Four Candidates are running in the April 7 Spring Election for three seats on the Appleton Area School District School Board: Jason Kolpack, Nick Ross, Kris Sauter, and Michael Janke. The three candidates receiving the most votes will each serve a three-year term.
Kolpack, Ross, and Sauter are incumbents. Janke is the only challenger.
All four will attend a candidate forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Appleton-Fox Cities, on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The forum will take place in the Mary Beth Nienhaus Community Meeting Room C of the Appleton Public Library, 200 North Appleton Street, Appleton.
Taxpayers and voters in the Appleton Area School District are urged to attend. Questions will be solicited from the audience. Please consider sending questions ahead of time to: voterservice@lwvappletonfoxcities.org.
Reported below are candidate Mike Janke’s responses to a questionnaire submitted to him by the League of Women Voters in advance of the forum. A video released by Janke to explain his candidacy is available here.
- Explain your connection to the Appleton Area School District and why you are running for the School Board.
Two of my four sons graduated from the Aces Xavier system, one from Appleton West last year and one who will graduate this year from Appleton North.
I decided to run for the school board because I saw a definite difference in the academics between the Aces system and the public system. I researched the AASD published reading/writing and mathematics scores and found that the number of students who met or exceeded grade-level standards has radically declined over time. I want to generate a discussion and be part of the solution that reverses this trend.
- What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of the AASD and how would you propose to improve the weaknesses?
AASD has many educational paths for children to participate. From the Classical school to Montessori to a standard education tract, AASD has multiple offerings for parents to select and steer their child’s education.
As a district we need to learn from the successes of each tract and apply these lessons to areas where we are not as strong. We must have an open mind and attitude to fix these shortcomings and ensure we are providing the best education for our students.
- What approach do you propose for the AASD to attract and retain qualified, effective teachers?
Attracting and retaining effective teachers begins with defining what these traits are. The most important dynamic in the education system is the teacher/student relationship. As a school board we must set policies and guidelines that create a positive teaching environment for all students. Each child is unique and learns at their own pace. The current model is oriented towards most students but not all. We need to develop a teaching curriculum for those students who do not fit this model. This is where communication with teachers is essential to develop education plans. Empowering teachers is essential to achieving results.
- What are your thoughts on the curriculum development process and assuring that curricula are culturally responsive and inclusive?
K-12 education is the building block of a child’s understanding of the world and what we as a society deem important for them to function as an educated citizen. Most students do not go onto college or higher education.
While we must recognize that not all students come from the same background or environment, our task is to educate them in the same basics regardless of socio/economic or cultural background. Parents and family impart and teach values through their shared experiences. Public education is not meant to be a substitute for the family but a reinforcer.
Schools need to maintain an open, positive, and inclusive environment for all students with no one group treated differently than another.
- What are your opinions on the proposed referendum?
The administration has been clear in what they feel must be cut if the referendum fails but not how they plan to balance the reality that we have a declining school age population versus future spending needs. I haven’t heard the plan of how this new spending will increase student performance in reading/writing and math proficiency if the referendum does pass.
I understand that this is a complicated issue, but I also see that this is a crisis that has been years in the making. I am not opposed to a future referendum request, but I feel that now is premature. If we are going to ask for additional money, we owe it to the taxpayers to exhaust all avenues of cost cutting and we owe our children a plan as to how we will better prepare them to face the challenges of life.
