 Good evening and welcome to the candidate forum for the Sheboygan area school district board candidates I'm Dulcey Johnson a member of the Sheboygan branch of the American Association of University women the sponsor of tonight's event AUW's mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy education and research We are a nonpartisan Organization we do not endorse candidates at any level of government, but do take positions on issues concerning education and women AUW was instrumental in getting title nine passed and the Lily led better therapy act Locally we give scholarships to non-traditional women students We co-sponsored the great decision series with the Meade public library and will conduct our sixth annual STEM conference in November to encourage girls to consider careers in science technology education and math New members are always welcome to join us in our mission of the and information is available on our website This is not a debate There will be no rebuttals It is simply an opportunity for candidates to inform the public of their opinions on issues related to the Sheboygan area school district The moderator for tonight's event is AUW member Mary Jo McBurartree Mary Jo has been moderating this SASD forums for several years and we think she's a perfect person to do this because she doesn't live in the Sheboygan district Our timekeepers are Eleanor Young and Kathy Lohan Mary Joe Thank you, Dulcey, and thank you all for being here to begin Please briefly introduce yourselves We will start and then rotate in alphabetical order who answers questions first You have one minute for this introductory statement, and we will start with Heidi Baymer I'm a parent of three SASD kids and I'm active in their learning and school life I'm a former classroom teacher and education consultant as a consultant I worked with schools in curriculum review and best practice implementations So I know how to find and synthesize education research because this is where solutions lie I love learning and I'm eager to learn the many aspects of the work required to serve effectively on our school board To listen to the students parents teachers and staff and to work with fellow members of the board to come to unified decisions I'm honored to run for the open seat vacated by David Gallinetti after his many many years of service to our school community And I'm grateful to the American Association of University women for this opportunity to share my views. Thank you Julie I was waiting for it. Okay. Hi. Thank you for hosting this event tonight Also, thank you for hosting this event for the voters as well. I really appreciate this opportunity To step outside my comfort zone and be heard So my name is Julie Kelly. I am happily married Mother of five. I am employed at Lake Shore display. I am also also employed at the village of one at 170 I attended Sheboygan area school district from my very first school days through high school including stride and tap the teenage parent program All five of my kiddos have attended the district in the past a Healthy academic setting For our children is very near and dear to my heart So I'm forewarning as I may get emotional at times. So please be patient while I regroup when necessary. Thank you Okay, I Want to thank the AAUW for hosting this important event And I say good evening to everyone who had the courage to come out and if you weather. So thank you My name is Kay Robbins, and I am currently on the SASD school board I want to continue to serve because I've spent the majority of my life involved in public education And it remains my area of greatest interest this passion for education inspires me to want to give back My university experience includes a bachelor's degree in education from UW Madison and a master's degree in education from Lakeland University I am a teacher to my core having taught 40 years in the Sheboygan area school district. I believe in this school district our Schools all 25 of them create powerful learning environments for our 10,000 almost 10,000 students We provide opportunities that few other districts can match I look forward to working together with all stakeholders to make our schools even better. Thank you. Thank you, David Wait, okay, can I still have my minute? Okay. Yeah, I'm Dave Ross I was born and raised in Sheboygan my wife and I have three kids and for grandkids that have come up mostly through Sheboygan schools During my school years. I enjoyed being involved in choirs and swing choirs Later as I entered the workforce one of my memorable jobs was working for H.C. Parangay company where many people in our county would shop and congregate I have connected in our community as a soccer coach REC department supervisor visiting my children's classrooms in the SASD Leading youth group volunteering at South High and I brought music to the Salvation Army for their morning services Currently, I'm involved as a ministry volunteer for Sheboygan County Jail visitation I would just like to be involved to provide the best educational experience for the kids in our district. Thank you Hola, buenas noches. Hello everyone. My name is Sarah Ruiz Harrison I was born and raised in Sheboygan and I'm a direct product of SASD My SASD education provided me with many unique opportunities I went to James Madison elementary school horseman middle school and I graduated from South High I have a bachelor's degree in business administration from Cardinal Stretch University and an associate's degree in human resources business Administration from Western, Wisconsin Technical College. I am uniquely positioned to grow engagement as an active citizen With the whole district and I'm uniquely motivated to work with the growing diverse communities in Sheboygan Currently, I am a branch manager at Fox communities credit union where I oversee two branch locations My career path has allowed me to utilize sound finance and business skills daily to prioritize resources and develop budgets I am currently on the Sheboygan area school district board and I want to make sure that our teachers continue to have The resources they need to ensure all students succeed Haley Sorry Hello, my name is Haley Stockman. I attended Sheboygan area school district from pre-k through my graduation as an honor student in 2021 during my senior year of high school I completed my first year of college and made Dean's List in May of 2022 I graduated with my associate degree in horticulture business management by the time I was three years old I had been in five foster homes before landing safely in my forever home the Stockman family household Due to the events of my early childhood I struggled and if I'm being honest I continue to struggle but I think we all do in one way or another and because hindsight is 2020 I realize how important it is for students to attend a school that fosters a safe healthy and stable environment I want that for the students of this district and I want students to be prepared for life after high school I want to be a part of helping return this district to its former glory. Thank you All right to begin this is a three-part question Why are you running? What are your primary qualifications to be a school board member and What is the one best thing that you can contribute to the district? You have three minutes for this question starting with Julie Kelly Alrighty, okay So this is an interesting and Sensitive topic so it all started in 2020 When my husband and I attended an emergency Community input board meeting the night before the first day of school in support of our community All right end of that subject. So like many other parents and SASD staff who reside in the district we choice to a district That aligned more with our morals and values while my husband and I as well as their children have been very pleased With our decision we still stood in support for staff students and friends of the district. I Believe our school community is in dire need of new leadership With declining enrollment poor attendance teacher shortage student mental health issues and In some cases far below average academic achievement Those need to be addressed. It's some of our really great ones really great schools. I Would like to be the eyes Ears and a voice for parents who may not be aware of what is being taught to their children or who also Maybe fearful of speaking up about anything. I also want to make sure our teachers are supported as they help their students consistently be accountable on a regular basis I think there are too many divisive distractions going on not pertaining to academics taking up valuable time That could be spent on the betterment of the entire student body And My primary can you repeat the second part? It's the one best thing that you could contribute to the district So I think what I would be able to contribute is that I've been a mom of 32 years With a passion for Academic excellence. I just want to make sure that the students in our community Are afforded that they're afforded that opportunity for academic excellence. They deserve that Thank you okay Thank you. I'd say one of my primary Qualifications is that I have taught in a lot of different levels at a lot of different schools under a lot of different circumstances and that came during my retirement life As I became a substitute teacher for the school district for the first 35 years I taught at South High School and it remains a joy of my life to walk out in public and see how incredibly well These graduates have done. I'm yeah, I got a wave in the back I'm gonna maintain that we have a very good school district. We have challenges Yes, so does every urban school