portage school board candidates

This means a clear understanding of right and wrong, an appreciation for cultures, beliefs, and ethnicities different than their own, and a commitment of service to community and others. padding-left: 8px; } It is through the dedication of so many people, businesses, nonprofits, and the City of Portage, that our school district continues to be a leader and one of the top performing districts in our area. I want students, parents, faculty, and community to feel like they have a voice, and the school board values their opinions. The City of Portage la Prairie has announced the list of candidates for city council, mayor, and school board trustee. I think that if theyre going to continue to do it then they need to change the policy to reflect that, dont make it look like your brushing over it if thats why policies get amended. She also wants to work toward maintaining quality staff, bringing in new hires where needed. Voters chose Teresa Novaria, (left) Bo Snyder, Rusty Rathburn and Kurt Droppers from a field of five candidates vying for the six-year terms on the board that sets policies for the school district, according to unofficial election results in Kalamazoo County. I am a PPS Graduate. During the pandemic, parents were surveyed more frequently to gauge satisfaction and identify gaps in performance. letter-spacing: 0.03em; position: relative; The filing deadline Portage Republican mayoral candidates share platforms in debate before primary. Trustee Joanne Willson says improving the district's buildings and, Community organizer Tandy Moore says that if she's elected to the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education, she'll work to fight "implicit bias."

font-weight: bold; background-color: grey; Hoffer, 46, is a network engineer. Here is a look at the seven school board candidates: Visit the Vote411 voter guide online for Dees responses, and to learn more about the all candidates and issues on your ballot. That begins with continued collaboration with the Portage Public Safety Dept. We need to find a balance between safety and learning. .outer_percentage { Our goals, actions, and outcomes continue to support that.

They genuinely care about the students & their academic success. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Voelker: I've got 35 years of business management experience and my degree is in education, so I think I bring a combination of both education and business experience. The Daily Register asked each city candidate the same five questions without notice over the phone.

color: white; I spent the last decade volunteering in classes, going on field trips, training and traveling with the wrestling team, and working countless concession stand shifts. Firstly, improving Department of Public Instruction scores, which have fallen over the last five years.

My wife and I chose PPS for the educational opportunities for our kids, two of which currently attend. font-size: .9em;

What specific steps should the board take to ensure that students have a safe and successful academic year in view of Covid-19? Lobby Hours: 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Covid-19, 2022-2023 School Year Information, District, State, and National Assessments, Online Lunch Account Balances/Who to Contact, Educational Supports & Intervention (formerly Special Education), Notices, Agendas, Action Briefs and Minutes, Building the Future of Learning Elementary, Current Collective Bargaining Agreements and Employer Sponsored Health Care Plans. He has ran unsuccessfully for the Portage board in 2018. I believe Ive forged a good working relationship with teachers and administrators, and have broad recognition in the community that helps me hear concerns and work for the overall betterment of our schools to achieve success for all students. I was a National Merit Scholar semifinalist and Honor Society member in high school, and graduated with honors. These are purchasing and hiring of personnel.

He has served on the Portage Board of Education for 13 years and has served nine as president. } .race_header.republican { I think we could greatly increase parental and community involvement by enacting a broad community-based mentoring program. I enjoy having discussions with people who have different opinions or beliefs than my own. Covid has given us a great opportunity to expand our thinking about educating kids. Portage Republican mayoral candidates John Cannon, on right, and Austin Bonta participate in a debate held by the League of Women Voters at Woodland Park on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. .inner_percentage.Republican { } } Please subscribe to keep reading. PORTAGE, MI-- There are three school board seats on the ballot this year for the Nov. 8 Portage Public Schools election. I want a school district where teachers are involved and empowered. The board should make sure to speak openly with parents, community members and local police about the current protocols and continuously look for ways to improve them. If re-elected for another term, I will continue to serve the students, the staff and the community to the best of my ability.. display: inline-block; Shown here is Pardeeville Elementary School. Like Ives, Levzow also raised two Pardeeville graduates, and hopes to make continual improvements for future PASD students. width: 250px; Each school district in Michigan is governed by a board of education.

.contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} The PPS Board of Education has considered all aspects of safety, educational and family needs. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties. top: 0px; (Photos provided by candidates).

