• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Friday, January 27, 2023
Wisconsin Digital News
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Milwaukee
  • Madison
  • Green Bay
  • Kenosha
  • Racine
  • Appleton
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Milwaukee
  • Madison
  • Green Bay
  • Kenosha
  • Racine
  • Appleton
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Kenosha

ELECTION 2022: Kenosha Unified Board Candidates Address Issues, Why They Chose To Seek Office

by NewsReporter
February 28, 2022
in Kenosha
Reading Time: 7 mins read
election-2022:-kenosha-unified-board-candidates-address-issues,-why-they-chose-to-seek-office
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Voters in the Kenosha Unified School District will have a diverse field of candidates from which to choose — four challengers and two incumbents — vying for three School Board seats up for election on April 5.

Seeking office are: Eric Meadows, a Pleasant Prairie resident and project manager, who previously ran for the board a year ago; and three newcomers to the race from Kenosha — Jon Kim, grandmaster and owner of U.S. Taekwondo Academy; Kristine Schmaling, a registered nurse; and Sam Roochnik, a student and aftercare specialist.

The race also features just two incumbents, including Atifa Robinson, 44, of Kenosha, a nutrition administrator for Kenosha and Racine counties through University of Wisconsin Extension and Rebecca Stevens, 62, a Kenosha resident and RSVP program director with Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, Inc.

Robinson is the newest member of the School Board, having been appointed to carry out the term of Dan Wade, who stepped down in July. Stevens is the longest-serving board member, having served five consecutive terms dating back to 2007. Incumbent Tony Garcia said he would not seek a third term and filed non-candidacy papers in December.

Kenosha Unified School Board positions are at-large seats in the district that encompasses Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie and Somers, east of Interstate 94. The three candidates receiving the highest vote totals in the election will each serve three-year terms that expire on April 27, 2025. School Board members each earn $6,500 annually.

The Kenosha News asked each candidate to answer a questionnaire to address and define issues they believe are most important and why they chose to run for office. Here are there responses to the following:

What do you see as the issues in the election?

Kim: The top issue for me is that we have so many policies that complicate what the vision and mission of KUSD is and what the founders intended.

Meadows: Academic achievement does not seem to be a particular focus for KUSD right now. The most recent report card from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction gave KUSD failing grades across the district in reading and math. The achievement gap between different demographics is widening.

A large population of parents feels their opinions are being ignored. The board has cut off public comments, tried to move them to the end of meetings, canceled meetings at the last minute, all so they didn’t have to listen to the public. This has to stop. Schools must partner with parents who know what their children need better than anyone.

Teachers are being pulled in too many different directions as they are sadly suffering from the same labor shortage as everyone else. We need to allow teachers to focus on teaching and less on other lesser priorities. We need to ensure that teachers are fairly compensated and competitive with other surrounding districts.

Robinson: The issue for the 2022 election is equitable learning environments for all students in the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD). Many students from the black and brown communities have barriers to learning. The goal is to focus on all aspects of a student’s environment, such as housing, food insecurities, health, and learning conditions. Community Partners can work together with KUSD to increase all students’ and teachers’ access to educational resources by identifying the root causes to closing the achievement gaps and removing barriers that students face based on their race, ethnicity, disability, or gender. By creating educational opportunities listed below:

1. Engage students, families, and communities in collaboration workshops.

2. Diversify the educator workforce.

3. Provide meaningful professional development and support for the Teachers/educator to reduce the classroom challenges.

4. Ensure equitable access to a culturally diverse curriculum that strives to include literature from other cultures, parts of the world, and various authors.

Roochnik: COVID broke a system long under strain. While it has been a rough couple of years, and while the education situation is pretty miserable for all stakeholders right now, I see an opportunity to create a learning environment where teachers feel empowered to teach how they want and students feel empowered to learn what they want. School can and should be fun, and we must redesign curricular standards and expectations to have them align with the challenges of our modern world while empowering students to develop individually, socially, culturally, and economically (as put forth by Dr. Ken Robinson in “Creative Schools”). It should be educators that lead this charge, with students and parents meaningfully included in the process, all guided by what we know about the science of learning. To rise from the ashes of pandemic education like a phoenix, we must all work together.

