Meet the candidates
The Spring Election is quickly approaching, with polls set to open just under two weeks from now, on Tuesday, April 1, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. The TRG reached out to local school board candidates to hear what they had to say on the issues and help readers get to know them better before the election.
Contested seats include the Granton School Board, which has Dennis Kuehn and Jamie Elmhorst running for the open seat; the Greenwood School Board, which has Jessica Wolf and Shawn Kolano competing for the same seat; and the Loyal School Board, which has three seats up for grabs: Adam Smith and Dave Clintsman are running against each other for the seat representing the area north of Highway 98, Nikki Rueth and Dennis Roehl are running against each other for the area south of Highway 98, and Crystal Rueth and Carrie Becker are running against each other for the at-large seat.
The following are the candidates’ responses, listed by school district.
GRANTON Jamie Elmhorst Background info: I am from Granton and running for the open position on the Granton School Board of Education.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I am running for public office because I have a strong interest in the quality of public education for current and future children, including my own, in the GrantonArea School District.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I have lived in the Granton community for 14 years and being involved has always been important to me. I’ve worked full time at Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin for 17 years and oversee a team of 24 people while leading the state in blood collection. I believe in working hard, strong family values, and making results happen. I work well with others, am an active listener, and look at all decisions through a fair lens. Alongside my husband, Jeff, we run Granton Youth Baseball and are chairmen of the Granton FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast. I am the Sunday school co-director at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and a member of the Granton Athletic Boosters.
3. Granton has had considerable issues with staffing this year, for example having to resort to some English classes being taught through Rural Virtual Academy and running short on aide support. In recent years, the district has also struggled with staff retention. How do you plan to address the staffing issue as a school board member?
I want our teachers to know they are appreciated and valued, and look forward to learning more about how I can support them as a board member and work through their ideas and concerns alike. I also find it important to talk with other districts in the area who are also facing the same issues and see what we can collaborate on for the best interests of the students and staff.
4. Granton has started co-oping with Greenwood for band and choir and plans to co-op for basketball next year. How do you plan to continue to build those relationships with other school districts while still retaining your district’s identity?
I believe every school in Clark County has wonderful strengths that we can all benefit from and making sure there is open communication on the opportunities for our students is important. I look forward to learning about the other schools and what we can all do together for the best interests of our teachers and students.
5. What could be done to promote more parental and community involvement at school?
I have always been a firm believer that if you want something to happen, you have to be a part of making it happen. I take a lot of pride in organizing Granton Youth Baseball, which we have more than 80 kids participate in; along co-organizing the Granton FFA Dairy Breakfast, where we serve over 1,700 people. Communication is key in getting more members involved in anything and keeping them coming back.
6. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
I look forward to learning with an open mind about what issues and policies our current board is discussing and working on.
7. Anything else you would like the community to know?
The Granton Area School District is such an important place in our community. I truly want what is best for not only my children, but all the children and teachers who walk through those doors each day. We may be a small rural district, but our children deserve the same opportunities as larger schools, and I encourage us all to be a part of our children’s future in one way or another.
Dennis Kuehn Background info: I am running for a seat on the Granton School Board. I reside in the School District of Granton.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I am running for this public office to help serve in the community. I feel we need the best education for our kids to prepare for college and prepare for the work world.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I have over 20 years of experience working on the Granton School Board. I am a team player on the board and have worked with many administration and staff. I believe the background knowledge I have of the facilities and financial aspects of the district can help lead us into the future.
3. Granton has had considerable issues with staffing this year, for example having to resort to some English classes being taught through Rural Virtual Academy and running short on aide support. In recent years, the district has also struggled with staff retention. How do you plan to address the staffing issue as a school board member?
The teacher shortage and retention is not unique to the Granton Area School District. We have to keep an open mind. One idea may be to share teachers with other districts. We are currently looking and will continue to look at other avenues.
4. Granton has started co-oping with Greenwood for band and choir and plans to co-op for basketball next year. How do you plan to continue to build those relationships with other school districts while still retaining your district’s identity?
I believe it is important to keep these opportunities for our students. They can gain leadership skills and grow in many ways.
Identity is important and we can take pride in our school and community by having practices, concerts, games, etc. in both schools. Co-oping can benefit the students in both schools.
5. What could be done to promote more parental and
community involvement at school?
I would like to try to get more people to volunteer at school and have guest speakers come in and talk about themselves or their business.
6. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
I would like to focus on saving the district money on the lights and heating by possibly looking at solar energy.
The solar energy could also provide a learning experience for the students.
