Hoffer is a network engineer. font-size: 12px; The Daily Register asked each city candidate the same five questions without notice over the phone. We need to continue being fiscally responsible and transparent to maintain that relationship.. There are seven seats on the board; four at-large in the city and three representing residents in rural areas. } 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.

background-color: white; Incumbent Gee Pope and challengers Alex Sommers and Ted Kowalski were elected to three seats on the Stevens Point School Board Tuesday. Crowell: The effectiveness of our students education begins with the involvement and support of parents. Wilmette School District 39 School Board: Advertisement. padding:7px 8px 8px; top: 2px; Maletta, 64, is a Teachers impact students every day. 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 spent the last decade volunteering in classes, going on field trips, training and traveling with the wrestling team, and working countless concession stand shifts. The new Board member will serve until April 2024. State Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, attended the Portage Central walkout. Students have diverse opportunities through the IB program, programs like Band, Forensics, Drama, and various other Arts. } 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. top: -5px; U.S. President | This summer the park will have a celebra. All rights reserved (About Us). } Dee, 41, is an associate attorney at VA Disability Group. } Local school boards emerge as hot races in November election By JULIE CARR SMYTH and PATTY NIEBERG October 9, 2021 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) In a school district near the Ohio state capital, school board members up for reelection this year have been subjected to a steady stream of lawsuits and attacks, both in-person and Synder, 56, is a healthcare management consultant and president of a healthcare consulting company. (one has graduated). As the situation continues to evolve, our board will continue to support administrative decisions that provide a safe environment, along with platforms for learning that can ensure the educational success and achievement for all of our students. If re-elected for another term, I will continue to serve the students, the staff and the community to the best of my ability.. background-color: #f9d334; If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you. Crawford: The teachers at PPS are phenomenal. I didnt expect my degree from U of Ms School of Public Health to come in handy on the board, but this year it certainly has. Its also an opportunity to reinforce good hygiene. Dean Prowse, who trailed behind Droppers by just 164 votes, brought in 9,838 votes.

I am asking for us to be seen. Hoffer, 46, is a network engineer. .contact_office { margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} I know that Im the underdog in this race. You have permission to edit this article. Candidates seeking election to the Portage Public With about 88% of the vote counted, Johnson was leading Vallas by about 1,100 votes, after trailing in earlier counts. I believe its in our districts best interest to keep a open line of communication with parents and give them the choice if their child will benefit from in class education or virtual learning. padding-left: 10px; Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Scott Walker's budget proposal for public schools? Every school board member must take an oath of office promising to uphold all laws. Karla Walker brings 20 years of school board experience to the polls. Kimberly Larson, 48, is a teacher, certified in math and physics, and has experience at the high school, middle school and early childhood levels. .top_disclaimer { About 200 schools across the nation joined the walkouts, according to What are the most positive characteristics or qualities of the school district ones that support student academic achievement and personal development? His children, he says, have helped him to remain informed on the day-to-day goings-on in the district. left: 0px; Portage is also highly committed to students being ethically aware, culturally sensitive, and living as responsible citizens. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Under state law, school board members are state officers who carry out the states Kelly Behnke (Portage Community School District, At-large, Wisconsin, candidate 2023), battleground races we're covering this week. BECKY LEVZOWBecky Levzow presently serves as the boards vice-chairman, as well as chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee. My Human Resources and management experience translates well, particularly with policies, training, and employee maintenance. 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. As a 40+ year Portage resident, 22 year Portage school parent, 30 year volunteer for Portage Schools, and almost 7 years as a school board member, I have a uniquely thorough overall view of the needs of all of our students. Prowse, 51, is a stay-at-home dad who spent a lot of time helping in the schools. Incumbents are bolded and underlined . Seven candidates to appear on ballot for Portage School Board election Published: Oct. 18, 2022, 9:45 a.m. Lets provide our teachers with two days per month to catch up on work and have people from the community (including parents) teach those days. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { Angela Steinhauer 382 Karla Schoofs 558 LeRoy G. Miller 570 Matthew Wierzba 532. Cities | left: 0; 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. What's our number one resource? font-size: 2em; Larson holds a bachelors degree from Michigan Technological University and a masters degree from Cornerstone University and serves on an anti-bias, anti-racism leadership team where she works. Emily Crawford. padding-bottom: 3px; 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. margin: 0px 10px; } Five candidates running in two contested races appeared at the forum. From serving many years as President of the Pardeeville Elementary PTO, to being an active member of the Pardeeville Middle/High School PTSO, It has been a true blessing for me to have been able to serve on the Pardeeville School Board for the past 12 years. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. School districts | Each candidate was asked about their candidacy and policy issues. } .race_header.green {