district in America But we are doing a lot of things really well And I invite you if you don't know that to walk into one of the schools We welcome you as a board member. You're welcome. Please come. They're your schools observe be a part of it If you had a chance last week to see the music exchange group that came from South Africa They were absolutely amazing and the experience that our children got in that was life-changing I am a parent of four children My oldest is 42 our youngest is 22 Along the way, we've had kids who love school and kids who struggled in school But they've all made it and they've all been successful because they came from a home where that was supported And they went to a school district where it was supported and I think there are a lot of things that we can do To make that the case for lots of kids and we'll talk a little bit more about that in detail about how the school district steps up and Helps kids who may not have as much support as home as the people in this room One of my kids was a valedictorian one of my kids was in special ed one of my kids was adopted from a foreign country One of my kids was a big athlete. You only went to school to play ball So, you know, we've had a wide variety of experiences in our own home I now have three beautiful grandchildren and I am enjoying supporting them in their schooling And I particularly did that during COVID when their mom who was also a teacher was teaching online and I was helping them. Thank you David thank you I am actually running Because I feel like we're coming after kids with ideology that is removing moral standards and good judgment Libraries are dispensing pornography without parental knowledge in the name of including all experiences We're suggesting to the kids that the biological sex they were born with is subject to change based on their feelings We're allowing the notion that America is foundationally racist and asking students to identify their part in it And of course, and I won't try to change this we teach our children that the perfect order of the universe happened because of a random big bang So why the war on children? We accept any new ideology that comes along and I think that undermines their security Why are many schools rejecting these things and I believe that we really need to make to use good judgment my qualifications I feel that as a parent grandparents in a volunteer in the community I've been through many scenarios that will definitely help me make decisions and I got two minutes. Hmm I think I can contribute good listening skills a team player encouraging all parents voices and Considering all voices when coming to crucial matters regarding curriculum and policy Thank you very much Sarah Can you repeat the question again? Pardon me. Can you repeat the question again? Yes a three-part question. Why are you running? What are your primary? Qualifications to be a school board member and what is the one best thing you can contribute to the district? Wonderful. Thank you. It's kind of a long question. So Why am I? About 10 to 12 years ago. I was living in Milwaukee finishing up school and at that time My husband and I were dating and I said I'm gonna move back to Sheboygan because I love Sheboygan And I think all of us can say we're up here because we love Sheboygan So back then my husband Tim back there one of my biggest supporters moved back to Sheboygan and I love everything about it. I Believe in the Sheboygan area school district vision that all students will be productive and responsible citizens in a competitive world I'm a direct product of what SASD is I have held variety of volunteer leadership roles in my church right down the street at St. Clement's Catholic Church. I Was a first communion Teacher confirmation coordinator Now in my career right now. I I managed two branches and I oversee 18 employees so I know that What it takes to be a leader I know what it takes to be a servant leader We're all in this together and I believe in the kids and I believe in Sheboygan and I believe that if we have a successful school district We have the successful community You know Haley. Thank you. Can you repeat the question one more time? Why are you running? What are your primary qualifications to be a school board member and what is the one best thing you can contribute to the district? Okay, well first of all I am running because I am I just got done spending 12 years of my life in this district and I'm not taking digs at the district whatsoever, but I did first-hand I witnessed the deterioration of this district and I also experienced it And I want to be a part in changing that back because I remember even in grade school It was much different by that than by the time I graduated my primary qualifications I guess it would be that I did just graduate I can speak as to what happens in the classroom on a daily basis where There's a lot of people I don't think there's anybody on the board that has been able to sit in a classroom every single day It's been a while since they've done that and There are some appalling things going on the classes that we don't talk about that nobody knows about Except maybe students and teachers and that doesn't even go around and the best thing I can contribute I think is I can be a voice for everybody. I can be a voice for the parents I can be a voice for the students and we need young representation on this board because They're they're students that they want to say and what's going on and I really feel like I can be that voice Thank you. Thank you. Next question. Next question What are the most important challenges facing the district? Yes, I'm afraid I didn't have a chance to I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to answer that. I apologize. I'm very sorry. I got out of alphabetical order my bad my bad Sorry, that's all right Okay I'm running because I love this community. My husband and I had a chance to live Anywhere we chose to and we chose Shabuigan Partially for the diversity we have a Multiethnic family and we really loved the diversity we found here in Shabuigan we loved how beautiful it is in the summer at least and We we really want to be involved and we have invested ourselves in this community I'm running because I have three kids in the district and I always want the best for them And I want the best for their friends and I want the best for our neighbors I want the best for the kids in this community my qualifications are first as a parent Who's very active in my kids learning? I'm also an active volunteer in our community with refugee Resettlement. I'm a Sunday school teacher and a service project coordinator for the kids in our church I'm also a former teacher and an education consultant So I understand the business of education, which is a bit different than Just seeing it from the perspective of a parent or a student and perhaps even as a teacher I Think the best thing I can bring as a candidate is my ability to listen I know how to ask the questions and I know how to really receive what people have to tell me I engage with youth and I engage with the teachers already and I'm eager to work with people on the board. I know how to find consensus So I think the thing I can bring is Using the research skills I have to not try to reinvent the wheel Everyone is dealing with the kind of situations we're dealing with and we can use the research that is out there to see what is working elsewhere I know how to find and synthesize that with the needs that our community is our experiencing Thanks Thank you, and sorry again for my interruption there All right next what are the most important challenges facing the district and what are your priorities for meeting these challenges? two minutes starting with Kay Robbins Well, there are a couple to choose from But if I had to pick just one to start with I would say the most important challenge facing us is attracting and retaining quality teachers This is a nationwide problem It is not a reflection on the subordinary school district fewer and fewer people are going into teaching and we're losing a large Percentage of them in the first five years So what can we do as a priority to fix that the first thing costs absolutely nothing and it's called respect If we treat our teachers with respect if we encourage them if we believe in them, they're gonna do a better job I don't know if negativity has ever motivated you, but it doesn't work with me And the second thing is very practical We need to pay people more money for a degree that takes them a minimum of four and a half years and potentially five To get through university some people who really want to do this work simply cannot afford to and They shouldn't have to be going to a restaurant or minards after school to pay back their loans So whatever we can do to encourage the attraction of high quality teachers and to keep the ones we have That's that's my number one priority Secondly, we're all working at rebounding from COVID and getting our achievement back up And we're doing some really good things We have interventionists in our elementary school if you don't know what they do go and watch them They're impressive We have smaller class sizes in our schools that have the most struggle and we have a really positive Effective summer school program. So I think those things are in place and I prioritize supporting those And then some of the challenges we have are just unique to this community and I don't know how many people are aware of this We are the fourth most economically disadvantaged school district in the state of Wisconsin That may not be clear to us because we live a middle-class life