I will support the policies that will give our students the best education we can provide, such as our great staff reintroducing phonics into the reading instruction.
7. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I have a vested interest in the Granton school because I still have family members attending.
I have been a committed board member for 24 years and will continue to work hard to support the students, staff, and community in this role.
GREENWOOD Shawn Kolano Background info: I am running for a seat on the Greenwood School Board. I reside in Greenwood.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I want to make a difference and make sure the community has a strong voice and presence on our school board. I have children in this district and also have coached basketball at various levels for the past six years. I’m fully invested in our community’s kids and parents, and want to work hard to ensure we are providing the best education and school experience as possible while still maintaining our budget and costs to the community.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
My current job as a national sales manager pushes me to work within the constraints of a budget while still looking for ways to improve the company, which is a major part of what the school board is asked to do. With school budgets being squeezed more and more, this knowledge and skill will be an asset to help stay within those budgets but still be able to provide the best education and experiences for our children in the district.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
I’m in favor of doing what is best for the kids in both the Greenwood and Loyal school districts. Now, I feel it’s our job to make sure we provide both districts with all the proper information and facts on the proposed consolidation so we can then hear what their thoughts are and make a decision that’s in the best interests of both school districts. Once we have done that, then we can talk about what a timeline looks like, but it’s premature to even think about that before we have all the information.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
Where the proposed consolidated school would be is a very important point. I completely understand and respect each community’s passion when it comes to this topic. I go back to having all of the facts and information first. Information is a beautiful thing, and once both districts and community members have had a chance to see that, then conversations can be had as to what the best plan is moving forward.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
I don’t see it as points of conflict so much as I see them as opportunities. In talking with folks from both districts over the past year or so, the one common theme is everyone wants what is best for the kids and their education. That’s what makes both towns so great — very passionate and supportive communities. I really want to focus on providing as much clarity and information as possible on a consolidation
Please see Candidates, page 7
Jamie Elmhorst
Dennis Kuehn
Shawn Kolano Candidates,
from p. 6
so we can come to a decision that makes sense. I want to help our current board be as transparent as possible to both districts so we can work together to find the best solutions, whatever those may be.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Greenwood, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
I feel Greenwood has a team of tremendous educators currently. First and foremost, we want to make sure we retain the talent we have. The issue is we’ve lost good teachers over the past few years. That takes communication and making sure those lines are open. A huge part of communication is listening, and we need to listen to the needs of our staff and support them as much as possible. Regarding recruitment, having a great team and environment in place solves that, as people want to work with good teammates and a district that values them. Communication solves all of that.
7. A key component of a successful school district is strong communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
I feel the best ability is availability, and being present at community events so folks have an opportunity to speak with us is key. Also, using technology so we can have people engage with us even if they can’t attend meetings. I know the idea of having our school board meetings online has been brought up and I’m a big fan of that idea. Our community has hardworking and busy individuals that can’t always make meetings and this would allow them to know what is being discussed while still being respectful of their time.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
That is all up to the people in the community. I really want to focus on listening and seeing what issues they may see as needing to be addressed and then bringing that back to the board for discussion.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I Iove this community in a very passionate way. Me and my wife made a very easy decision years ago to move back home and raise our two daughters here in Greenwood and we’ve never regretted that decision. I promise to work my absolute hardest and do my very best for the people of this community and their kids if elected to the Greenwood School Board this April.
Jessica Wolf Background info: I am re-running for another term on the School Board of Greenwood. I have resided in Greenwood for 23 years with my husband and five children.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I am running for the school board because I care deeply about our students and want to make sure they get the best education possible. I believe that every student deserves access to high-quality resources, strong academic programs, and a variety of extracurricular activities that can help them learn new skills, explore their interests, and succeed in life.
To make this happen, I want to improve communication between the school, parents, and the community. When everyone is informed and involved, it creates a supportive and honest environment where we can work together to solve problems. I believe in listening to parents, teachers, and students to understand their needs and concerns.
By working as a team with other board members, school staff, and the community, we can make better decisions that always put students first. My goal is to help build a school district that not only prepares students for the future but also makes our community stronger and more united.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
For the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as clerk on the Greenwood School Board, have taken on responsibilities in employee relations, and proudly represent Greenwood as a delegate for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) elections at the annual school board conventions. This role has been a great learning experience, deepening my commitment to our schools and students. Recently, I was honored to receive a Level 1 Certificate of Achievement from WASB, recognizing my dedication to Wisconsin public school students through active participation in WASB professional development. This achievement reflects my ongoing commitment to growing as a leader and making well-informed decisions that benefit our district.