Schmaling: Students first. Has the current board been striving to have academic excellence a priority which then equals students first? STEAM learning should be having a comeback seeing as our students are only 23 % proficient in reading and math. Celebrating diversity without being divisive. Community engagement — Strong communities build strong schools so the board needs to engage with the community in new ways so every stakeholder has a voice, is responded to, and is able to engage in civil discourse.

Unmasking our children. Parent involvement and engagement.Transparency of curriculum and financial accountability.Fiscal Management. The district is going to be facing significant fiscal restraints while developing the 2022-23 budget, a focus will need to be on allocating resources in a fiscally conservative manner that will support ALL students. How will this board manage spending ESSER funds?

Stevens: Our teachers and school staff need more positive support and time for planning in order to create individualized plans for students. The negative impact COVID-19 has had on our community, families and children has been overwhelming and stressful for everyone. Moving forward we need to work together and focus on the positive supports we can put in place to help our students get back on track by setting targeted learning goals, positive social emotional goals to help offset trauma, decrease anxiety and improve behavior to ensure a learning environment in which all our children will thrive. We need additional behavioral health support in our schools to accomplish these goals. Teaching students to use positive self regulating techniques will support better outcomes for educational opportunities.

Why are you running for office?

Kim: We have had a taekwondo school in Kenosha for more than 40 years and have had generations from every school in Kenosha go through our doors. I am running to participate in my community and push for the change that reflects the community.

Meadows: I decided to run for School Board because I strongly believe a solid educational foundation is essential to ensuring a production, and successful future. This was drilled into me by mother, who was an elementary school librarian when I was growing up. I have been happy with KUSD until recently when I noticed a decline of the quality of education I was seeing for my daughter.

I also started to see evidence that parental rights were being ignored and even trampled. Instead of merely complaining, I decided to do something about it. I want to bring a focus back to actual academic achievement that has been suffering in our district. Our district has been focusing time and money on things that do not improve actual learning. Our teachers have been forced to split their time on so many things instead of actually teaching our kids reading and math.

Robinson: I’m running for KUSD School Board to work on an action plan to address the achievement gap, provide innovative health and wellness resources for families around stress, and appropriate coping strategies to prevent Teachers’ burnout in the school system. Kenosha Unified School District has creative and knowledgeable teachers, and it’s critical to retain as many employees as possible in our public schools. We have the third largest district in the State of Wisconsin, and it’s vital to work together and ensure our schools are safe. I hope by 2023 that, teachers, students, and parents have the high-quality tools they need for student success.

Roochnik: I have recent experience and training as a leader, student, and teacher. I attend board meetings regularly, am constantly informing myself on district-, state-, and national-level educational policy, have met with district leadership and employees, teachers, students, parents, and with over 20 principals in the district (and plan to meet with the rest of them), to better understand the challenges facing KUSD and to develop a vision on how to lead us out of our current mess. I loved teaching math at Indian Trail; I love my colleagues and I love my students. As much as I miss the classroom though, I think I can serve them, my own son, and my community better by using my training and experience to improve the public education system for students and teachers alike.

Schmaling: I was presented an opportunity to contribute and improve our community-uniquely positioned to be an advocate for our students. In no other country would I have this opportunity to have a such great responsibility in education. I have a deep appreciation for educators. I personally could never do it. I have had to pray long and hard in regards to taking on such an important role in supporting educators, representing this community and the students that attend KUSD.

According to the DPI, our kids are only at 23.3% of mastering or proficient in math and 23% in reading. Schools are failing our kids and this has been the “score” for the last five to six years. The status quo is not acceptable anymore. We need to be accountable for these outcomes and we need to take action. I would definitely push for and focus on and what I would consider an academic recovery plan.