But many of our kids are living in poverty and so meals at school wraparound care before and after school Supporting the boys and girls club. It's all good stuff. Thank you David could you repeat that please? Pardon me. Could you read the question, please? What are the most important challenges facing the district and what are your priorities for meeting these challenges? Okay, thank you Uh, let me say this I know several teachers and they are a frustrated bunch It seems that Student cell phone addiction in the classroom unchecked classroom disruptions are really thwarting their abilities to teach so I would really want to address that I know as it's been stated some teachers are leaving after only one year of service. I Would like to problem-solve with teachers and administrators and try to offer a safe rewarding environment for our teachers The thought has been stated that possibly teachers could get paid based on merits And that maybe there would be an easier path to terminate underachievers. Thank you Sarah I think there is a couple of Problems that we have that I think We can can solve the first one is teacher retention As we know in every sector of every public or private it is hard to retain employees We're fighting one for another because somebody's paying somebody else a better living wage And we can do something about that in our community we can step and step up and say Our teachers are worth it and pay them more The second thing I would say would be funding I was looking at some statistics and I was very appalled to notice that we spent two million dollars in vouchers That were taken out of the public school sector and given to private schools in this city a Lot of people are saying that we have declining numbers the truth of the matter of effect is that majority of the schools in the state are declining in numbers just Six districts within Sheboygan County are lower in in enrollment and Then the other the other issue that I see is we are the four fourth poorest district in the state We are the fourth poorest district in the state and and we have to watch out we have to look out for our kids So Being able to be on the board because I am currently on the board We have funded free breakfast free lunches in the elementary and middle school So that the kids can can focus when they're in class. So, thank you. Thank you. Haley. Thank you That's actually a very good question because I think there's always going to be challenges My primary concern I guess is that I think that we are not adequately preparing our students for life after high school And at the end of the day children are our most valuable resource in this community And I know that negativity can be really uncomfortable sometimes but also truth and transparency The everybody in our community deserves that long before we think about how we feel and declining numbers started before COVID and I think that's something that a lot of people don't realize but I Mean we aren't adequately preparing our students. There's been a 10.3 percent drop in graduation rates since 2017 we're a below average in ELA math and reading scores You're just another one Let's see we are also below average in achievement growth and for our on track to graduate students I mean, there are a lot of issues here and This started long before COVID. I know that we we want to use a we want to use COVID as a crutch And I understand that I think that it did impact us greatly, but that that's not the only reason that we're here Thank you. Thank you Heidi thank you I would agree that attracting and retaining quality Is really a challenge research shows that Excuse me That teachers leave the job due to poor leadership poor working condition and counterproductive policies We need to ask our teachers anonymously if these are their reasons for leaving our district and Look for the solutions To meet their needs. I don't know why our particulars or teachers are leaving. I would love to hear their exit interviews I would like to know what are the things? Is it just finances what I hear talking to my friends? It's not just pay it is Respect from students. It's respect from this community in general and I'm eager To understand more when I can read more research about what teachers are saying when they leave. I think emotional well-being For our students our teachers and our staff is impacting academic growth. It's impacting emotional behavior in classes and As someone who is trauma-informed. I'm eager to support more social and emotional learning strategies To help our students face The trauma that they have experienced Thank you, Julie So I think the most important challenge will be Helping our youth Get caught up in their academics I Think that's so important as they are our future leaders. They're gonna be You know leading stuff in our community I would love to help brainstorm ideas that help bridge the gap between school and home I think that our public schools Need to operate as such traditional public schools go back to investing in expecting excellence and mastery of Academic learning and core subjects I think Then you'll start to see student enrollment go back up As well as top talented teachers But the most important transformation we'll see is is that academic Achievement soaring Again supporting our teachers also To help the students be can to be accountable for their actions things like Again cell phone use I've heard this as well how some districts You know are pretty strict about not using the cell phone and I've heard that this district is not now of course this is coming from Students and their friend my my Students friends so I you know saying they use their cell phones all the time. I don't know how you I cannot I can't do it I can't use my cell phone and focus on something so that definitely Should not be an issue or or a distraction I'm sorry. I have so many different notes here Yeah, I think I think that's okay next next question What kind of training should teachers staff and administration receive to ensure that all students are treated equally and That all interactions are appropriate with all students. You have two minutes starting with David What kind of training should they receive? I haven't done I didn't know the questions that have a beforehand of course So I haven't too much research on that But I do have some thoughts when you describe and I think you did diversity possibly Equity inclusion the question the training to ensure that all students are treated equally and that all interactions are Equally and appropriate Okay, can you give me one second appropriately um, I Guess I can offer you what I prepared that I think is close to that Um, I believe that should begin area school district does have a positive record of being Diverse equitable and including people of all backgrounds races genders Ethnicity and that we are I would believe that we're good at at including everybody and treating everybody Fairly So and I believe that it exists. I do not have any information on what training they should receive I guess that's where I get off here Sarah um, I believe equitable education comes to us from all different walks of life We have children who come to work with I'm sorry come to school with Mental mental health issues they come from broken homes. They come from Being hungry than the night before and all of these Come with them to school every day we just have to make sure that we hold Our teachers accountable our staff accountable We have to make sure that we're building the relationships with the parents the teachers the school district And that we value every kid equally We need to treat everyone with respect And and that's how I think that that there'll be equity within our students Haley can you repeat the question one more time? What kind of training should teachers staff and administration receive to ensure that all students are treated equally and that all interactions are appropriate? Well, I will just be transparent I'm not familiar with any specific trainings that we do in the Schaboygan area school district because I'm not on the board But I would love to learn more about that But I do know that Schaboygan is fortunate fortunate enough to be extremely diverse people from all sorts of situations Experiences demographic differences, you know, we're all in the same place And I think that at the end of the day the goal needs to be that Everybody has the same opportunity and everybody is treated the same no matter any of those differences And also what somebody previously mentioned was that the relationship with parents I think that definitely should be part of those trainings that the parents know what's going on in the schools And there's a communication between the teachers and the parents. Thank you. Okay. Hi, do you? Equity training is about finding what each kid needs to thrive Cultural respect and understanding is so Important for emotional well-being and community building in schools It helps kids have a way to talk about how they learn and to understand how other people think and that other people think differently than they do and yet they still deserve our respect Our student population is now more people of color than white kids and Every kid's cultural linguistic and religious background needs to be valued so that every kid feels valued. I Was thinking about this with a few of the Rohingya kids that I was tutoring this week in Rohingya culture When there are authority figures in the room children are supposed to look down They're not supposed to make eye contact So if the teachers and the staff don't understand that those children are showing respect by not making eye contact