Beyond my service on the board, I bring a strong business background that has equipped me with skills in budgeting, financial planning, and strategic decision-making—essential for ensuring our district’s resources are used effectively. MypreviousroleassecretaryoftheGreenwood Booster Club from 2020 to 2023 allowed me to support school athletics and activities actively. Additionally, my experience as an assistant leader with the Greenwood Satellites 4-H Club helped me understand the importance of leadership development for young people. These roles have reinforced my belief in the power of teamwork, clear communication, and active community involvement.
As a parent of five children—two who have graduated, two currently in high school, and one in elementary school—I have a personal stake in the success of our schools. I am passionate about ensuring that every student has access to high-quality academic programs, diverse extracurricular opportunities, and the support they need to thrive, regardless of their path after graduation.
I am dedicated to fostering open communication between the school board, parents, teachers, and the community. By actively listening to community concerns and working collaboratively, I believe we can make informed decisions that prioritize students and secure the long-term success of our schools. My goal is to build trust, promote transparency, and strengthen our district for the future.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the GreenwoodandLoyalschool districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
Duetotheongoingdecline in student enrollment in both districts, I support the consolidation of the Loyal and Greenwood school districts as soon as the 2028 school year. This merger represents a proactive and sustainable solution that not only addresses current challenges but also sets the stage for long-term success. By combining resources, we can create a more financially responsible and efficient educational system that maximizes every dollar to benefit students, teachers, and staff alike. This approach safeguards essential programs, allowing for their growth and improvement instead of reductions caused by budget limitations.
Consolidation offers a significant opportunity to expand academic programs, allowing students access to a broader range of courses, specialized teachers, and improved learning facilities that would otherwise be unattainable for smaller districts. More diverse class options can better prepare students for college, technical careers, and an evolving job market, ensuring that every student receives a well-rounded and competitive education.
Beyond academics, merging the districts would greatly strengthen extracurricular activities, including athletics, arts, and clubs. With a larger student body, teams can be more competitive, and participation levels can increase, fostering school spirit and community pride. Additionally, this merger could enable the introduction of new clubs, technology programs, and enrichment opportunities that small districts often struggle to support independently. These expanded opportunities can help students discover their passions, build leadership skills, and enhance their overall educational experience.
Equally important is the impact on our communities. A unified district can bring people together, reduce administrative costs, and focus more resources directly into classrooms. By ensuring the long-term stability and success of our schools, we can enhance property values, attract new families, and strengthen our local economy. Ultimately, consolidation is about investing wisely in the future of our students and preserving the quality of education that both communities deserve.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
The location of the new high school will be determined after conducting thorough feasibility studies in both districts, considering a variety of factors including accessibility, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability. At this point, I have no preference regarding which town the high school or elementary schools should be located in. What matters most is making a decision that is in the best interest of the students—ensuring they have access to the best possible educational resources, a safe and supportive learning environment, and opportunities for growth. My focus is on what will best serve the needs of all students in both communities.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
Currently, the most significant challenge we face is helping everyone understand why consolidation is the best path forward for the future of both the Loyal and Greenwood school districts. Misinformation, concerns about losing community identity, and uncertainty about how consolidation will impact students and staff have created understandable hesitation among community members. My goal has been to address these concerns openly and honestly by providing clear, fact-based information that highlights the financial and educational benefits of merging the districts.
For the past two years, I have been actively working with the Greenwood School District to navigate this complex issue. This effort has included organizing and participating in joint meetings with the Loyal School District, where we’ve focused on discussing potential benefits such as enhanced academic programs, improved extracurricular opportunities, and more sustainable financial management. These meetings have helped encourage open discussions, giving community members, parents, and staff a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and better understand consolidation.
I believe that through continued communication, increased transparency, and a focus on the long-term benefits for our students, we can help bring everyone onto the same page. Consolidation is about securing a stronger, more resilient educational future for both communities, and I am committed to working tirelessly to achieve a shared vision that prioritizes student success.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Greenwood, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
As a school board member, I can help with creating an environment that attracts and retains quality teachers. This includes offering competitive professional development opportunities to help teachers grow in their careers, fostering a positive and supportive work culture, and providing mentorship programs for new teachers. I also believe in promoting work-life balance, ensuring manageable class sizes, and providing resources that enable teachers to succeed in the classroom.