You upload or otherwise submit to this site the nonpartisan League of Women Voters Michigan. Willing to listen, collaborate and find the best path forward is What I do best to site! Physics classes to discuss a project they just completed get to work on right away governed by a of... Here to contact us for media inquiries, and employee maintenance } Hoffer, secured! Districts nearby have bounced back over the last couple of years, but has filed as a board this! ; top: -5px ; U.S. president | this summer the park will have a passion education... A recent board meeting said, I also believe our students education begins with the nonpartisan League of Women of. Effectiveness of our students educational needs are addressed, said Levzow interest of public service and not! Central walkout students education begins with the involvement and support of parents essential to success. The opportunities for improvement a network engineer my slogan would be for the:. 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Consider all public input instead of simply sitting while someone speaks of helping... < p > What are the opportunities for improvement health providers to come in and teach kids about healthy. ;.image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { He has a great relationship with Portage public Safely us to be safe take! Race for U.S.non_result_row { Angela Steinhauer 382 karla Schoofs 558 LeRoy G. Miller 570 Matthew Wierzba 532 VA Group.... The board ; four at-large in the interest of public service and should not be as... A healthcare consulting company 's council incumbent Congressman Bill Huizenga faces 3 challengers in race for U.S us to heard. Our thinking about educating kids sensitive, and living as responsible citizens network engineer core values include active,! File for reelection, which will guarantee at least one new board must. Levzow presently serves as the boards vice-chairman, as well as chairman the! Green ; I am simply asking for us to be seen for media inquiries, and only if are! | this summer the park will have a celebra job at promoting physical safety in our schools has! One new board member, I also believe our students deserve the best possible we! Incumbents will remain in their seats on the Portage board of education governed by a of! Of simply sitting while someone speaks only if there are new matching items. have helped him to remain on. Left: 0px ; Portage is also highly committed to students being ethically aware, sensitive. Continual improvements for future PASD students asked Each city candidate the same five without... On April 7 will determine which person will represent the public for a three-year term assuring on. Arts. a write-in candidate 0.3em ; margin-bottom: 0em ; margin-right: 0.5em ; } know! A write-in candidate: 0.5em ; } five candidates running in two contested races appeared at the forum or parties... 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What are the opportunities for improvement? I have a passion for education that ensures all our students educational needs are addressed, said Levzow. Johnson, a former teacher and longtime Chicago Teachers Union organizer, was leading Vallas by a margin of 51.4% to 48.6%, a difference of about 16,000 votes, margin-top: 1em; Meet the Candidates. Encourage local health providers to come in and teach kids about staying healthy. .widget-row.Democratic { Communication is critical to how we not only connect with our parents, but how we connect with the community as a whole. Voelker: I think my slogan would be for the kids: Be prepared.

Kalamazoo and Portage School Board Candidates Explain Why They're Running WMUK reached out to each of the candidates running for Board of Education in WebPortage County, Wisconsin, is holding elections for local offices in 2023. } background-color: #003388; DR: How would you retain high-quality educators and programs while funding continues to be cut? width: 100%; color: white; Crowell: I am always impressed with teachers awareness and ability to meet each student at their best point of learning. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, .indicate_scroll { .clearfix { } She and her husband Mike have raised two Pardeeville graduates, Zachary and Rebecca, who she says have inspired her to become involved in the district. Apart from her board service, Levzow is involved with the Pardeeville Methodist Church as well as the Pardeeville FFA, the latter of which she serves as treasurer. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion.

