4 seek seats on Shawano School Board

Former Shawano mayoral candidate Rich Belongia has joined a field of candidates for Shawano School Board on the April 5 ballot.

Belongia, who finished third in this year’s mayoral primary, is vying with incumbents Diane Hoffman, Derek Johnson and Bruce Milavitz for three spots on the school board representing the city of Shawano.

Each voter can select up to three candidates, and the top three finishers will win seats on the school board, each for a three-year term.

The Shawano Leader posed three questions to each of the candidates. Here are their responses:

Why are you interested in serving on the Shawano School Board?

Belongia: I believe we need fresh ideas and a new face to stand side by side with our teachers to better our schools.

Hoffman: I started on the board because of my interest in education and the effects it has with students. Along with being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. There is a balance between education needs and financing them. I have enjoyed the time and the relationships that have developed between myself, educators and taxpayers. I will continue to bring an open mind to meetings and keep an open ear to taxpayers who have questions and want answers.

Johnson: Three years ago, Bruce Milavitz and I ran for the Shawano School Board to advance academic excellence and fiscal responsibility. With a new superintendent, and some new leadership, stressing excellence in academics continues to be a priority. The new business manager continues to work on finding ways to trim the budget and save our community money while not sacrificing quality. I would like to serve one more term to help those changes continue.

Milavitz: Great strides have been made in the past three years with new board members serving, a new office manager and Gary Cumberland as our superintendent, just to name a few. With the passage of the middle school referendum I am looking forward to greatly improving the middle school. I would like to continue what I ran for, along with Derek Johnson three years ago, which was to increase academic excellence and be fiscally responsible.

What is the most significant current issue facing the school district?

Belongia: What I am very frustrated with is our loss of teachers, 26-28 total for last year. I am hoping to make a difference and have teachers want to come to Shawano, not see how fast they can get out.

Hoffman: The state funding for school districts is always an issue facing us. Keeping ourselves on the forefront of what is happening in the capital will help us in preparing for any changes that may come our way.

Johnson: The balance between education and finances is always a significant issue every school district faces. The school board must ask for accountability while providing the tools necessary for educators to educate and, at the same time, answer to the financial constraints of the citizens in our community. I feel this is our biggest challenge. If we do not constantly monitor our progress and expect results, we shortchange all those involved.

Milavitz: As always, I feel the school’s yearly budget is the biggest challenge facing the district, and this year was no different. The challenge to support all of the necessary operating expenses and all of the various programs is very difficult to make sure we do not to overspend the tax dollars we receive from the public. Modern technology to help our students learn more effectively would be a very close second.

Do you favor eliminating, adding or expanding any specific programs in the school district?

Belongia: No eliminating, and yes on expanding a couple.

Hoffman: I have always been open-minded to recommendations that come forward for programs in our district. My decisions are made with student needs and finances at the top of the list.

Johnson: Serving on the curriculum committee has allowed me to be involved in evaluating programs that serve our students. I am very pleased with recent changes in our science department in bolstering up some areas which had been a weak spot for us on national exams. We will continue to evaluate the needs of our students and community, and partner with local colleges and universities to help our students get a leg up on the competition.

Milavitz: I am in favor of expanding our relationship with local vocational schools and local colleges for offering more Advanced Placement classes so by the time a student graduates from Shawano High School they will already have a jump start to their future schooling.