7. A key component of a successful school district is strong communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
To build openness and transparency, the school district promotes regular meetings, has digital communication through newsletters and social media, and has an open-door policy for the public, who are welcome to join the monthly meetings, which are always posted. The district does gather feedback through surveys, and celebrating student and staff achievements can further strengthen the schoolcommunity relationship. Engaging with
Please see Candidates, page 8
Jessica Wolf Candidates,
from p. 7
local businesses and organizations will also help foster collaboration and trust.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
No matter what challenges come our way, my goal is to collaborate closely with fellow board members, administration, and staff to make decisions that are in the best interest of the district. Together, we will focus on solutions that prioritize the success and wellbeing of our students, staff, and community.
If consolidation does not happen, I remain committed to working closely with neighboring school districts that are also facing challenges. By collaborating and sharing essential resources, we can find creative solutions to maintain quality education for our students. This could include partnering on academic programs, extracurricular activities, and staff development opportunities to ensure students continue to have access to a well-rounded education. I believe that strong partnerships between districts can help ease financial burdens, expand educational opportunities, and create a more stable future for all students. My goal is to keep exploring every possible avenue to support our schools and communities.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I am deeply passionate about advocating for students, strengthening family-school connections, and ensuring that parents feel informed and empowered in their children's education. Our district is a special place where generations of families have contributed to the success of our schools, sharing core values and preserving our history. I am proud to be part of this tight-knit community and want to continue contributing to this strong tradition while embracing opportunities for growth and progress.
I recognize the diverse talents and needs of our students and am committed to helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. My experiences as a parent, community member, and professional have shaped my ability to listen, analyze, collaborate, problem-solve, and lead with integrity. Whether it’s through parenthood, marriage, or managing a small family business, I have developed a deep appreciation for hard work, fiscal responsibility, and the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships.
I am not running a large campaign—I believe my work speaks for itself. Many residents know me and my extended family and understand that I am direct, transparent, and genuinely committed to making a meaningful difference in our schools. I value open and honest communication, and am always willing to listen to concerns and ideas from the community. My focus is on practical solutions that put students first and ensure our schools have the resources and support they need.
I hope for a strong voter turnout and that my efforts over the past three years earn your continued support. Together, we can build on our district’s strengths and create a brighter future for all our students.
LOYAL Dave Clintsman Jr. Background info: I am running for the school board member from the area north of Highway 98. I live north of Loyal.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I would like to continue to advocate for the community.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I have been a member of the community my entire life; I’ve also been on the school board for the past six years.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
From a numbers standpoint it makes sense; however, I will vote with the community.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
Obviously everyone wants the high school to be in their town, myself included. If the consolidation does go through, there will be a new board elected and that is something that they will have to decide.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
Where the elementary and high school are located, bussing, games, and families who could possibly have students in two different buildings. Looking at it from a taxpayer’s perspective, all the students could fit into one building and it would help solve a lot of these problems, which could be very close to operating without an operational referendum.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Loyal, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
I know the salary is a top issue, but morale also has a lot to do with it. I feel the morale is improving.
7. At board meetings over the past couple of years, community members have repeatedly asked for more transparency and communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
I understand the frustration, but moving forward, possibly a board member that is on the committee regarding the issue — such as athletics, facilities, technology, etc. — could contact the person back with the answers.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
Running an efficient school while still providing a high-quality education. I would like to also look into more trade classes to better serve our students.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I have always been a part of the community my whole life and I understand the concerns everyone has. At this point we have to be mindful of the taxpayer.
ADAM SMITH Background info: I am a 1998 graduate of Loyal High School and 2002 graduate of UW-Platteville with a degree in animal science. My wife and I reside north of Loyal and currently have three children enrolled at Loyal, our oldest having recently graduated from Loyal High School.
