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VOTERS GUIDE; ELECTION 2006; PALMYRA-EAGLE: SCHOOL BOARD; Candidates Concerned With Improving Schools, Holding the Line on Costs

Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 03:03 CDT

By AMY HETZNER

Palmyra How to balance the school system's budgets and still stay competitive in an era of public school choice is the challenge facing the Palmyra-Eagle School Board, say the four candidates for the board.

Two incumbents, one former School Board member and a first-time candidate are running for three three-year terms on the Palmyra- Eagle board in Tuesday's election.

For the most part, all identified the school district's budget as the issue for the School Board in the next three years, although they said that's no different from most school boards in the state.

"We're in a very turbulent time with schools," said School Board member Robert Oleson, 64, who is running for his fourth three-year term. "Even though the enrollment stays the same, we end up cutting the budget. And budgets are very difficult."

For Oleson, the budget affects everything the district does.

It has prevented the board from starting a 4-year-old kindergarten program and has threatened athletic programs even as the district's student-athletes have come off successful seasons, he said.

The question for board members comes down to how to best cut its spending while making it a magnet school system, said Oleson, who touted both his board tenure and experience as a Palmyra farmer running his own business as good qualities for the School Board.

Cost-cutting also concerns candidate Richard Kiehl, who is worried that sports and music activities could suffer under further budget restrictions.

"I'm concerned about the choices that our children are getting," said Kiehl, 40, a computer developer who lives in Eagle.

"As far as both academically and extracurricular, I want to make sure they're given enough choices that everyone can find a fit."

To help preserve such programs, the district needs to explore options such as those offered by a bill that recently passed the Legislature that gives districts more flexibility with the number of days they need to hold school, he said.

Palmyra-Eagle could save money on transportation and utilities by scheduling fewer half-days, instead allowing students to miss entire days while staff members receive training, he said.

"Those things add up in a small district," Kiehl said.

John Vymetal-Taylor, who is running for the board again after he lost his seat in the last election, said the board needs to be more creative in its approach to budgeting as well as its vision for the district.

"We haven't done much to get our costs under control than lay off staff," said Vymetal-Taylor, 44, a manager in the Walworth County Department of Health and Family Services who lives in Eagle.

Grants or sharing services with other area school districts could help generate revenue and keep programs while also relieving the district's budget, he said.

In addition, Vymetal-Taylor said he would like the board to take a thorough look at its curriculum to make sure students are being offered the classes they need to be successful.

"I just look at what the board has done over the last year and I'm very concerned that it doesn't seem to have moved very far," he said. "I felt when I was on the board there at least seemed to be some direction to what it's doing. And I don't see that right now."

School choice an issue

Public school choice also remains a concern to the School Board candidates, despite the completion of $15.9 million in building improvements that district officials hoped would stem student departures through the state's open enrollment program.

Several candidates said the district needs to better show off its strengths and programs to not only attract students but also keep them there.

"How you present your school, how you market your school is a means for bringing more resources in your school," said School Board President Steven Butler, who is running for a second term.

Butler, information systems manager at Wilmot Union High School, said he would like Palmyra-Eagle to add more technology and specialized computer labs.

Although he said he has been able to help the district save some money through his professional connections, budgetary restrictions prevent the district from doing as much with technology as he would like.

The solution lies in Madison, he said.

"The only thing you can do as far as when you're working with (revenue) caps is get ahold of the legislators and talk to them," said Butler, 51, who lives in La Grange. "All the school boards are frustrated with the caps and you keep making that an issue."

Not everyone agrees with that approach, however.

Oleson said he doubted that approaching state legislators would be effective.

"I don't see lobbying the Legislature as an answer because the state doesn't have any money," he said.

Steve Butler (inc.)

Age: 51

Address; time in district: N19421 Glacier Drive, La Grange; 13 years

Occupation: Information system manager, Wilmot Union High School

Elective office, government experience: 3 years on Palmyra-Eagle School Board

Education: Associate degrees in marketing, real estate and property assessment from Waukesha County Technical College; bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; credits from Carroll College and Cardinal Stritch University

Family: Married, four children

Richard Kiehl

Age: 40

Address; time in district: W363-S10908 Burr Oak Trail, Eagle; 7 years

Occupation: Computer developer

Elective office, government experience: None

Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Family: Married, two children

Robert Oleson (inc.)

Age: 64

Address; time in district: W1360 Highway 106, Palmyra; 64 years

Occupation: Farmer

Elective office, government experience: 9 years on Palmyra-Eagle School Board

Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison

Family: Married, three adult children

John Vymetal-Taylor

Age: 44

Address; time in district: S79-W35875 Timber Court, Eagle; 7 1/2 years

Occupation: Manager for Walworth County Department of Health and Family Services

Elective office, government experience: 3 years on Palmyra-Eagle School Board

Education: Bachelor's degree from Pomona College in California; master's degrees from San Diego State University and Northern Illinois University

Family: Married, no children

Robert Oleson declined to provide a photograph for this story.

Copyright 2006, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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