Residents are concerned about COVID-19, mental health, educational progress, and parental choice. Our location has a huge advantage with St. Norbert, UWGB, NWTC, Bellin College, Lakeland College all within 20 minutes from our district. West De Pere School District is a highly rated, public school district located in DE PERE, WI. I'm running for the West De Pere School Board because I want to continue to represent the taxpayers of the district. .hideResponses { display: none;} Risas. Noteworthy respondents included U.S. Representative, 694 candidates completed the survey in 2021. margin-top: 1px; } width: 100% letter-spacing: 0.03em; Relevant experience: Ive been working with the community for 24 years. Physical safety on one hand and nondiscrimination on the other. } margin-bottom:16px; I support doing whatever we can to keep our children and staff safe and healthy. De Pere public schools has a curriculum approval process that allows for a vetting process for the community, parents, our expert teachers, administrators and more. It is easier to build on foundations at a young age. Most residents want to keep critical race theory out of schools. Pere Aznar no levanta la mano para presentarse en Alcohlicos Annimos, sino que primero se puso frente a Andreu Buenafuente para confesar que llevaba 67 das sin beber y ahora publica libro (Beber, de Penguin Random House) admitiendo ante toda Espaa que al ao volvi a caer. Niffenegger: I am running for school board to be a voice for parents. This will take not only highly trained personnel, but also new technology for the students that will allow them to keep up with their peers. Inflation, end of federal pandemic aid, frozen revenue could mean big cuts for Wisconsin schools. I agree with the residents concerns and will help the board incorporate these concerns into school policy. According to Dennis Krueger, the Superintendent for the West De Pere School District, district officials have been working with the citys health department all along, including earlier this week. padding:7px 8px 8px; We need to focus on our district and what is best for our children. Resourcing: It will be addressed with the district technology plan, but tech ed starts in elementary school, building on concepts like safety, and continues to grow with our children so that they have relevant classes. Officials in the Unified School District of De Pere decided to extend all classes to be held virtually until November 6 in a meeting on October 5. Dickert: To continue the fine tradition of the excellent educational opportunities that the De Pere public schools have given to many generations of students. It is important to provide a broad spectrum of reading material, but whatever is available should be age-appropriate and easily accessible to parents so they can have a say in what their children have access to. What that unfortunately means, quite simply, is that while we all advocate and hope for in-person learning for our children due to numerous recognized mental, social and psychological benefits, the current widespread circulation of this virus will not permit in-person learning to be safely accomplished in many jurisdictions, including ours. The curriculum taught in the schools needs community oversight and approval. What are the three biggest issues in the district and how would you address them? color:white; Dickert: Curriculum: It needs to continue to be modernized. And it happens in the classroom when kids are allowed to be on their phones, in the hallways, in the locker rooms, and at home. Niffenegger: Like many families in northeast Wisconsin, my husband and I moved our family to the Unified School District of De Pere so our children could experience De Pere's quality of education. Relevant experience: Six years on West De Pere School Board; 24 years of experience in K12 and higher education. Glenville, West Virginia NEW! Follow her on Twitter at @benita_mathew. As the virus evolves/changes/weakens, we need to make sure were making decisions based on what we know today, not two years ago. The School District of Menomonee Falls Board of Education consists of seven members voted on by the entire electorate for three-year staggered terms. We need to recognize that educators cannot continue to teach in-person, online, and cover for one another when they are sick. font-weight: bold; Previously, Joe was a Board Member at De Pere Baseball Read More Contact Joe Rukamp's Phone Number and Email Last Update 2/24/2023 9:05 PM Email j***@wdpsd.com Engage via Email Contact Number (920) ***-**** De Pere School District is growing, and all indications are that it will continue growing well into the 2030s. Ms Davidson says whanau can see how banks, building material suppliers and supermarkets profit from crisis, and those profits can be taxed. } Parents and their medical providers should be making all medical-related decisions (masking, vaccines, etc), not the schools. At the meeting, dozens of people spoke before the board voted in favor of and against having students on school grounds. We have a high performing district and our metrics have shown that over the past 15 years. Here are the candidates running for the West De Pere School Board. A decade of budget cuts has left us having to do more with less, and while fiscal responsibility is important, it is a poor excuse to leverage against the success of our children. vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; background-color: #f9f9f9; By listening to stakeholders and understanding what we need as it relates to academics, extracurriculars and other learning areas, we can plan more efficiently for future growth and use. What are the residents telling you are their most important issues, and how would you address them? .