Colby school board candidates attend Q & A
The topics were wide ranging, and spanned issues ranging from English Language Learner and Dual Language Learner courses to thoughts on open versus closed campus and also issues of financial importance.
Four of the five candidates who are running for Colby school board were on hand to answer questions on Wednesday, March 23, as the public sat in the Colby School District’s theater, pondering which candidate would be best suited to guide the district for the next term.
With five candidates running, and only three seats open, the contested race is the first in a long time for the district.
Sensing an opportunity for the district’s students and community to learn about the election process, Colby superintendent Steve Kolden challenged the Colby High student council to organize a public question and answer session on short notice.
Meanwhile, three more candidates submitted answers and are running in this week’s Tribune-Phonograph. They are challengers Lony Oestreich and Tanya Geiger and incumbent Teri Hanson.
What is your background? What is your age and occupation?
Oestreich: My name is Lony Oestreich and I am 38. I am a fleet and driver safety coordinator for Grassland Dairy-Wuethrich Transportation.
My background started in law enforcement starting in 2005. In 2015 I began a career in transportation safety. I have been with Grassland Dairy since 2019. I have spent time with Colby and Central Fire Departments, I spent eight years on the Colby City Council, current president of Colby Pullers Club and sit on Board of Directors for Wisconsin Tractor Pullers Association.
I have lived in Colby my entire life; this is my home, this is where my family is and this is where I want to be.
Geiger: My name is Tanya Geiger. I
am 41 years old and currently reside in Dorchester with my husband Doug and four children ages 18, 15, 13 and 10. I lived my entire childhood in Unity, so I’ve been in the district my entire life. I graduated from State College of Beauty Culture with a license in cosmetology. I worked at JC Penney Salon and the Marshfield Clinic until I decided to stay home full time with my children in 2008. Currently, I am self-employed at Clark Co-Line Dairy, handling the bookkeeping, payroll and computer data entry, while my husband Doug manages the many duties that come with operating a dairy farm.
Hanson: My name is Teri Hanson, we moved to the Colby area November 2010. Our daughter graduated from CHS in 2015. My husband Kevin is a small business owner in Abbotsford/Colby and neighboring communities of Dorchester/ Owen.
I have been the pastor of First United Church of Christ in Colby and Christ United in Athens since July 1, 2012. Prior to our move to Colby I was a part-time pastor of a small congregation; Davies Memorial United Church of Christ in Potosi, WI. I have worked within the denominations of ELCA and UCC for the past 20 plus years.
Why have you decided to run for (re)election to the school board?
Oestreich: I choose to run for school board for two reasons. Strength the relationship between the district and community and build upon the opportunities for all kids.
How can we make things better, how do we offer opportunities we can’t now, how do we ensure teachers want to come to Colby, stay at Colby and grow? How do we ensure a safe and high-quality learning environment? I love this community and I want to see community/district grow together.
Geiger: I have chosen to run for election to the school board, because it’s important to me, as a parent, to be involved in the decisions that impact my children while they receive their education in the Colby School District.
I think it’s important for board members to have children enrolled in the school. Parents have concerns over the spending and budget, but also a vested interest in the education of their children and the conditions of their school.
Hanson: As a school board member we are tasked with balancing the needs of the district, students and staff, along with the needs of the community, all in accordance with our local state education requirements.
I feel that as a board member we are to be responsive and open to parents, staff, students and community. The districts school board should be a place that encourages conversation.
Community members, parents, staff and students that address the board should feel that they are heard, not just speaking. As a school board member we are to create understanding, support and participation.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges/ priorities facing the district and what will you do as a board member to overcome that challenge?
Oestreich: Trust and commitment. The challenges for everyone over last two years and created a lot of confusion and wonder. Regardless of what side of the fence you sit on, at end of the day, we must focus on what is best for moving forward.
We can talk about budget issues, open campus, enrollment, and many other topics, however, until we can rebuild trust and commitment with our staff, kids, parents and community none of them topics will ever make progress.