there is a misunderstanding and Possibly a consequence for a kid who is not communicating the same way their teachers are and We now have 30 or 40 Rohingya kids in our school district And I just am so excited that the teachers that I've met are so eager to learn about the cultures of the kids in Their room they want to know about them They want to be able to communicate with their families, so I don't think it's hard to encourage teachers staff and administrators to To gain this equity training everybody wants it. We want to do the best for what's in the kids in our classrooms Thanks, Julie All right, can you repeat the question one more time? Thank you. Sorry What kind of training should teachers staff and administration receive? To ensure that all students are treated equally and that all interactions are appropriate with all students Okay, thank you for that question. That's a great question. So While I myself am not aware of any training that they have or what the training entails in the district However, I do believe That every student should be treated equally they should every single student should have Equal opportunity To soar in their academics. I think I would I Don't know when I think about this. I guess I revert back to The number one, you know ruling kindergarten If it doesn't make you feel good, it's not gonna make anybody else feel good Um, so I don't I guess I'm a little confused about all this extensive training about including everybody Aren't we already including everybody? So I guess I I think that I it's really simple I guess to that I would say Like The great Ronald Reagan they say the world has become too complex for simple answers They are wrong That's it. Thank you okay we had a Diversity inclusion and equity training going pretty well right before the Pandemic hit and then suddenly we had a lot of fires to put out and so we did But I think right now we're we're making our way back and I would assume that toward the end of this school year in the beginning the next school year we will Bring that back at full force because in our school district. It is extremely important As as Heidi indicated, you know, we have a lot more kids From a lot different backgrounds than when you and I went to school. I started teaching here in 1976 There were no black students. There were no Asian students There were five students who are from Hispanic families who then in the winter went to Texas and came back to us in the spring Shwoigen has become a richer more involved Dynamic community I say look at our restaurants You know, it's just a much better place to raise your kids to get them ready to go out in a global economy We are a reflection of a bigger society and I'm proud of that It does create some issues Everybody doesn't understand And when you teach people a simple thing like the eye contact which we did with our Mung students back in the first group of Mung students I came through It was exactly that, you know We were brought up look at me when I talked to you especially if you're in trouble And they were taught don't ever look at somebody in the eye when you're in trouble because now you're putting insult on top of injury But as soon as that was explained the whole Reaction to that was filled with education and a much more appropriate response. So yes, we do need some training in those areas it is not just Happening by osmosis there are a lot of things that go into becoming a much better classroom teacher With the diverse population and our teachers want to do it and they are doing it and they'll do it even better. Thank you Thank you next question How can the district deal with race related issues in the schools two minutes? starting with Sarah I think that we all Know that She Morgan area school district is Minority majority in our school district We have to be aware of that we have to Be open to other cultures The other other ways that they celebrate holidays How they engage with each other What the school district is doing I the first Thought of mine comes is shared in school where they integrate the dual language at that school And if you haven't been there, I encourage you to be there How wonderful it is the engagement between the parents and the teachers because the parents Are present and they are engaged It is simply amazing and That staff at that school understands the cultural diversity She Morgan area school district Understands what it is to be diverse And I encourage everyone to Look in into maybe visiting shared in school and a lot of our other schools where we welcome diversity Haley can you repeat the question? How can't how can the district deal with race related issues in the schools? I'm gonna be a little bit repetitive here, but I mentioned before that no matter what demographic difference Students should be treated the exact same way as every other student that goes for teachers as well Because I know this I'm not naive enough to think that this is just a student problem I know that it's a teacher problem as well, and I think that you know no matter What difference is there needs to be the same opportunities and there needs to be the same treatment, and I think it's pretty simple. Thank you Heidi First of all, we need to acknowledge that there are issues with race relations in our schools. I drive car pool So I can tell you that there are kids criticized for their hair texture by other kids in our school There are kids criticized for the kind of food they bring in their lunches That all the problems haven't solved haven't been solved. We are not at a post racial place in here in town or in this country and We still need to actively Train our children and teach them that compassion and empathy and respect Are the foundations of our school community? Thanks Julie oh Boy, this is a big issue. So Gosh, I have so much to say about this So first of all, I think we're where we're at right now with Race because of where things have taken a road in our country and so I'm gonna go a little Morgan Freeman on this just real simple Right if we stop calling him a black man, he'll stop calling me White woman, right? So I think first of all, let's start Stop separating us by the color of our skin As far as You know kids teasing kids We're never gonna stop that They have to learn they have to feel that, you know, I feel bad. Oh my gosh. I made this child feel bad You know, they we learn that that's how we learn. That's how we got to where we are today We've all done things or said things that weren't respectful or weren't very nice or kind to somebody else And We felt that and learned from it and didn't do it again So I think I have I kind of have mixed feelings about you know interfering with social emotional learning and kind of you know interjecting into their Into their psyche, let's let them be who they are So that's that's how I feel about that. Thank you. Okay Well, I'd like to start by saying I'm a proud parent of a Sheridan kid We made the specific effort to school choice our youngest To Sheridan because we wanted her in the dual language program and she has made lifelong friends As a part of that experience. So thank you to Sheridan and the good work you do I We have race-related issues in our school if we don't admit that we can't work on it So I think the first step is to say yes, we have an issue Is it a horrible issue? Does it completely disrupt the school? Absolutely not but there are aggressions toward people that hurt and We can't ignore them and we can't act like they don't matter because they do it's not just kids being kids We as the leaders in a building Teachers staff head custodian I don't care who the adults in that building have to stand up and say we are not tolerating this This is unacceptable behavior racism is not allowed here What you say at home? I cannot control but what you say in school I can and you're gonna stop it and I I'm not kidding. I've had it with it And as the parent of a child of color My kid experienced it in high school, and I didn't like it very much And so it's one of the reasons I think that we need all our parents to come and participate and be a part of things and Parent engagement is not as high in some schools as we would like So I think one of the biggest things we could do to address that issue is to get some of our underserved and disenfranchised parents into our school and Appreciate the culture that they come from we are not all whites. We are not all Christian We are not all anything we're a wide variety of people and that's what makes this experience so valuable and rich. I Have zero talents for racism. I just I can't David thank you My thoughts are this I think we should continue to apply Standards and opportunity equally to all races. I think we do that We should find ways of Communication where different races can share their experiences possibly empathize empathize learn and understand each other if There are any teachings like critical race theory that might enter into the discussion or the classroom that promote racist views that Minorities are oppressed because of their skin color. I think those things should be addressed immediately. Thank you Okay, next question Charters charter schools do not compete with regular schools Every charter school has a contract which can be canceled by the district The qualifications for charter school teachers are different than for regular district teachers So should the salaries for charter school teachers be less and How much funding should the district give to charter schools? You have two minutes starting with Haley This is an interesting question. I actually went to a charter school for a while so that I Honestly, I'm