Under state law, school board members are state officers who carry out the states educational obligations at the local level. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. And if there is stuff that comes up, then I wouldn't vote. Why are you running for a board seat? A man has been accused of sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman in her home in Portage. } Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement.

width: 150px; Rathburn won 12,455 votes (18.3%). He has ran unsuccessfully for the Portage Curriculum changes are vetted in our Curriculum and Instructional Council that includes parents and community members.

.external_links_table { width: auto !important; } I am a team player who will continue to work for continued educational success in Portage. This will be an asset to the Board. With about 88% of the vote counted, Johnson was leading Vallas by about 1,100 votes, after trailing in earlier counts. .widget-row { Teachers impact students every day. Real-world examples are instrumental in helping reinforce what kids are learning, and having local examples shows kids that those careers are attainable. I think we often look at mentoring programs as ways to help academically superior or disadvantaged students, but a large community-based mentoring program can also be a great way to displace some of that work and stress on teachers by extending the circle of adults that kids can rely on.

I want the kids to be prepared for that job interview and be prepared for what life has to offer. padding-top: 3px;

width: 100%; How much class time do we lose each year from illness that might be mitigated with better hygiene?

The Rootstown Local School District 7 Renewal Tax Levy 11 Springfield Local School District (Suffield E, split 2) 8 Additional Income Tax

Shlimovitz: I'm passionate about Portage. As a board member, I will listen and consider all public input instead of simply sitting while someone speaks.

margin-bottom: 1px; .race_header.libertarian { font-size: 12px; Incumbent Congressman Bill Huizenga faces 3 challengers in race for U.S. Houses 4th District, Country club plans golf course at site once eyed for homeless housing in Kalamazoo, Man accused of driving drunk, killing Western Michigan student headed toward jury trial. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. Extracurricular activities are abundant, where every student can find an activity to enjoy. .votebox-results-metadata-p { It requires regular drills to maintain preparedness. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. } background-color: green; } He has ran unsuccessfully for the Portage board in 2018. You can cancel at any time. overflow: hidden;

The Board must hold Administration accountable to continuously improve our culture of safety and provide sustainable funding for it. CAN-1 Candidate Filing Challenge; CAN-12 State of Economic Interests for Local and School Board Offices; CAN-16 Town Office Declaration of Candidacy by a Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican Party Candidate When No Primary if Conducted in 2022 margin-bottom: -2px !important; Our kids. Incumbents Lynette Ives, Becky Levzow, and Karla Walker will be joined on the ballots by newcomers Paul Hees and Angie Engelmann.

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max-width: 600px; WebPortage County, Wisconsin, is holding elections for local offices in 2023. margin-bottom: 4px; position: relative; clear: both; color: #0645ad; .results_table { Before joining the district, my kids received a solid foundation of learning through Charter, Homeschooling, and the Math and Science Center. } letter-spacing: 0.03em; background-color: #dac113; .top_disclaimer { Maletta, 64, is a Bert I. Trzebiatowski 310 Duane Clark 210 Town of Carson Precincts Reported: 1/1 Town Board Supervisor John A. Jazdzewski 290 Ken Zarecki 342 Christopher M. Sobczak (Write-in) 7 Town of Dewey Precincts Reported: 1/1 Town Board Supervisor Dennis D. Hintz 174 Dennis Meis 171 LeRoy Pukrop 231 Town of Eau Pleine Precincts

I bring a wealth of qualification and experience to the Board: I myself am a K-12 public school educated student. Two candidates unsuccessfully challenged the four incumbents for seats on the board this year. margin-top: 16px; width: 100% !important; WebFOR PORTAGE BOARD OF EDUCATION. .inner_percentage.Democratic { } top: -1px; Ballotpedia features 407,096 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. How to run for office | Voelker: I think there's got to be communication from the top all the way down and from students to staff to aides and administrators everybody needs to understand what it takes for everybody else to do their job and to it in the most economic way possible. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;}