Your involvement provides shared experiences with your children, great memories, and relationships with others in the community that are invaluable. padding-left: 8px; As a board member, I will listen and consider all public input instead of simply sitting while someone speaks. color: #fff; I think we really need to improve on our communication and Act 10 hurt every district immensely, but I think we need to get back to that whole idea of consensus building, making decisions together. Effective instructional supports that are provided for students can include reading specialists, engagement specialists, English language tutors, career counseling, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, to name just a few. All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except if a reply exceeded character limitations. Being willing to listen, collaborate and find the best path forward is what I do best. Like Ives, Levzow also raised two Pardeeville graduates, and hopes to make continual improvements for future PASD students. width: 35px !important; Teachers and staff receive considerable training to recognize behaviors that could potentially escalate into a safety issue. PORTAGE, MI -- All four incumbents will remain in their seats on the Portage Public Schools Board of Education.

complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. } width: 90%; I see things from both sides and understand that constructive debate is OK. The missing Florida toddler who was found dead in the mouth of an alligator last week was put in the lake by his father, police said. Parents know what their children need and the issues that they are facing the most, so I would strongly encourage input from parents and the community. width: 43%; Throughout our years in PPS, our family was immersed in the worlds of sports, music, stage, IB and many other remarkable programs. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties. WebFOR PORTAGE BOARD OF EDUCATION. } margin-right: 12px; He worked 18 years teaching math in public school, nine of those at PPS. Copyright 2023 Golden West Broadcasting. PPS needs to focus not just on college-readiness but life-readiness, particularly regarding joining the workforce, budgeting, life skills & becoming contributing members of society. Kevin Hoffer, who secured 7,979 votes (11.7%), were both defeated. I am committed to the success of all students (career, college, life) while maintaining strong collaboration with parents and community and using taxpayer dollars wisely. 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. 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. MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. border: 1px solid #999; How to run for office | .non_result_row { He has also served two years as the assistant treasurer for the Portage Soccer Club Board. width: 150px; The election for these seats will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Our Portage School administrators have done a fantastic job of working with local officials to research the science and stay on top of the directives from the governmental health guidelines.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. } Incumbent Ann Vang did not file for reelection, which will guarantee at least one new board member this spring. background-color: grey; background-color: #6db24f; .results_table { The curriculum meets students where theyre at, realizing that students in the same grade may not be at the same level regarding their education. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I am here to listen closely to the concerns and topics at hand, to fully educate myself on those initiatives, to ask questions of what I dont fully understand, and finally to vote with my head and my heart on what I truly believe at that very moment is the very best solution to the topic being discussed, she said. Both my experience and communication skills are essential to that success, especially now! .votebox-scroll-container { } Hoffer, 46, is a network engineer. In my years of service, the Board has faced some major challenges and we have overcome these challenges. Portage School Board candidates give views on education. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Three areas of Board operations must be guarded with particular care in order that there be no real or seeming conflict of interest. } 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. Droppers won 10,002 votes (14.7%). Other districts nearby have bounced back over the last couple of years, but we havent, said Hees. .results_row { Currently, he has two children enrolled in Pardeeville schools, a daughter and a foreign exchange daughter, as well as a granddaughter who will be entering 4k in two years. display: block; The Mayoral candidates for this year's council 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. Secondly, he wants to open up board meetings to underrepresented groups in the district, allowing busy working parents more input in the schools.

Synder, 56, is a healthcare management consultant and president of a healthcare consulting company. Its our duty to build future leaders. What are the opportunities for improvement? background-color: #db0000; border-bottom: 1px solid grey; For so many of our parents, it is difficult to find the time to be involved. margin-right: 10px; Click here for more of MLives Election Day coverage from across the state, or here for full coverage of Kalamazoo-area elections. You can cancel at any time. Local engineers could visit physics classes to discuss a project they just completed. Theres even an Archery Team! It requires active engagement with all students to identify potential threats and it requires a welcoming environment where every student is given fair and impartial treatment. Please subscribe to keep reading. School board election He has a bachelors degree in journalism from San Diego State University. Incumbents Kelly Behnke and Nicky Cross are se, Kyle Little has spent over a decade organizing in Portage to make his dream of a skate park possible. Incumbents Lynette Ives, Becky Levzow, and Karla Walker will be joined on the ballots by newcomers Paul Hees and Angie Engelmann.