1. Why are you running for public office?
Myparents,grandparents, and Loyal contemporaries built and paid for our efficient school building. Should both the Loyal and Greenwood communities choose to do so, I believe the most cost-effective plan to provide children from both communities the best education would be by utilizing the Loyal school site. We have easily housed more students than this in the past and would welcome the opportunity to fill our school again. The Loyal School District currently has students open-enrolled from the districts of Granton, Neillsville, Spencer, Rib Lake, and Greenwood. If elected, I would do my best to ask questions and involve parents, teachers, and community members on issues that would affect our children.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I believe that board members need to keep the residents of Loyal informed, educated, and, most importantly, involved in decisions pertaining to the school. I have extensive knowledge and understanding of the current trimester block scheduling, grade school/middle school operations, in addition to all of the extracurricular sports, activities, and clubs our school has to offer.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
This is a difficult question to answer, as there is not been enough information provided for me to come to an educated conclusion. One would assume that we would consolidate and bring all students to one location to save money and pool resources. However, the proposal that the current school boards and administrators are going with has no plan to close any school buildings at this time. If we keep all three schools operating as-is, we would have to bus students and/or ask teachers to drive back and forth indefinitely. Any time during this transition period, the joint school board could make a final decision without referendum on any aspect of consolidation, strongly impacting businesses in both towns, home values, traffic in and around town, and the ability to hire and retain great teachers. There would be no savings in extra bussing, cost to heat and cool three school buildings, building insurance, building and grounds repair and maintenance, nor lunch program savings, all while increasing the cost for the school, parents, grandparents, family, and friends in every extracurricular activity at every level. (See questions 11 and 28 in the “Consolidation FAQ” info box on page 9 of this paper, or visit the FAQ pages at loyal.k12.wi.us/quicklinks/referendum or greenwood.k12.wi.us/page/advisory-ref.) Consolidation most likely would also take opportunities away from some students’ favorite sports at a very young age and into high school. A major issue that is not being addressed enough is the likely need to pass operating referendums to support a Loyal-Greenwood school district.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
The Loyal school has room for the current combined districts of Loyal, Granton, and Greenwood as it stands today with no renovations needed. If I were on school board, I would have asked Loyal residents if they wanted to consolidate at Loyal with Greenwood and/or Granton. Granton and Greenwood would get the same question, if they wanted to co-op with Loyal at Loyal.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
None; I know and have great relationships with many people from Greenwood, Granton, and Loyal. This is about saving money for the School District of Loyal and giving students the safe education that they all deserve. If Greenwood citizens do not want to consolidate, I understand. We can do great things together and have through collaborative efforts. I believe that in order for this consolidation to be successful, the Greenwood community has to make that decision for itself, as do Loyal residents.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Loyal, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
We haven’t had enough time to evaluate our new principal on her latest hires. The community played a big part in sifting through the principal applicants to aid the administrator and school board in finding the right principal for the Loyal School District who will be tasked with the job of finding teachers.
7. At board meetings over the past couple of years, community members have repeatedly asked for more transparency and communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that
Please see Candidates, page 9
Dave Clintsman
Adam Smith Candidates,
from p. 8
school-community relationship?
I’ve attended meetings and have heard some current board members say things like “just rip the Band-Aid off,” “We will figure it out,” “Just make them do it,” and “Be quiet if you don’t have a solution.” Intimidation, bullying, and leading without listening to students, teachers, and parents is not an effective way to make decisions that impact our community. Also, if a survey has a 51% or more response it should be listened to no matter your personal objective. (The school recently conducted a survey on girls basketball with an over 80% “no” response, and several board members wanted to disregard it.)
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
I want to continue to make Loyal the school of choice. I want students and parents to feel like they are welcome. I want to continue to make Loyal efficient so that our tax dollars go further. I want to support teachers’ choice on whether or not they would like to travel to teach in other districts. I do not support bussing kids for curriculum purposes during the school day. I want to really listen to the strategic planning committee moving forward, as they have had several ideas on how to bring students into the area.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I would like to bring back common sense to the school board. In 2023, Loyal residents passed the referendum to support current curriculum and renovate the 4K room. Since then, the school board and administration have built a new concession stand and brought in soil to fill different spots around the school, before the needs of the 4K students.
Dennis Roehl — no photo available Background info: I am running for the Loyal School Board seat from the area south of Highway 98. I live in rural Loyal.
1. Why are you running for public office? I am running for public office because I feel preparing our kids for life after school is our greatest task. I want to be involved in the process to make sure we prepare kids to be productive members of our community.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I am bringing the experience I have gained during my first term on the board. I have learned a lot. There are many more requirements and procedures that you need to learn as you are involved on a school board. I have also been involved in other community groups and part of those boards over my life.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
As everyone already knows, I am in favor of consolidating our two school districts. I think it should be as soon as possible, but also understanding the logistics, we might have to push the date back a year.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
I think we must consolidate the districts first. Then all decisions made by the consolidated board are truly in the interest of the consolidated district. I feel that if both schools are full of kids and teachers, it doesn’t matter which town has the high school. Both towns would continue to thrive. We still would have teachers, kids, and parents in both towns. My vision would be that we would continue to hold sport tournaments, games, concerts, and other activities in both towns.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
I can see sports always being a point of contention, as well as how consolidation is being done. The solution is to talk it out. We don’t have all the answers, but if we ask the public, coaches, teachers, staff, players, and students for their input, we will figure it out. We make the best choice at the time the issue is presented. We may need to adjust, but as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. That is how we learn and grow.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Loyal, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
Staffing for me comes down to the environment that you work in. If it is an environment that allows for growth and collaboration with administration, it will make it a positive place to work. I believe we have an amazing benefit package.