Candidate Kelly Behnke (Nonpartisan) Nicky Cross (Nonpartisan) Chad Hayes (Nonpartisan) margin: 0px 10px; This will not be construed as necessitating the resignation of any employee should a member of his or her immediate family be elected to the Board. margin-bottom:16px; I also appreciate the districts focus on STEM and other curriculum essential to our future workforce, while recognizing the value and importance of music, theater, sports and a wide realm of elective options. Weve implemented a new, safe way for the community to reach out at board meetings to provide input, and teachers and parents have responded thoughtfully and in huge numbers with concerns, ideas, suggestions, and support. She hopes to continue the momentum with improved test scores, assisting staff and administration, and staying up-to-date on technology needs in the schools. I trust that I can have a positive impact on our Board, he said. Crawford: As a parent of 2 PPS graduates, Ive seen the changes our school system has experienced over the past 13 years. One silver lining of COVID-19 is that we have seen increased community engagement with our board. I believe that having my own children in the schools ensures not only that I have up-to-date information every day, but also that I have a vested interest in making the best decisions for our students, for the teachers, for the staff, for our teams and clubs, and for our community as a whole, said Hees. overflow-x: scroll; margin-right: 12px; } I know that Im the underdog in this race. We are focused on providing challenging and applicable learning for all students - from top achievers through our IB program, to help for students who need it. (Photos provided by Vote411.org).

Shlimovitz:I think we need to start to take a look at the entire picture, we tend to take a look at just staffing or just programs or just technology and I think we dont do a very good job of how they work together. In the race to fill two seats on the Portage school board, the finish line lies straight ahead. All rights reserved. The PPS student population is large enough where we can offer and array of opportunities for each and every child and were small enough where we can focus on the needs of each and every child. What are the opportunities for improvement? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown {

Kimberly Larson, 48, is a teacher, certified in math and physics, and has experience at the high school, middle school and early childhood levels. Public policy. max-height: 580px; All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. The curriculum meets students where theyre at, realizing that students in the same grade may not be at the same level regarding their education. There is an us vs them mentality currently present and a feeling that decisions are being made in secret. He has served 11 years on the board and five years on the Portage Education Foundation Board. Novaria, 64, is the current board vice president and has served on the board since 2014. } .results_row td { I have been a school board trustee since February 2015,when I filled a vacant seat and then won re-election for my first term election seat.

At the same time, we must assure kids have hope. 8107 Mustang Drive, Portage, MI 49002 } In the coming years it is this Boards intention to maximize Engagement through Owners Linkage strategies that involve direct outreach and use of social media. Incumbent Kelly Behnke, incumbent Nicky Cross, and Chad Hayes ran in the general election for Portage Community School District, At-large on April 4, 2023. Be prepared for the life that's going to face you after high school; I want kids in Portage to be as best prepared as they possibly can be and be that half-step above everybody else when they graduate from the state of Wisconsin so that when those jobs are out there they're ready. My Human Resources and management experience translates well, particularly with policies, training, and employee maintenance. .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { Here are the final, but unofficial results from the Portage County Board of Elections.

I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to the Portage Public Schools. padding-top: 8px;

The impact of the pandemic on students has made the need for these supports even more important.

WebThe terms of the three current school board seats are expiring on December 31, 2022. Some students require additional support with life and social skills to help them navigate live and become more resilient. Though there are many things that Portage does well, there are also things that can be improved.

Shlimovitz: Well, I would be the only female. Each candidate was asked about their candidacy and policy issues. About 200 schools across the nation joined the walkouts, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. margin: 0; color: #fff; Its our duty to build future leaders. School districts | .widget-row.value-only.black { padding-left: 10px; If you are interested in running for a School Board Trustee position, we invite you to read our Guide for Prospective School Board Candidates. } I realize we need to be prudent & wise to ensure this district is fiscally responsible with the trust our community has placed on our decisions to provide an education & experiences that ensure all students succeed.. Five candidates are vying for three seats on the Pardeeville school board in the Tuesday, April 4th election. Therefore: No member of the Board will have any direct pecuniary interest in a contract with the school district, nor furnish directly any labor, equipment, or supplies to the district. The board has recognized that Parent and Community engagement strategies are changing.

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He has also served two years as the assistant treasurer for the Portage Soccer Club Board. Incumbents are bolded and underlined . background-color: #db0000;