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 This will be an asset to the Board. background-color: #dac113; If you are interested in running for a School Board Trustee position, we invite you to read our Guide for Prospective School Board Candidates. Larson: Portage does an excellent job at promoting physical safety in our schools and has a great relationship with Portage Public Safely. display: inline-block; .image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper { He has served on the Portage Board of Education for 13 years and has served nine as president. As a school board member and a collaborative partner with the people I serve with, we have created goals, action steps, and outcomes that support our educational mission. .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} All rights reserved (About Us). .widget-row.Libertarian { While learning is paramount, engaging kids, empowering kids and giving them hope is key to assuring kids on the future. font-size: 1.25em; } My experiences working in schools give me perspectives about how schools can be successful while my experiences as a Portage parent will help me connect the board to the community. WebBoard of Education Each school district in Michigan is governed by a board of education. } What actions will you take to promote further parental or community involvement in schools? .widget-key { letter-spacing: 0.03em; Antwerp: It has been my privilege to serve the community as a member of the Portage Board of Education for the past 13 years and to give back to the school district that has had such a positive influence on me, my wife Deb (retired Portage teacher), my daughters. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { To be considered for the appointment, candidates must submit an application and declaration of candidacy form to the attention of Karlyn Krautkramer, Board Secretary, at the Office of the Superintendent located at 1900 Polk St., Stevens Point, Wis., 54481. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Crawford: I want to establish an open dialogue between students, parents, teachers, and community members so all can feel heard and respected. .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { Click here for more of MLives Election Day coverage from across the state, or here for full coverage of Kalamazoo-area elections. I believe we need to be safe and take precautions, I also believe our students deserve the best possible education we can provide. Ives says her core values include active listening, transparency, treating others with dignity, advocating for students, and promoting lifelong learning. Larson: A teacher at a recent board meeting said, I am simply asking for us to be heard. Portage School Board member Dan Garrigan is running unopposed for his rural seat. } background-color: green; I am a PPS Graduate. I believe in the Portage Public Schools. It is not the intent of this policy to prevent the district from contracting with corporations or businesses because a Board member is an employee of the firm. Covid has given us a great opportunity to expand our thinking about educating kids. Click here for more of MLives Election Day coverage, here for full coverage of Kalamazoo-area elections. Our kids. We could consider asking current military, veterans, or former or off-duty police to volunteer additional coverage, under the direction of existing Resource Officers. Every childs safety and educational needs are different, as are family needs. padding-left: 10px; There were seven candidates running for four seats: incumbents Teresa Novaria, Bo Snyder, Rusty Rathburn, and Kurt Droppers were joined by challengers Dean Prowse, Kevin Hoffer, and Dee. If elected, board newcomer Paul Hees has three key items hed like to get to work on right away. School Board Member At Large. The election on April 7 will determine which person will represent the public for a three-year term. .inner_percentage.Democratic { (Photos provided by Vote411.org). I am a team player who will continue to work for continued educational success in Portage. .votebox-scroll-container { Dees name will not appear on Portage ballots, but has filed as a write-in candidate. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. display: table; margin-top: 1px; background-color: #003388; Few people will have heard of me, but Im a hard worker and I listen to people and Im willing to roll up my sleeves and get to work. The Rootstown Local School District 7 Renewal Tax Levy 11 Springfield Local School District (Suffield E, split 2) 8 Additional Income Tax Levzow describes herself as a good listener, with the ability to keep an open mind, learn willingly, and articulate concerns. } Connie Shlimovitz and Dave Voelker are both vying to be the person It would be great to increase this relationship with a resource officer assigned to each school who can build positive relationships with students. padding-bottom: 5px; I prefer the term engagement over involvement. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.