7. At board meetings over the past couple of years, community members have repeatedly asked for more transparency and communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
Transparency is always a challenge. Some items cannot be discussed outside of a closed meeting due to personnel issues, etc. That can be difficult for some to understand. If people want additional information, please call the administration office and they will try their best to get you the information they can. Sometimes it’s not a lack of transparency, but rather not enough information has been pulled together to give an accurate picture.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
I would really like to work on offering classes to our students for real-life experiences. Some basics like time and money management, which I believe we are already working on. Allowing for more classes in the trades area. I believe this is something our community will need in the future. Another area I want to explore is collaborating with other districts. I believe there are many other opportunities out there to allow us to bring more educational opportunities to our students.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I was born and have lived in Loyal all my life. My three children are attending the Loyal School District. There have been comments made that I have a hidden agenda; yes, I do. I want us to be fiscally efficient while we give our children and grandchildren the best education they can receive. I believe being open to changes and “stepping out of the box” will allow this to happen.
Nikki Rueth Background info: I am running for the Loyal School Board seat from the area south of Highway 98. I live in the town of York.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I want to move our school forward in a positive direction. We need more open communication between the residents/ parents and our school.
Administration and the school board should be welcoming feedback and using it to improve the school’s daily operations.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I am a past president of the elementary SOLES (PTA) group and past treasurer and president of the Loyal Music Boosters. I am currently a co-leader of Loyal Lads and Lassies 4-H, vice president of the Clark County 4-H Leaders Federation, and am on the Wisconsin 4-H Leadership Council. I also serve as the WLC representative for the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
I do not have enough information to form a solid opinion on consolidation. I attend almost all board meetings and still feel that I need more information, as it is not discussed in open session. I have asked the administration/school board to put out more facts regarding consolidation and facts about continuing collaboration as two separate districts, so all community members can make an informed decision. So far, the only additional information are the answers to the FAQ on the district’s webpage. My hope is that community
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members will get more information before voting in April.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
If the community supports the continued talks of consolidation, I would like to see the results of a feasibility study. I believe that many years ago when a study was done, it said Loyal would be the best location for a high school. It would be interesting to see updated results.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
I see distance being a potential issue. Residents that live on the outer edges of the district might choose to open-enroll their children to a different nearby district instead of having their children on a bus for an extended period of time. There is not much any school board members would be able to do in terms of distance. It would be up to each parent to decide what is best for their child(ren). The school board would have to make sure that the school offers a great education and other opportunities for the kids and hope that parents choose to stay in the district.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Loyal, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
We need to show the benefits of our school district to potential staff. In order to do that, we need to make sure that our teachers and staff are supported and have what they need. There are not many people going into education anymore, so it is important that once we get quality teachers, we keep them. Our school (and town) have great people in it.
7. At board meetings over the past couple of years, community members have repeatedly asked for more transparency and communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
I am one of those that asked for more communication. I don’t feel that community members should have to ask repeatedly for this. It should have happened already. I’d like to see more discussion in open session and not in closed session. Not everything needs to happen in closed session. The community wouldn’t have as many questions if things were discussed in open session.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
I plan on working on weighted grades. I started the discussion with administration last year and hope to work with the curriculum committee, who has started the process, to gather the information needed and move forward. I was saddened to learn that another parent brought it up a few years ago and nothing was done.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I graduated from Loyal High School 23 years ago. I have two children in the school district, along with four nephews. I want to make sure they, and all students, have as many opportunities available to them as we can. I want young adults to be successful after graduating from our district.
Carrie Becker Background info: I am running for the school board member at large position. I live in the city of Loyal with my husband, Mark Becker. I have raised my four children, which have all graduated from Loyal High School.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I am running for public office as I was previously on the Loyal School Board for six years. I enjoyed the years I was on the board and would like to bring back what I have learned from being off for one year. I want to focus on the education of the children in our district.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I have six years of experience of being on the school board. I served as treasurer and clerk for the board, and went to state convention. I was a 4-H leader for many years while all my children were in the 4-H program.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
Personally, my view on the consolidation is just that, my view. I feel we have a question on the ballot for a reason and we are leaving it to the community to decide on this question.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
I want the children to have a school for education and extracurricular activities. Again, it is a personal opinion and if we want the community to decide if we consolidate, we should have community input on each step of the process of the consolidation. I also would like the building study to be done to see what benefits both schools have. There is a lot to go into the placements of the schools, so that is where the study of the schools needs to be done and again, mine is my opinion. I am only one person.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
The biggest conflicts with the two school districts are being able to address every parent’s concern of having our own schools; but in the long run if we are unable to operate separately, if consolidating is the answer to keep our children close to home, this is what needs to be done to keep us operating.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Loyal, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
Hoping to have more opportunities and classes will attract more teachers to the area or even bring back alumni. Make sure that we are advertising our positions and what we have to offer at our district.
