district-wide facilities study and forming a community task force to review the results. I look forward to hearing their recommendations. I remain committed to providing all our students and families with excellent educational services while also respecting the investment of taxpayers.