Three vie for two seats on Graded School Board

By Patricia Bogumil

Editor

One incumbent and two challengers are vying for election to the Waterford Graded School District Board in the April 2 election.

Two seats will be filled. Incumbent Blaine Nicholls is not seeking re-election.

Information provided by each candidate follows.

• Robert Kastengren, the incumbent, said he believes he well represents the community.

“I am opposed to property tax increases and simultaneously am a strong supporter of the outstanding job we are doing in educating the students in our care,” he said.

To honor both of these commitments takes a great deal of time and thought to properly balance the needs of the taxpayers and the needs of all our children (including

those requiring Special Education), he said.

“Since I came onto the board six years ago we have made great strides in bringing us into the 21st Century,” Kastengren said, “where technology is now an integral part of our educational delivery system – and we have kept the tax burden low by aggressively cutting expenses.

The most pressing issues that need to be addressed by the WGSD board remain the maintenance of a proper balance between the needs of the property taxpayers and the needs of our students, he said.

“We must continue to drastically cut expenses wherever possible without compromising the Grade Schools’ outstanding education program.”

Kastengren said his past experience on the WGSD board has been invaluable.  “I know where we’ve been and I have the knowledge and experience to help us solve ongoing issues,” he explained.

Kastengren said he is dedicated to the students, their great teachers and the district’s administration.

“If re-elected, I will continue to listen to our excellent, caring educators – and our taxpayers – to try to achieve the proper balance to serve all of Waterford.”

•  Dan Bowser said he hopes to be elected to the Waterford Graded board in order to help strengthen the district’s education system for the benefit of all.

He said the most pressing issue facing the Waterford Graded board is successfully “navigating our financial constraints in a manner that encourages the community to work together.”

Collaboration is an important element in providing the educational experiences our youth will need to adequately prepare for a quickly changing world, he said.

He said he will bring a global understanding of industry and opportunities to the position, having worked as an Engineering Supervisor in a Fortune 100 company and having studied business and societal trends through the MBA program at Marquette.

“Recently, I have been investing more time in the academic world and have established many ties to the colleges and universities in the region,” Bowser added.

“I believe the broad understanding and experience I have can help in building an even stronger education system for our youth.”

Bowser recently set up a web site to share some interesting statistics and information about education: www.WaterfordEducation.weebly.com.

• Dawn Bleimehl said that, since attending the district’s committee and board meetings regularly since May of 2012, she hopes to be elected to become even more involved in the education system.

Bleimehl said she is also concerned that some current board members have lost sight of student achievement, the climate of the district and the need for collaboration.

Among the most pressing issues facing the district, Bleimehl said the Graded School Board needs to continue to be fiscally responsible with resources and funds at a time when state funding continues to decrease.

As a district, Waterford Graded ranks at the top in most measured academic areas at the grade levels assessed, Bleimehl said, and needs to continue to make sure the best academic and evaluation practices are in place.

• The board needs to ask if practices of the district are supporting our goals and make changes when they are not.

• The board needs to continue to talk about what they feel is the best for the district, but listen to the qualified and valued staff about practices to follow and implement.

• The board needs to work with administration to make sure resources and support are in place to continue to make strong academic strides.

• The board needs to continue to collaborate with the other feeder schools and the High School so we have programming to make sure our students are receiving curriculum that will prepare them well for the high school and beyond.

• The board needs to work to continue to collaborate with the Waterford Special Education Cooperative to ensure we do not lose quality staff and services for our students with special education needs.

“One of the board’s top priorities needs should be to focus on the climate of the district,” she said. “The board needs to engage with staff, students and parents in the district to build trust and develop a partnership that promotes student achievement and growth.”

As a school psychologist, Bleimehl said she has gained a strong knowledge base of the academic and procedural practices of a school and district.

“I have an understanding of curriculum and the need to keep it aligned to state standards, along with an understanding of child development to make sure the needs of the whole child are met.”

Bleimehl said she regularly works with colleagues on collaborative teams to problem solve and address student needs. “Through these collaborative practices, I have continued to develop strong communication skills.   These skills require one to be able to express new ideas or opinions, but also to listen to those of others. “

Through her education and current job, Bleimehl works with regular education and special education students and families. “I recognize how critical it is to have highly qualified staff and services for all of our students.”