just gonna be really transparent. I don't know I would love to learn more about it But I really don't know so thank you Okay, Heidi I Also wasn't aware that Staff is paid differently at the different schools and I wasn't aware that there are different qualifications for charter schools Teachers versus teachers elsewhere in the district. I do know I'm a really proud parent of a kid in one of our charter schools And it has been the absolute right choice for that child to have that learning experience So I value their teachers so so highly As to their funding being different, I can't answer that I just don't have enough information. Thanks Okay, Julie what can you repeat the question, please? Charter schools do not compete with regular schools Every charter school has a contract which can be canceled by the district The qualifications for charter school teachers are different than for regular district teachers Therefore should the should the salaries for charter school teachers be less And how much funding should the district give to charter schools? Two minutes so okay, I will not need two minutes. Thank you because I as well am not Aware of this topic Can you how is that I guess I I'd like to know how their qualifications are different between A regular public school and the charter school. What do you mean the the qualifications are different? I'm not here to answer questions. Got you. Sorry. Thank you So um, so yeah, I would I would need to learn more about that and research that so I'm sorry I don't have any answer for the question. Thank you All right, okay We have eight charter schools in this district Uh, they allow for choice on a level that no other district in Sheboygan county can touch I have to tell you honestly as a regular regular public School teacher at first. I was not that happy about charter schools. I was concerned But over time they won me over And I visited a number of them and I substituted in some of the etude group and what I came away with is These kids are getting what they need And these parents are able to place their children where they think they will be most most successful For example, I recently went to the Sheboygan leadership Academy, which is downtown and I'd never been inside the building And when I walked in I was like this place is cool And the teachers they keep the same kids all the way through eighth grade And then they go to high school And I think that might not be the worst idea for middle school, which is often the toughest Time in kids lives that they're with people that have known them since they were littles And moved through it. So I think charter schools do a good job The budget issues they they set their own budget if they choose within the allocation to pay their teachers more I am all in favor of teachers making more money. So that's what they choose to do with their money That's what they'll do, but they do their own budgets They come to us for approval. We sign a contract We just did that with late country academy They're getting great results. The only reason we would cancel a contract would be if the kids were not getting the education that they need Or if it just became so small a program like the Montessori program out in Cleveland But otherwise, I think I think they're a vital part of our school district Parents like them the kids who go there are successful. They've won me over. Thank you David I would have to say I can learn a lot from k about this one and I am really not aware enough of all of that the ins and outs of all that to answer And I would definitely have to learn more about it first. Thank you. All right, sarah I would have to mimic what k also stated I wasn't a big fan of charter schools Actually, one of my best friends growing up from james madison She sends her children to late country academy And I had a conversation. I said why why why that school? Um, you know, why why did you send them to that school and She opened up to me Stating it's a different type of learning environment for her kids And and to me A parent allowing to make that decision which we do in this school district parents make their decision of their kids education Um is priceless They are very successful She is very happy with the engagement of that school And I've I've heard that from other other charter schools also um I do have a little bit cause of concern because I know that They don't allow everyone you have to apply So I'm scared that maybe they don't allow everyone Who applies to enroll in their school district or their school? So that is a little um concerning to me um The the other um caveat to that is They are still technically part of shabuagan area school district. So they do get funding from us I'm more concerned about the voucher schools Just in shabuagan shabuagan area school district. Uh, we sent 4.6 million dollars over to them taxpayer dollars Those funds I've never heard of any other public sector that sends their funds over to a private sector We don't do that for fire. We don't do it for police and we're doing it for public schools Um, that that's what really concerns me because we are not as taxpayers putting that money into public public schools Thank you. Thank you. Next question What should the district do to ensure the safety of students while in school? Would you support funding to make classrooms more secure as has been done in some schools? Two minutes starting with hyde Yes Yes, I would support funding to make our school our classrooms more secure and our schools more secure I see that that is already happening. There's only one door to get in into any school and you have to buzz in Um, if they have a resource officer, they're Near the front of the building during much of the day, especially when kids are coming and going Um, it is really intense to be a parent Right now when our kids have active shooter drills Uh, the the first time when your kid comes home and talks about Who got to hide in the front of the closet and who had to be in the back is Is really really intense And I I would throw any money I had personally into keeping our our kids safer in their buildings. Thanks. Thanks. Julie Thank you. Mary. Joe. Can you repeat the question? Please? Thank you What should the district do to ensure the safety of students while in school? Would you support funding to make classrooms more secure as has been done in some schools? Thank you. Yeah, that's a great and important question So I would support safer, I mean It's been like that for a while. I think at a lot of schools where there's a Kind of like a ring doorbell where you buzz to get in and they see who the person is So I don't think that people should just Doors should be open and anybody can walk in Um, as far as the drills go Um, I kind of like a more of a holistic approach to that. I'm not really a big fan of the alice training I'm a fan of the teachers being Um, prepared for that But not the students that's scary. That's that's really scary. I I'm not I'm not a fan I know um a district where they they do take a more holistic approach and that they are confident That their teachers are the ones that are trained and they will Be able to take care of the students in the event that there would be an active shooter Which is a horrible thing to even Fathom, but yes be be prepared for it as far as having You know school doors locked. Maybe the the shatterproof glass. I'm assuming that we have that I don't know. I guess I never checked into that and then Um, I'm also in favorite. Yeah, we definitely should have An officer at our At our schools So that's it. Thank you. Okay Recently Shweiginary school district invested two million dollars in building security We took some of the grant money that we had and we did the best that we could with it And I'm I'm very pleased with the result. Uh, we changed glass windows We rekeyed when I started teaching I used to have to go out in the hallway to lock my classroom When you rekey a whole school like that, it's pretty pricey, but it's super safe Because you can lock that door without putting yourself out there at risk and you can do it very quickly The sros are doing a good job in our middle schools and our two high schools the major high schools We only have five of them though. So I do believe that the police training coming into all the buildings is helpful It sounds like a really simple thing but They do a very good job of telling children do not let someone else in the building Now, you know, we were raised to be helpful So a little kid is walking down the hallway and here's an adult pointing on the window. They go and open the door Oh, no, no, honey. We don't do that You know, so those are things that we never had to say before but we do now So continuing education of our kids about keeping themselves safe and also about If you see something say something with the kids, there's a tragic incident a little while ago where a six-year-old shot his teacher Six years old not in this school district, but that was a pivotal moment for my daughter who teaches six-year-olds You know, she said I I never had to think about that in that way. She goes but It could have happened to me So, you know, if you see a kid doing something that's a little sketchy Tell your teacher We're all in this together and have parents do the same thing Working together with the school with the kids to create a safe environment And if we need to spend a little more money to do that I'm all for it David I would like to participate in ongoing discussions Which there are about safety issues. I like the idea that there's just one way or one door To get into each school. I believe that should be staffed by an armed