7. At board meetings over the past couple of years, community members have repeatedly asked for more transparency and communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
The school board is always there for questions for anyone that has any. The community is always welcome to come to the meetings that are all held monthly. We hold joint meetings with the Greenwood board. Which I would like to see more open meetings with more communication with the public.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
- 9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
We are always told growing up that it takes a village to raise a family, and consolidating schools will enhance our village with more knowledge and community.
Crystal Rueth Background info: I am running for the school board member at large position. I live in the city of Loyal with my husband and our five children. I have been a resident of the city of Loyal for the past 13 years.
1. Why are you running for public office?
I enjoy being involved in our community and if elected, I will strive to make a positive impact and bring additional vision to the board. I know that our community has asked for more information and transparency for quite some time. My hope, if elected, is that I will help provide more information to the parents, community members, and taxpayers of Loyal. I want people to be given as much information as possible, leaving little room for speculation on important topics.
It is also very important to me that students are given the tools and education they need to be successful beyond their elementary, middle school, and high school years. I want our school to be able to provide a variety of courses and opportunities along the way to prepare them for their future. By creating a stable learning environment, we are investing in the future of these students, which will absolutely benefit society as they enter into the world after high school.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I have lived in the Loyal School District since 2008, and our school-aged children have all attended school in Loyal from 4K and beyond. I work for the Clark County Aging and Disability Resource Center as a disability benefit specialist, where I advocate and assist individuals with disabilities. I spend most of my time advocating for individuals and helping them navigate through tough policies, rules, resources, protocols, etc. I take a lot of pride in my career, and truly enjoy helping others and making a difference!
Prior to my role at the ADRC, I worked for the Loyal Public School District as a special education paraprofessional for just over five years. During that time, I met a lot of wonderful families, students, teachers, and colleagues. I have experience working in many different classrooms with a wide variety of students of all ages. I know many of the ins and outs of the typical school day in many classrooms. I also know that teachers have concerns, questions, and must be supported by our administration and school board in order to succeed. If elected, I plan to be available for teachers and staff, and support them in any way that I can. I will bring their ideas and concerns to the board to ensure an open line of communication between staff and the school board.
I am also currently a part of Loyal’s Strategic Planning Task Force. This committee was put in place to help determine the best plan of action for the Loyal School District for the next three to five years. We’ve discussed what great things are happening in our school, what challenges we are facing, and what programs, activities, or facility changes are needed to ensure future student achievement and district success at our school. Hearing what other parents, students, board members, and staff have to say and putting our ideas together to put a plan in place that gives our school a clear vision has been a great opportunity. It is my hope that we continue to work together efficiently to put together a strategic plan that best suits our district.
3. What is your view on consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts? If in favor of consolidation, what is your ideal timeline?
If I’m being completely honest, it really shouldn’t matter what my personal view on consolidation is at the present time. The ballot presented to voters on April 1 not only asks who they’d like elected onto the Loyal School Board; it also asks whether or not they are in support of a consolidation between the Loyal School District and the Greenwood School District. If elected, I will take into consideration what a majority of the voters want and support their views. The purpose behind the advisory question on the ballot is to get more feedback from our community as to whether or not the schools should be looking more into consolidation, or should continue finding ways to effectively collaborate. Personal views, opinions, and agendas may be getting in the way of what the public truly wants. I look forward to the results of the advisory question, and my work on the school board will reflect what those results are.
4. How important to you is the location of the high school under a consolidated district, and if it is important to you, where would you like the high school to be?
I am certainly a “Loyal Proud” parent who chose to send her children to Loyal School. However, my personal view on it shouldn’t get in the way of what is best for our students and community. I would like to think that the location of the school would be something that both school boards or a joint interim board will discuss after the advisory question results are in. From my understanding, if the two communities vote in favor of pursing a consolidation, there are many more details to work out, and many different options or scenarios that need to be discussed. It has also been mentioned that another vote could take place, asking voters for their support in a consolidated district, after some of the more specific details have been figured out. If elected, I will be sure to take into consideration the ideas, views, and opinions of our community, staff, and parents.