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Dean Rassch, a De Pere Alderman, spoke in favor of bringing students back. What makes you the better candidate in this race? } } In-person instruction may pose significant, unnecessary risk to our students and staff, their family members or guardians at home, and the local businesses and organizations they are involved in or support. $('.pastResponses').hide(); Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? We would like to hear from you .non_result_row div { I really hope that they start to be more transparent because I feel like they arent clearly reporting the number of cases that are in the schools when we were in person, Adrianne Burns, who has kids enrolled in the district, said. This will be vital as we move forward with our facilities planning and listening to our business community and how they can partner with the district. font-weight: 300; Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. } if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { margin: 0px 10px; Natalie Buhl is a teacher at West De Pere High School and president of the teachers association, Shes against in-person learning. Board members serve for three years and get $3,200 for serving. Hindrichs: Firstly, Im willing to listen, not being so rigid as to think I always have the right answer. In a 4 to 1 vote, the school board continued with the districts plans for in-person learning after holding a special meeting inside West De Pere High School to discuss the issue. The top four vote-getters will be on ballot for general election ballot in April. Summary: Responsible for providing and coordinating comprehensive respiratory care The Respiratory therapist administers respiratory care procedures and modalities in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures. Now it's his mission to inspire future innovators. U.S. Congress | UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF DE PERE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, for a term of three years, to succeed the present incumbents listed, whose terms of office will expire in April 2022: School Board Member BOB . I am versed in the ups and downs of working in government. color: black; .votebox-scroll-container { (Original) - School Board members of the West De Pere School District will hold a special meeting Saturday night. .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} .widget-key { width: 250px; This could impair the district's ability to track positive COVID cases and make decisions regarding possible mitigation strategies. Ive talked to many parents in the district and the main concern is the lack of transparency. If reelected, I promise to stay focused on these issues to keep our schools strong. This requires making sure parents feel heard and represented while also giving district staff the flexibility they need to make the educational choices theyve been trained to make in the best interests of our children. .widget-row.Green { More:COVID absenteeism hit these schools hardest. word-wrap: break-word; .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { height: 50px; Meneau: No. Ive been married for 14 years, and I have a fourth grader at Heritage, so Im invested for both the immediate and the foreseeable future. Manako - Rawiri Waititi. .votebox-scroll-container { Hindrichs: Its contentious, underfunded and broken, distributed unfairly between low-income and wealthy districts across the state, and our kids and educators bear the repercussions of over a decade of cuts. Whakapiki ake te ptea m te Matatini. complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Vote for 2. overflow-y: hidden; .race_header.green { Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. We need your help. His campaign website the Mark Meneau Facebook page. })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. .outer_percentage { Posted 30+ days ago View all 4 available locations Crew Member new Green Bay Converting, Inc. 2.9 Niffenegger: The top two issues that need to be addressed are: the fact that our facilities are at max capacity and parental and community involvement. font-weight: bold; Since then, I have moved into tech, and my work centers around delivering digital transformation to the deskless workforce, empowering those who feed, fuel, and build our society with the technology needed to succeed in an increasingly automated world. Add to Compare. Voters will decide their next two School Board members in the general election April 4, replacing current Board President David Youngquist and Vice President Doug Seeman who filed for non-candidacy in December. width: 250px; COVID is not going away anytime soon, so we need to continually adjust to this challenge and our staff have taken on this task which shows how professional and dedicated they are. }. Dickert: My 44-year career in education gives me a huge advantage. } $('.showResponses').on('click', () => { .widget-row.heading { top: -1px; } Hindrichs: I believe that quality public education is one of the most important rights necessary to a functional republic; I want our schools to be number one in the state, not in the hundreds, and not in the thirties. My name is Justin Czachor. } .inner_percentage.Green { .non_result_row th { Check back for updates throughout the evening. Their message states the CDC lists the area as producing more than 1,000 new positive COVID-19 cases within the past 14 days per 100,000 people. padding-bottom: 5px; padding-bottom: 8px; Here's more information about the candidates moving on to the general election: Jeff Dickert, 66, is retired but spent 44 years in education as a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent and leader of CESA 7. Vote for 2. In his message to families and staff, Krueger said schools, ranging from K-12 to universities, have been exempt from any state orders which limit public gatherings. I feel that I'm a good candidate because I have experience in dealing with all the changes that come with education, having been on the board over the last 20.5 years. In the beginning, when much was unknown, I was OK with the schools mitigation strategies. .votebox_bp_logo { a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } The WDP school district has tried to keep students and educators in their classrooms. This meant that they had to constantly re-adjust to changing conditions and expectations. Nonpartisan primary for De Pere School District Board of Education At-large (2 seats) Jeff Dickert, Wolf Hindrichs, Mike LaBouve', Mark Meneau, and Melissa Niffenegger ran in the primary for De Pere School District Board of Education At-large on February 21, 2023. $('.pastResponses').show(); After the state-mandated shutdown of all schools was lifted, our district led the way by getting kids back in the classroom, but also provided a virtual option for parents who felt it was best. Our schools play a huge role in forming our children. max-width: 75px; Jeff Dickert, Wolf Hindrichs, Mark Meneau, and Melissa Niffenegger defeated Mike LaBouve' in the primary for De Pere School District Board of Education At-large on February 21, 2023. .inner_percentage.Republican { .