Candidate Profiles: Wrenshall School Board

Question 1. How does your past experience, job or education qualify you to serve on the Esko School Board?

Question 2.  Pick one single priority item that you believe would improve the Esko Public Schools in the most meaningful way. What would it be and why?

Question 3. Other than finding greater efficiencies, what areas would you look to trim first if there are unexpected budget deficits?

Troy Powers

Question 1:

I am a strong candidate for re-election to the Wrenshall School board because of several factors. I have served the past four years on the board, the past two as board chairman. During my tenure, the board has been able to work successfully with the administration to increase class offerings, reduce class size, add extracurricular activities and increase enrollment. All these things have been accomplished while being fiscally responsible and building the school’s fund balance. The fact I have owned my own business for the past 17 years has aided me in making tough budget decisions. Finally, attending Wrenshall School and being part of the community for many years, has allowed me to keep in touch with members of the district to see that their desires are put at the forefront of the board’s 

decisions. 

Question 2:

I believe expanding classroom technology to be one of the single most important issues at this time. Worldwide, technology is expanding exponentially. To prepare our students for the technology they will utilize in their careers, they must learn to use this technology routinely in our school. Technology in the school will also be environmentally friendly reducing paper needs for textbooks, handouts, notes and tests. Technology can also

enhance the staff’s ability

to teach and manage the

classroom.

Question 3:

In the event of budget deficits, I believe any cuts would have to be spread across the board to minimize the affect (EFFECT?) on any one thing. Cuts would need to be made in extracurricular activities, eliminating class offerings, decreasing staff and perhaps closing our recreational building that utilizes a large amount of energy.

Matthew Laveau, Tony Paul Sheda and Janaki Fisher-Merritt did not reply