5. What do you see as the biggest potential issues or points of conflict with the two districts consolidating, and how do you plan to address those as a school board member?
I think that there are many discussions to be had regarding the two districts consolidating. Currently, the districts are working together to find out if the two communities even support this consolidation. If a majority of the two communities do support consolidation, I anticipate many potential issues, concerns or points of conflict. I know that people are concerned about where the school will be
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located, how much money it will cost the districts to operate effectively, transportation, students possibly open-enrolling to a closer district, and staff attrition, among many other concerns. It is completely normal to have these questions and concerns at this time, since we really don’t have any of the specific details figured out.
It is my understanding that if the plan is to move forward with consolidation, the two districts will start to put together more information as to what the consolidation will look like. If elected, I will make sure to listen to everyone’s concerns, provide open and honest feedback when appropriate, and advocate for our school and community. Onething that Ihavewantedasacommunity member and parent is open, honest, truthful, and factual information. If I am in a position to provide that information to others, that is my full intention.
6. Staffing continues to be an issue at Loyal, as it is for a lot of rural districts. How do you plan to recruit and retain quality teachers?
I think that recruiting quality teachers is definitely a challenge in many rural districts. I know that living in Loyal or a small town has many advantages that maybe some folks don’t understand until they’ve experienced it. I think that recruiting quality teachers isn’t just the responsibility of the school district. It’s the community as a whole’s responsibility to make this place an enjoyable place to live and work. When people come to Loyal, I want them to feel welcomed, greeted, supported, and at home.
As a school board member, I’d like to be a part of the interview process when possible. I think that a combination of administration and school board members interviewing candidates might bring a broader perspective when hiring new staff. This way, we can select the absolute best candidate for the job, and not base any hires off of past relationships or personal connections.
I plan to be an active listener when it comes to supporting our current staff as well. Recruiting teachers can certainly be a challenge. However, keeping them in our district proves to be even harder. As a board member, I will work hard to ensure that the staff has what they need to be a successful teacher/staff member at Loyal. Being available for questions, advice, and support is key to keeping quality teachers in our district. Showing teachers/staff that I as a board member truly care about them, appreciate their hard work, and that I’ll support them in their role of shaping the lives of our children’s education is something I fully intend to do!
7. At board meetings over the past couple of years, community members have repeatedly asked for more transparency and communication between the school staff/school board and the community. How do you plan to build more openness and transparency, and foster that school-community relationship?
I am one of those community members that have asked for transparency and communication! I also understand that there are certain things that can be discussed with the community and other issues that need to remain confidential. As a board member, I’d like to keep the closed session meetings strictly to the things that cannot be discussed in a public setting. For example, personnel issues need to be kept to closed session meetings. However, important topics that can be discussed as a board in a public setting certainly should be discussed in a public setting. Having closed session meetings to make sure everyone is on the same page prior to an open session meeting feels like the opposite of being transparent. I also intend to bring more dialogue and ask more questions during the open board meetings.Asking questions, obtaining factual information, and openly discussing topics leaves very little room for speculation.
8. What other issues or policy areas would you like to focus on, if elected?
If elected, my hope is to focus on many different areas to improve our children’s education. It is important to me that our students are provided with the best education to succeed. I want to focus on recruiting and retaining quality staff members. It is also extremely important to provide our students with the best education, while also balancing the district’s tax burden for those who live here. I as a board member plan to be innovative and proactive when making decisions about our district’s future. This means having a clear, strategic plan, and implementing that plan accordingly.
9. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I really want voters to know that I do not have any sort of personal agenda. I am running for school board simply because I am passionate about our school district and the education that our students receive. I have a desire to work together with the administration, staff, parents, community members and other board members to make decisions that reflect what’s best for everyone involved. I will be an active participant at the board and committee meetings. I will work very hard to be a good listener, learner, and member of the school board.
I want the community, staff, and administration to know that I will make myself available to them for questions, ideas, strategies, and input. I want to hear and understand all sides of a topic, and will do my best to bring those ideas, concerns, or questions into board meeting discussions. Most importantly, I want to make sure that decisions about our school and education for our students will enhance our children’s future, far beyond their years in Loyal.
I am kindly asking for your vote on April 1, 2025. Your support is very important to me, and I will work hard for our school, our students, our staff, and our community! Thank you!