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} I just think its so important to listen to the people who know the science and when theyre giving us advice, I think we got to take it, Buhl said. Relevant experience: Born and raised in west De Pere, graduate class of 1997 with two children and three nephews currently in West De Pere schools. width: 100%; Whether we expand, whether we build up, whether we build additional schools these are great questions that the commission and the community have a voice in, but when class sizes approach 30 students to a single teacher, cafeteria tables crowd onto stages, and that bullying is unseen in overcrowded hallways, we know that something needs to change. My experience has taught me to listen to peoples concerns and take steps necessary to implement new processes when needed. Serving the district that my children attend is another step that I can take to serve and honor the community I live in. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation atGreenBayPressGazette.com/RFAor by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } As a parent, I am keenly aware of issues in our district that dont match our communitys shared values. background-color: #db0000; .inner_percentage.CrossFiled { But as of Monday, no more candidates filed to run, leaving two candidates running for three open seats. vertical-align: middle; font-weight: 300; The Press-Gazette asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire explaining why they are running and how they would handle COVID-19-related decisions in schools and asked them to limit their answers to 100 words. Niffenegger: The lack of apprenticeship and career-preparing electives for our students. The updated quarantine guidelines allow asymptomatic people to quarantine for five days rather than get a COVID test. Dedicated math and reading specialists instead of shared assets, as well as more funding for special education would be my first thought in addressing this achievement gap. As a De Pere business owner, and mom to children in the district, I have a vested interest in helping our students succeed. Beginning with concepts like fairness and celebrating our differences, building to historical events (like slavery, Native treatment, 20th century internment camps) and culminating in a deeper understanding of its impact. I will focus on creating policies and processes that give parents a voice and choice to decide whats best for their children, through increased transparency and informed decision making. font-weight: bold; Children are naturally curious, and inquisitive they have an innate desire to learn and succeed, and somehow, over the course of 18-21 years of their life, society has a tendency of stifling those desires, putting kids into the very boxes we complain about them not being able to think outside of, and turning them into boring adults. .votebox-results-cell--check { Counties | Two candidates, Mike La Bouve and Melissa Niffenegger, did not respond. I am running for the School Board to ensure the district has transparency in decisions affecting our childrens education. I would suggest that the district look at those students that are not performing well and concentrate on getting them back on track using multiple strategies that does include technology. border-bottom: 1px solid grey; background: #4c4c4c; Hindrichs: Yes, in an age-appropriate manner. overflow-x: auto; Having spent my entire career being non-partisan, working for Presidents from both sides of the aisle, and being in D.C. for some of the most tumultuous periods of our recent history, I know I can bridge the gap and bring common sense into decision-making, steering our community away from knee-jerk reactions and towards a long term strategic plan. } display: inline; State executives | Current Board President David Youngquist and Vice President Doug Seeman are not running for reelection, having filed for non-candidacy in December. .votebox { West De Pere School District. These issues cannot be tolerated, and cannot be swept under the rug without setting our kids up for failure. color: black; Paid for by Justin Czachor for wdpsd - All Rights Reserved. However, as I learned more about the virus, masks, social distancing and quarantining, I began to realize much of what was being suggested was either ineffective and/or did not properly consider the cost to our children. left: 0; Our excellent and committed staff continue to challenge our young learners each and every day. } More:Here's what De Pere School Board candidates think on funding, achievement and curriculum, More:Nonpartisan in name only, Wisconsin Supreme Court race has political overtones. More:Science saved a UWGB professor's life. Ms Ngarewa Packer says the Government needs . .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { Bottom 50%. The pandemic has led to an educational crisis that will require extraordinary measures to solve. Meneau: As a district, we need to continue to be proactive in establishing relationships with our business partners. Also, since school board members are generally not health experts, I recommend following guidance from local health departments, Wisconsin DHS, and the CDC regarding mitigation strategies. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105. More:Our classrooms are increasingly diverse, yet 9 of 10 teachers are white. Parents are asking for choice with masking. Hindrichs: Elementary school math and reading proficiency scores need to be improved (Dickinson 53% and 53%, Heritage 64% and 59%, Altmayer 74% and 64% of students are meeting proficiency levels). margin-bottom: -2px !important; } background-color: #f4f4f4; margin-top: 16px; Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. overflow-y: hidden; asking voters to give judges more discretion when making bail decisions. Jeff Dickert ran for election to the De Pere School District Board of Education At-large in Wisconsin. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson and the Maori Party's Debbie Ngarewa-Packer are questioning the holding of a special Lotto draw for Cyclone Gabrielle relief. Most of the candidates got similar number of votes with Mark Meneau taking the lead with 1,606. Upcoming District Events View School Calendars Monday March 6 USDD School Board Meeting 6:00 PM I want to be in a position that gives a voice to parents and defends the children from policies and curriculum that do not foster an enjoyable, highly successful, learning environment like I grew up in. Dickert: I am not sure why this question is separated out and doesn't ask about all curriculum such as reading and math? color: white; .panel-heading:hover { cursor: pointer;} } Federal courts | Green Bay Press-Gazette 0:05 0:57 DE PERE Five candidates are vying for two open seats on the De Pere School Board and will face a primary this month to whittle down the candidate. Hindrichs: I would introduce more options for foreign language like Mandarin and German, and I would have language instruction begin in kindergarten. Former school board member, Mark Meneau, who served four terms, 2010-22, is among the contenders. .indicate_scroll { (Original) - School Board members of the West De Pere School District will hold a special meeting Saturday night. letter-spacing: .03em; State legislature | }

background-color: #6db24f; margin-bottom: .75em; margin-bottom: 1px; I feel this should be a collaborative effort in educating our children. Meet Jason & Family I was born & raised in West De Pere. Im proud to live in the West De Pere School District, and I want to do everything I can to ensure that the district executes its vision of excellence. font-size: 12px; There is always room for improvement. Candidate Jeff Dickert (Nonpartisan) Wolf Hindrichs (Nonpartisan) Highest level of education: Bachelor's degree in elementary education from St. Norbert College. School District of West De Pere, a K-12 Public School District in De . .inner_percentage.Libertarian { font-weight: bold; I want to represent our community and help ensure that the traditions of pride and excellence are continued and honored. }) Computer Coding should be infused into our curriculum beginning in kindergarten. We have a tendency of relying on what we think worked in the past, instead of continually driving innovation and learning. background-color: #dac113; I am running to both give back and to be a vital part of the solution. .votebox_legend .non_result_row { padding-left: 8px; div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } background-color: #f9f9f9; .top_disclaimer { Do you agree with the decisions your school district has made about COVID-19 mitigation strategies, such as mask requirements or quarantine guidelines? .widget-row { display: block; Niffenegger: Our schools should represent all people. } She is also a past President and Chairman of the Board for the Society of Flavor Chemists and Chemical Sources Association. We want to ensure all of our kids become productive members of society whether they are pursuing a trade or going to school, technology education needs to be front and center. } The City of De Pere has two separate public school districts - the West De Pere School District and the Unified School District of De Pere. RELATED: Your guide to the Feb. 15 primary election in the Green Bay area, including city council, county and school boards, RELATED: Where to vote: Green Bay polling locations set for City Council and Brown County Board primary elections, Highest level of education: Northern Michigan University. I was initially surprised to hear it, but teachers, students and parents have underscored that children do not feel safe. We need to make sure that we are listening to our staffs concerns and giving them the support and resources that they need to be world-class educators. font-weight: 100; If you are Jeff Dickert, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey. I believe parental choice is very important. The district needs to position itself for the growth out in our towns and the population explosion once the southern bridge is completed. width: 50%; background-color: grey; Jason Potts (i) Teresa M Ford (i) Scott Jandrin (i) Allen McGuire Michell Bartlein Jeff Eilers Michael Moran Amanda Pascoe. } Ballot measures, Who represents me? Language brings with it many benefits, including cultural appreciation, cognitive development and improved concentration. .key-messages li {margin-bottom: 10px;} The De Pere Health Department cannot recommend in-person instruction at this time as a result.". While De Pere relies heavily on fundraising, we still fall back on referenda. I understand Public Education like no other candidate. The two winners of the April 4 election will replace David Youngquist and Doug Seeman, who serve as president and vice president, respectively. $('.hideResponses').on('click', () => { } } Answers have been lightly edited for formatting and grammar. They want our history books preserved. I know how school boards work and how valuable it is to a school district to have experienced board members. We need to look ahead and design learning programs that will advance our students in any career they would like to continue with after graduation. The meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the West De Pere High School auditorium.

} Elections in 2023 | This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: West De Pere school board candidates share why they're running, their views before the Feb. 15 primary, Your guide to the Feb. 15 primary election in the Green Bay area, including city council, county and school boards, Where to vote: Green Bay polling locations set for City Council and Brown County Board primary elections, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075907335669, West De Pere school board candidates share why they're running, their views before the Feb. 15 primary. During my career I attended over 600 School Board meetings. width: 100% !important; } My mother worked as a secretary & librarian in the West De Pere schools for nearly 30 years. .percentage_number { All of our students should trust that our educational curriculum is appropriate for them and that they are learning material that will give them the proper understanding of that material. A Chemistry Teacher at West De Pere High School Joe Rukamp is a Chemistry Teacher at West De Pere High School based in De Pere, Wisconsin.