officer As I understand it, some teachers have decided to use conceal and carry So, um, I would support all of that. Thank you Yeah, Sarah Recently, um, I did a visit tour to horseman and I was able to engage with the SRO there And we all should care about our children's safety And it Shouldn't be about how much we have to pay for it. We need our children to be safe But within that visitation I was a little taken back The SRO was in full Uniform When I was in high school the SROs were not in full uniform. They were in regular clothes. They had a concealed weapon um, and We just have to be A little bit of understanding that some of our students are not Comfortable in situations like that Not all children are comfortable with having a full dressed officer in the school um I wouldn't mind going back to the way that it was When mr. Christiansen would walk around and we knew him and he knew our name and she definitely didn't knew the same thing too And horseman But I also am on the school board and we did as k said We just approved two million dollars in upgrading our camera footage Throughout the whole school district. So I definitely approve of of spending money For the safety of our children Hailey, thank you. That's a great question Excuse me. I also definitely approved For spending money for the safety of our children and I know the way that we kind of all went was You know active shooter situations which being 13 years old and you're in a classroom and we have alastrills and there are five students having a panic attack because they're scared of small spaces and loud noises and dark rooms and People yelling to go run that that's not a super good situation to be in and it's super sad that that is what our world has come to Um, but going kind of off the act active Shooter situation and this is going to be a little bit uncomfortable and this is not Typically vernacular that I would like to use and it's not stuff that I want to hear But we have things happening in our schools. Um, titty touch tuesday slap-ass friday. Those are in our school districts What about the safety of those kids? I mean, there are people walking around and that is an okay thing First time it happened. I was 11 years old and a group of my girlfriends. We called it three swatcher tuesday That's unacceptable. So maybe let's take some accountability for that and Um, yeah, thank you Next question How should the district approach discipline and bullying? And what should the role of the school resource officers be? Two minutes Starting with uh, julie Sorry, i'm just right and How should the district approach discipline and bullying? Is that the question? How should the district approach discipline and bullying and what should the role of school resource officers be? all right so Yeah, I think that um you know, I if it's uh If a child has been proved to be an active bullier of a of a student There should definitely be discipline and how the resource officer officer should help I mean, I know this from my youth. I know this from having older kids You know, um, bruce christensen was a great mentor Roger jones was a great mentor So I I think In the event that it gets to that Stage then yes, they should be referred to the resource officer and be called in for a meeting Also, their parents should be notified. This shouldn't be just between the student and the resource officer. I think that Um, the parents should also be notified Okay We have two good programs that we use in our school district to try to address this sort of thing one is called pbis which stands for positive behavior and intervention supports Takes a lot to learn that I had to write it down The other one is called restorative justice and I as a teacher Worked with pbis when I did a long-term sub at jackson school Which was quite an eye-opener for a high school teacher. They're whole different people at the elementary level Bless their teachers for the patients Uh, and restorative justice came after my teaching time But the people that I've talked to who have used it even the ones who were somewhat cynical at the start Say they've seen really good results and the essence of restorative justice is You as the person who was harmed And the person who did some harm to you and it could be bullying it could be something else You with some guidance with other people There's a restorative justice circle and it works its way Around to the point where the person who hurt someone else has to own that They have to take responsibility for that and they have to make an active decision and move To repair that relationship A lot of old school discipline threw kids out of school. You're suspended That didn't necessarily teach that kid a whole lot about having a better relationship when he or she came back To the classroom. So if you're trying to build a culture You have the people who would in this case be the bullies And the people who were bullied having to deal with each other and that's not easy It takes a lot of effort and it takes some training But they're getting good results from it and I I really do believe that That may be the book of the future on discipline Bullying is not okay. We support good behavior in pbis instead of saying all the negatives We try to encourage the positives Ultimately, you're responsible for what you do But first we're going to try to move you to our good behavior. Thank you David bullying Discipline bullying Officers should be involved in both of those liaison officers. I presume That as a situation would escalate More of the shabuigan authority. I think parents should be huge in this as well and To hold their children accountable for the behavior Right now classroom disruptions seem to be Unchecked at this point. So our teachers are undermined and frustrated. Thank you okay Sarah so the last couple of weeks I have been knocking on hundreds of doors talking to voters and I asked them, you know, what is the one issue or a couple issues or You know, what kind of praise you have for shabuigan areas through the district and Majority of all the conversations that I have with the voters that I'm knocking on those doors is Bullying the concern that their kids are bullying that their kids are getting bullied And some of them feel as though, you know The parents are not engaged in their children's lives. So there's nobody there to um, you know facilitate any kind of A punishment or hold them accountable for their actions But if we look at grant school as k said pbis the positive behavior intention support Their school is excelling tremendously The the good news that we know from pbis is that um Test scores are higher. They get better grades. They have better attendance So we at the school district are implementing the pbis And we are head on facing bullying As far as the sRO is I know that I shared a little bit before of Some of the issues that I have with the sRO is maybe being fully uniform But the other aspect that um concerns me is When I was in school, we had the same police officer Through our whole elementary middle high school And unfortunately these students are making With these officers and then they're being pulled out after a couple of years So I would like to see those same police officers stay in those schools because they're engaging with those students Hailey, thank you So I think I think somebody mentioned restorative justice and when I was in school We did something that sounds a lot like that. It wasn't called that I don't really recall what it was called But we did that and we had where there was when there was a perpetual When there was a perpetual problem. Oh, that's a tongue twister When there was a perpetual problem, then they would have a couple students sit down There would be you know For lack of better words the offender and the one that is being bullied They would sit down and they would have a discussion and This wouldn't be like a one-and-done thing. This would be a continued thing throughout weeks And there would be other people in the conversation and At times where the bullying was too uncomfortable for a person who was being bullied then it was dealt with like by teachers and Like without the victim in that setting also I think that The second that a teacher knows that bullying is happening the parents should be being told When I was in middle school their Parents weren't told like we would have issues with bullying and We would go to the guidance counselor and our parents didn't get called and you know, maybe there's teachers Maybe there's parents at home wondering, you know, why are why is my student misbehaving? Why are they? You know, it's including themselves and maybe that's why and they don't even know So I think that open open communication can really be helpful as well. Thank you Heidi Kade did had a really good explanation of restorative justice and I wanted to add to that pbis Explanation it's based on the premise that the carrot is more effective than the stick in addressing misbehavior and The When classrooms set up clear expectations that bullying will not be tolerated We have a foundation to move forward When it comes to Discipline pbis is suggesting that we start with that carrot And I must say the resource officer needs to be the very last the very last Person involved because that's the stick And when we're working with the carrot, we're getting our parents involved We're getting the school council are involved the teachers the administrator all the people that can help motivate and reward behavior that is successful Um, I am glad we have resource officers I'm glad that we have them there for the safety of the students, but when it comes to student behavior I