I believe we need to do a better job of understanding what our students need. A balance of becoming more technological, while keeping our hands on and rural ways still alive. Creating ways for students to learn and grow both in and out of the classroom.
Geiger: I think some of the ongoing challenges in a district are generally always revolving around budget, enrollment, and staff shortages.
There are also additional challenges of minimal community engagement and obtaining new candidates running for school board positions. I think maintaining good communication and listening skills between the board members, staff, students, parents and community is the best way to help navigate the challenges that we continue to face in the district.
Hanson: For me I think one of our bigger challenges is finding teachers (and substitutes) to fill upcoming retirements and resignations. All across our state and nation there are not enough teachers to fill the positions that are open. The challenge will be to attract teachers to come to the rural teaching setting.
Smaller schools like Colby find it hard to compete with larger districts that have higher starting salaries and more advantages and/or opportunities for staff within the district.
I just read an article where the UWPlatteville’s School of Education [which specializes in educators for rural schools] under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Collins, along with others has created a program offering up student loan reimbursement for their graduating teachers.
As board members, we should be committed to working together not only as a board, but also in conjunction with our district staff and administrators so that together we can help to provide the best possible educational experience for each of our students.
What can the board do within budget limits to keep things running smoothly and efficiently?
Oestreich: People often talk about cutting the fat. Everyone’s vision of what that is, is different. For me, I would need to understand what and why of budgets in the past. Each year is going to be different, the wants the needs of district. I think setting a business plan regarding infrastructure, marketing/branding, improvements and evaluating that through out the year.
We are coming into an important time in our district. We have a lot of retirement coming, how do we find the next wave of staff, that in 30 years we can have the same issue. How do we become more resourceful, through grants, energy and products we use? All these topics need to be evaluated, not just during budget time, but every day. As stated, a better job of marketing our location, our community and thinking outside the box on ways to save money. Our budget is also about spending the money in the correct places and being aggressive in ways to better our staff, students and district.
Geiger: I think it’s always important to prioritize needs according to what gives our children the best learning environment and education. The number one priority of a school district is to provide quality education.
Hanson: Our district budget is supported though our local tax levy, state and federal dollars.
If you go onto the district’s website and look at each year’s budgeting and annual meeting reports you will find that our district manages to stay within the proposed budget.
It is the responsibility of the district superintendent to provide each year’s budget which is reflective of the districts needs and mission; Learning for All.
What do you feel the school district can do to be more responsible to the needs of the community?
Oestreich: Open dialogue. Get out talk with community members, parents, community officials. This is our school, our community, we must find ways to market them together and work together, instead of saying that’s the school’s problem or that is the community’s problem.
Not everyone is going to agree on everything, not everyone is going to have the same drive and passion, but we must start focusing on how each side helps the other, for the common good of every one of the kids.
We fail to remember at times, not all the kids live right here in Colby. We have a big district, with kids and parents having to travel 15-30 mins. to get to school. A lot of our parents do not work in the Colby area, how can we work together to make things easier for the staff and parents on movement of kids and things they are needed to attend.
Geiger: I believe that before being “responsive,” the district really needs to listen to what the parents/community are needing and wanting for their children. I feel that recently there’s been a trend seen in many school districts that “government knows best.” I believe that’s a dangerous direction to be heading. Parents know their children and their individual needs better than anyone, and I would like to see our district not lose sight of the importance of parental rights and decisions.
Hanson: School districts should be both in relationship and partnership with the members of their community.
It is the combined district and community relationships that foster opportunities for collaboration, tutoring, sponsorships and encouragement that go hand in hand with student success. Each student’s wellbeing, both mentally and physically, is critical to their educational success.
To perform well in school, students need to feel supported, safe and comfortable in their learning environment.
INCUMBENT - Teri Hanson seeks relection to the Colby school board.TP FILE PHOTO
NEW IDEAS - Lony Oestreich speaks to the public on Wednesday, March 23. He hopes to take a seat on the Colby school board.STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN
