By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
One position on the Union Grove Union High School Board of Education is contested for election on the April 7 spring election ballot.
Voters will choose between incumbent Paula Craven-Jasperson, a lifelong resident who has served on the school board since 2010 and challenger Jeff Zeller, who moved to Union Grove in 2005 to raise his family here, after serving in the military for 20 years.
Information provided by each candidate follows.
- Paula Jasperson said the most pressing issues she will address if re-elected are to: continue providing quality personnel to support students’ educational needs; strengthen the high school’s preparation for future career pathways for all its students; provide financial security for the school district and strong fiscal management of its assets; continue to develop and strengthen the school’s response to individual needs of students; and maintain a quality facility to support education.
As an alumna of UGHS, ,Jasperson said she is committed to the school and community to continue to provide a strong education for all students.
“I am a strong advocate for public education and want to help prepare our students for future success. I feel strong education is crucial for the future success of all of our communities,” she said.
With four children who have graduated from UGHS, Jasperson said she is in a good position to help identify strengths and weaknesses within the high school.
As a lifelong resident, Jasperson said she is dedicated to the success of families as well as quality education, and has a strong desire to see the community continue to grow and be one that people can be proud of and one that our children will want to return to.
“I feel that education is a major piece of that picture,” she said. “I have a strong work ethic and desire to see things done completely and correctly. I am not afraid to make tough decisions and necessary changes.”
- Jeff Zeller said the two most pressing issues impacting the district are declining resident enrollment and funding. Both require immediate attention, he said.
“With proper planning, we will continue providing a quality education for our youth, while remaining responsible to resident taxpayers.”
His goal in being elected to the high school board, Zeller said, is to ensure an excellent education for current and future UGHS students.
Zeller said he brings to the position 30 years of public finance experience and budgetary forecasting. He currently supervises 32 staff members and manages a budget of $310 million, he said. In his current position, Zeller said he has analyzed and reorganized the resource functions, saving taxpayers $5.7 million annually, without a single loss of jobs.
While having no political experience, Zeller said he has served in the public’s interest and under public scrutiny for 30 years, first in the military and now as a federal employee.
Ten years ago, he and his wife moved to Union Grove to raise their family in a community with great public schools, Zeller said.
One daughter is a 2014 UGHS graduate; another is a student at Union Grove Elementary School, Zeller said. “Our family tree is full of devoted educators, including my wife, who is employed as a substitute teacher at UGES,” Zeller said.
See the March 27 edition of the Westine Report for additional biographical information on each candidate.
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