think that is absolutely the last line Until they are trained in social and emotional learning until they are trained in de-escalation techniques And until they are trained in cultural understanding They have a different position than the people who are trained to interact with our kids I would love to see more training for our resource officers. Thanks Next question What role should the arts and music play in curriculum requirements? Two minutes starting with k I think art and music And theater and dance and all of those things are probably right up there with the most lifelong skills We can possibly share They are not frills. They are not extras They are part of developing a well-rounded human being who's going to have more joy in his or her life So I I really strongly support them I believe we've done some good things in our school district But we've also cut back on some things when I wasn't real comfortable with that because of budget concerns John Michael Kohler art center in this community is an absolute gem The opportunities to have our kids go to the art center have programs through the art center come to our kids phenomenal I believe the music program is what keeps some kids in school I believe the theater program is what keeps some kids in school I think that that art studio class Gives that kid who maybe isn't that great in math? Maybe that's so good in my class english But boy can they do things in an art studio that I could never touch So you see you see the value you see the the interest And I strongly support continuation of funding these things because they are the The richness of our lives that we can continue to do throughout our lifetime. Thank you David I am just so glad that I had great musical experiences In my years, Shabugin area school district being in choirs and swing choirs There's a just an awesome social aspect that Benefits our children when they get involved in these kind of things. There's a creative aspect as well. That's very valuable There's also a confidence that students get when they're preparing for different presentations or solos or concerts and I appreciate all of that And thank you Sarah Shabugin area school district does an amazing job at the music Department the theater department I attending, you know south high school. I vividly remember Dr. Jacobs, you know choir class. I vividly remember I'm trying to think uh So many teachers that helped Not through not through math or English or because those are so important 2k But they helped in other aspects I started off my singing career at church in our family choir and when I got to high school It was a form of acceptance and excitement and I looked forward to it and and children look forward to that and I think shabugin area school district does such a wonderful job of this I commend them the teachers the music teachers the theater department And it's an outlet for our kids. I think shabugin area school district does such a great job Yes, some people want to say that our kids are not equipped But I believe it's 94 of our our parents believe that our children are equipped to start the future And are prepared for the future. So they do that with English with theater with choir all of those life Lessons and those life Practical skills they give us that at shabugin area school district. Thank you. Hailey. Can you repeat the question? What role should the arts and music play in curriculum requirements? I think that arts and music are extremely important for students Personally for me science was the reason I walked in the doors in the morning But for a lot of other students it was it was art. It was you know choir was banned It was a million different things and I think that should definitely be accessible to children and also Just like a sign note there. We talk about how So many of our students are struggling with mental health. I mean these are coping mechanisms that they can find through school and You know, this is the hour out of the day or however long that's going to be This is the hour out of the day that they can just take a minute and be like, okay I'm okay right now and I can get through the rest of my day. So I think I think it's very important Thank you Heidi I love seeing more joy in our kids day and this is right at my alley I have a ba in theater and I'm a singer I was the education coordinator for the chicago jazz fill harmonic and I was in charge of implementing Their music based title one programs in chicago public schools I can tell you that music learning increases math success and I wish I had those numbers in front of me And reading music improves word attack and literacy That it's not just that this is um a thrill a thrill like like k said it is not It is integral to learning. Thanks Okay, julie Yes, so Like hidey that is that is a proven fact that the kiddos learning an instrument makes them Makes a side of their their brain exercise and yeah, they do better statistically in in math So yeah, I totally support the the arts and music um as part of the curriculum requirements I sign me up if there's a place somewhere. I'm gonna go to it I don't know if those of you that remember titanic them titanic the musical with the captain michael tempest That that that was very fabulous. Um, no, I think it's great all the way around it would that helps them academically Helps them emotionally Mental health wise and it's their time where they get to be creative and Imagine and play dress up and do all that stuff that you know, you wouldn't We wouldn't come here and play they dress up, right? So that's their time To play and be creative. Thank you. Thank you. Now. This is my last question What is your position regarding removing books from school libraries? A practice that has come to be known as book banning Two minutes and we'll start with mr. Ross I don't have statements prepared, but here's my thought There are a lot of books that parents when they really find out What is in them? Are very concerned that it's not Educational it's not adding to their child's education. It's um, they're considering them to be pornography They're very graphic good friend of mine today Pulled his daughter out of school because a librarian presented his 11 year old daughter With the book that detailed her mother passing out drunk on a bed While her stepfather raped her in graphic detail And that is happening way too much There's many many voices who are concerned about this and We need to be thinking we need to be using good judgment and addressing that. Thank you Sarah um Shawnee neary school district has a really great policy and they stick to the policy very well Were those books that were moved inappropriate? Yes, and I agree that they should have been moved But I've been knocking on doors and I'm not hearing that from the voters that I'm talking to They're worried about How they're going to put food on the table. They're worried about The bully and that goes on in school. They're worried about who's going to take care of their children And shabuigan area school district realized that Hey, we can help in this in this area Um, and they teamed up they teamed up with the boy boys and girls club and it's Kid stop we offer child care at 6 30 in the morning until 6 o'clock at night So shabuigan area school district does a really good job when there is a problem We are all looking at all avenues at different Partners in the community to try to solve those issues. Thank you Hailey, can you repeat the question? What is your position regarding removing books from school libraries a practice that has come to be known as book banning? Thank you. Um, I think that if there is Sexually explicit material if there's inappropriate material in these books and they shouldn't be in our schools I I don't really think it's that hard and if there is a policy in place at our schools I would love to know what it is that led in these books that were found that I mean, it's the over sexualization of minors. It's extremely inappropriate and it's detrimental to the mental health of these kids You know, some of these kids are already coming from abuse of homes, you know, whether it's sexual abuse Whether it's physical abuse, whether it's emotional abuse. These are triggers. These books are triggers. They get into the library They can read these books and at the end of the day This is a life or death situation and we talk about our suicide rates and we talk about our mental health rates Skyrocketing and this can be a huge contribution to that. Um, I know that if You know, I'm just so glad that when I saw these books that I was far enough removed from my situation from Um, my childhood that I wasn't triggered by it, but I mean these are These are really young kids I mean, I feel like I'm young and I don't want to look at it And I know adults that don't want to look at it and if it makes them feel uncomfortable. It doesn't belong in our schools Thank you Heidi Um, I think the district's responsibility is to Have a process and a policy in place and I'm not yet on the board But it's my understanding that they do have a process and a policy in place On what to do if a complaint is made about a book And that there should also be a process and policy in place for that book to be reviewed On whether it not or not it should be returned to a library to the library and I'm not talking about the books that have Um Come up recently. I'm also talking about books that are popular targets of book banning, which are books about the holocaust Which are books about other historical events and we can't pretend that the situation is just um about Recent recent events um I'm glad to know that there is a policy in