Marcia Vlach Colsmith
Age: 54
Address: 1115 43rd St., Caledonia
Occupation: retired, AT&T computer networking professional and computer/math/science teacher
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, UW-Milwaukee; Union Grove Union High School, Raymond Elementary School
Political experience: Elected to UGUHS school board in 2008, re-elected in 2011
Organizations: American Association of University Women, Racine branch, Public Policy chair, Culture and Cuisine chair; Girl Scout Leader, Troop 5630; UWM Alumni Association; League of Women Voters (election observer)
Randall Henderson
Age: 53
Address: 14208 58th Road, Sturtevant
Occupation: Educator, online mentor/teacher, Racine Unified School District – Alternative Education
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Management of Computer Systems and Mathematics, UW-Whitewater; Educator licensure program, CESA 1, Silver Lake College; master’s of education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, National Louis University
Political experience: Ran for UGUHS board position in 2013, lost by 88 votes
Organizations: Leader, Yorkville 4H, 30+ years; member, St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 24 years; lifetime member, Racine County Agricultural Society; member, Union Grove Kiwanis, 10+ years
Diane Skewes
Age: 60
Address: 1007 67th Drive, Union Grove
Occupation: Registered nurse, nurse educator; currently Associate Dean of Nursing, Gateway Technical College
Education: Associate degree in nursing, Milwaukee Area Technical College; bachelor’s degree in nursing, Marquette University; master’s degree in nursing, UW-Milwaukee; Certified Nurse Educator through National League for Nursing; Waterford High School graduate
Political experience: Current member, Union Grove Union High School Board of Education
Organizations: President, Wisconsin League for Nursing; member, National League for Nursing, Wisconsin Nurses Association, Association for Career and Technical Education, Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education, Association Nurse Educators of Wisconsin, Southeast Wisconsin Nurse Alliance, Marquette University Alumni, and University of Wisconsin Alumni.
By Patricia Bogumil
Two incumbents and a challenger are vying for two positions up for election April 1 on the Union Grove Union High School Board of Education.
The three candidates – all of whom possess strong, professional educational credentials – are current board members Marcia Colsmith and Diane Skewes and challenger, Randall Henderson.
Candidates were asked to discuss the most important issues before the school board and their interest in public office. Their responses follow.
• Marcia Colsmith said she has the time, desire, expertise and experience to serve her community as a good school board member.
The important issues before the school board include:
– continuing to provide a great education to students in a time of decreased state funding for education;
– overseeing UGUHS moving forward in areas such as adapting to Common Core standards;
– implementing a new staff evaluation and compensation system;
– continuing to attract, retain and develop superior teachers; and
– keeping school facilities up-to-date, in good repair and energy efficient.
• Randall Henderson said acquisition of additional property for future expansion is an important issue the school board is currently considering.
A referendum process for major school district expenditures needs to ensure that referendum elections occur on one of the two main election dates in November or April. The higher voter turnout will give the school board more feedback on how to proceed with major taxpayer-funded initiatives, Henderson explained.
– He also feels UGUHS needs to expand educational opportunities for students through virtual learning programs and techniques.
– Among the issues that sparked Henderson’s interest in running for election, he said UGUHS must continue providing the needed resources to its educators to enable all students to succeed on new benchmark tests to be implemented in the next school year.
These new tests are projected to be computer-based exams, Henderson explained, so the technology will have to be evaluated and upgraded to enable UGUHS to effectively assess its students.
– Also, implementation of the CESA 6 Effectiveness Project to evaluate all staff members has started and must be fully supported by the school board as this process continues.
– Finally, Henderson feels it is important for all feeder schools to have representative on the school board, a role he will provide for Yorkville Elementary School.
• Diane Skewes said she is passionate about education and wants to ensure that the students who attend UGUHS leave high school prepared for college and careers and able to achieve their personal goals, having developed the necessary knowledge, skills and talents to be the best.
The important issues before the school board include:
– Successful implementation of the new Common Core Standards. Providing resources for teachers and administrators to assure students are able to meet the necessary testing standards required by the state and providing guidance and support for students to achieve their goals.
– Providing a learning environment that will best meet the needs of students and the community. This includes classrooms that students can learn in, on-line educational opportunities and distance education, when appropriate.
– Expanding UGUHS educational programs in career clusters around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (known as STEAM). Developing career academies within the high school will help students create goals and take classes that lead to their career choices.
– Also, students must be helped to develop character and a commitment to serve others in positive ways. This can be done through expansion of service learning instruction and community involvement through service learning projects.
– Implementing the new required teacher evaluation system that will promote teacher skills, knowledge and success. The UGUHS Board needs to support and provide resources to make the high school a leader in student education, a talented and energized teaching workforce, and a quality learning environment.
– Developing partnerships with colleges, universities and businesses in the community to help students take the next step in their personal and career choices.
Working together creates opportunities and efficiencies, Skewes said, that we cannot do when working alone.
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