place and I I would like to see Um, how it can be tightened and improved and I think that is a great place to take community and parent and teacher suggestion on Looking at what the policy is and how we can tighten it up. Thank you Julie Yes, thank you. That is a really great question. Um So I guess I I would like to know the policy on How did these books end up in the library in the first place? Who makes those decisions how? You know, so that would be my first question because these books That i'm talking about that I saw get removed from um south high school was I was shocked actually um So I I I'm on board with this book banning thing for something like genderqueer When you have a book That our local news station cannot even show the images Why is that in our? Minor children's library. Um, so yeah, I I don't know I That was unacceptable. Um And then the the other thing Um Are some of these books being used in our curriculum, you know, we talk about somebody maybe being Really scared about an officer being in full dress. Why is that? You know, we have a book called the hate you give as part of a curriculum I know a student who's extremely uncomfortable um With that book so, um I guess I wouldn't be opposed to it being in the library, but you know, maybe that that Reason for a student would be why they're afraid of an officer in full dress I think we should be our kids should be Fearful of law enforcement, but also respectful of them and know that they're there to help they're there to Keep us safe They shouldn't be feared. We shouldn't be teaching them to fear them That's it. Thank you. Okay The policy on on book banning is school board policy 25 23 So if you want to look it up and take a close examination of how it works But I will tell you we followed the policy the initial part of the policy says if there is a complaint The library specialist media specialist and the principal in that building have a meeting and they decide Whether they're going to move forward or not at south high school principal made the decision to pull the three books that were actual graphic novels as in illustrations Uh, and I think it was the illustrations that really Up were very upsetting and I understand why um but to to move that more forward and try to remove books that are controversial like Oh, I don't know band books lists have catcher in the rye and they have Uh kill a mockingbird and they have a lot of the great classics of literature Just because some people don't like the content That's that's too far. If you don't want your child to check out that book Don't let them check out the book make them return it as far as in curriculum If there's something that's being used that you don't approve of you always have the right as a parent to ask for an alternate That is always going to be available to you and your family um I believe that we should end on a positive note. So here we go in my 30 seconds left Do you know that we offer 40 ap classes in the schweigen area school district? Do you know that we just entered into something a contract with lakeland college where if you take advantage of what's available Your kid can get two years toward college free. I think of how much money that saves your family Do you know that we offer 19 industrial licenses? We do a youth partnership with Lakeshore technical college Our kids build a house that I would put up against anybody and they get trained by contractors and they have a job before they even graduate There's so much good Let's not get caught up in the negative. Let's move forward and if we want to attract good teachers We can do it by saying good things Thank you all we will we are going to conclude Tonight's forum with a closing statement from each candidate You will have one minute and we're going to start with sarah My name is sarah. Louise Harrison and i'm currently on the schweigen area school district board I want to thank the auw for creating this space for us for the community to come and hear us I want to go ahead and thank heidi julie k David and hayley for being up here um Our kids deserve a board who is willing to tackle All the complex issues that impact a quality learning environment We want all of our students to reach their full potential I am here because I know how to bridge all aspects of the district together I am particularly motivated to create more engagement from all of our diverse communities Parent and teachers working together is the reason why we have 25 different schools in our school district Listening to parents and teachers has resulted in unique learning environment for our students I look forward to continuing to work closely with the students and the parents Again, my name is sarah. Louise Harrison and I welcome your support on tuesday april fourth Hayley, thank you. First of all, I want to thank you for letting me speak tonight It was wonderful to not only be able to share my thoughts but to hear the thoughts of others Today is a scary world for parents for students for teachers and for most anyone Yes, at times it is terrifying But at times it is also beautiful and I see that beauty when I see the next generation of this district and this community We need to do right by these children We need to be providing environments where they can strive and succeed and where they can be comfortable asking for help When I was in high school, whenever things got tough, I always thought if I can just graduate, it'll be fine If I can just graduate everything else will fall into place. We need to focus on graduation I'm not saying that we don't but we also need to focus on what happens after graduation Are these students prepared for higher education? Are these students prepared to enter the workforce? Let's work together to make this district one that prepares students to succeed far after they're handed their diplomas. Thank you Thank you Heidi I went to serve on the school board because I choose to educate my kids in sasd schools And I want the best education for them and all the kids in our district I understand that the issues are multifaceted and opinions are diverse and I listen to various viewpoints This job requires inquiry research and cooperation And these things I do very well Thanks to my husband and my three not so little learners for your support and engagement in my campaign To my own Annie back there in the urban play To my son who is doing his second cap course as a sophomore and my third son who's at home working on that eLA project And thanks for eating the takeout because I keep forgetting to take the chicken out of the freezer on all these busy nights And thank you for the aauw for this opportunity for the community to get to know us all better Julie All right. Well, this was awesome. Thank you so much uh I look forward to an opportunity to serve our community's families as they entrust their precious children's well-being to the shabuagan area school district Academic excellence is an absolute priority as well as ensuring a safe environment for all students at all times I also truly believe that we are more alike than we are different and any division-driven content needs to stop um, I would like to say a quote by allison roe schaefer perversion always targets purity and that's why Our children are being assaulted by this evil all over the world It is on you to stand up speak up and protect our children when children are involved There is a higher calling of responsibility. That's by allison roe schaefer So I think uh together. I think we can make public academic instruction great again Thank you I appreciate this opportunity to answer your thoughtful questions Because our children are our most valuable resource This election will have a lasting impact on the high quality of our local public education Hopefully experience Facts and positivity Will be valued over politics and fear My 40 years of teaching experience and three years on the board of education have given me a deep understanding of the challenges And the opportunities of our 25 schools I believe in our excellent professional teachers staff students and parents Together we can do great things to ensure that all our students Are successful in our schools Thank you for listening. My name is k. Robbins, and I would appreciate your vote on tuesday april 4. Thank you I'd have to echo and agree with Everything that's being said about our desire for our students. However I believe it's our job to protect our kids from bad books from bad curriculum that's inappropriate Holocaust books fine To kill a mockingbird fine We address other needs for students fine. We do that We cannot ignore the voices of concerned parents and even teachers about bad books or curriculum It's okay for us to have a moral compass that we all live by. Yes, we can complain about books and curriculum To stop the what we need to stop the problem before it starts Thank you Thank you all very much for your participation and your willingness to serve the shabuigan area school district And dulcy will have provide some concluding remarks Thank you, mary joe for moderating the discussion this evening And thank you to all of you candidates for participating and sharing with the voters your something about yourself and How you would approach Your position as a board member of the shabuigan area school district Also, thank you to ellen or young and kathy young kathy loan for serving as their timekeepers And a big thank you to scott me live With wscs for taping this forum and making it available throughout his schedule until the time of the election And also available on demand And wscs spectrum channel 990. Thank you all for coming. Have a good evening