Stevens: I am running for School Board to help support positive learning goals, designed to support our teachers/school staff and students. I want to continue to work with fellow board members, teachers, our superintendent and staff to create long lasting solutions to address the issues we face in public education to improve education for all students.

WATCH NOW – VIDEO GALLERY: KUSD School Board candidates introduce themselves at Feb. 21 forum

KUSD School Board candidate – KIM

KUSD School Board candidate – MEADOWS

KUSD School Board candidate – ROBINSON (i)

KUSD School Board candidate – ROOCHNIK

KUSD School Board candidate – SCHMALING

KUSD School Board candidate- STEVENS (i)

Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.

Read More Here

Related Posts

wi-forecast

WI Forecast

by NewsReporter
April 14, 2022
0

WI Forecast for Saturday, April 16, 2022City/Town;Weather Condition;High Temp (F);Low Temp (F);Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV IndexAntigo;Winds subsiding;32;20;WNW;17;54%;60%;2Appleton;Cloudy and windy;40;26;WNW;20;45%;30%;2Arbor Vitae;Cold with a flurry;33;21;WNW;16;25%;60%;2Ashland;Cold with a flurry;33;22;WNW;18;46%;57%;2Boscobel;Partly sunny, cold;46;27;WNW;12;39%;29%;4Burlington;Brisk and chilly;48;28;WNW;15;39%;14%;4Clintonville;Winds subsiding;39;25;WNW;18;45%;36%;2Eagle River;Winds subsiding;30;18;WNW;15;52%;57%;2Eau Claire;Winds subsiding;38;23;WNW;17;44%;31%;2Fond Du Lac;Winds subsiding;43;28;W;17;43%;22%;2Green Bay;Winds subsiding;38;27;W;17;50%;34%;2Hayward;Cold with a flurry;31;20;WNW;10;54%;57%;2Janesville;Brisk and chilly;50;28;WNW;17;39%;29%;3Juneau;Breezy in...

wi-forecast

WI Forecast

by NewsReporter
April 13, 2022
0

WI Forecast for Friday, April 15, 2022City/Town;Weather Condition;High Temp (F);Low Temp (F);Wind Direction;Wind Speed (MPH);Humidity (%);Chance of Precip. (%);UV IndexAntigo;Rain/snow showers;33;24;WSW;21;71%;87%;2Appleton;Very windy, cooler;42;30;WSW;24;48%;39%;2Arbor Vitae;Rain and snow shower;36;24;WSW;19;30%;94%;1Ashland;Rain and snow shower;38;24;SW;20;55%;96%;1Boscobel;Cloudy and colder;44;30;WSW;15;41%;29%;2Burlington;Windy and cooler;48;35;WSW;18;38%;28%;3Clintonville;Rain and snow shower;43;31;WSW;21;48%;84%;2Eagle River;Rain and snow shower;35;21;WSW;18;57%;94%;1Eau Claire;Windy;40;26;WSW;22;49%;60%;1Fond Du Lac;Windy and cooler;42;33;WSW;20;48%;37%;2Green Bay;Windy and cooler;41;32;WSW;20;53%;40%;2Hayward;Rain and...

wiil/chicago

WIIL/Chicago

by NewsReporter
April 12, 2022
0

by Ken Anthony April 12, 2022 at 1:20 AM (PT) WIIL Will Celebrate 30 Years of Rock ALPHA MEDIA Active Rock WIIL (95 WILL ROCK)/WAUKEGAN, IL-KENOSHA, WI has announced the lineup for the "95 WIIL Rock Fest 2022" as the station celebrates 30 years of rock. The event will feature...

w

W

by NewsReporter
April 10, 2022
0

Apr 10th, 2022by Darren Hillock. The Wheatland Town Board is scheduled to hold a regular meeting Monday, starting at 6 p.m. at Town Hall in New Munster. Among the agenda items are: DELIMAT PROPERTIES 1 LLC, 32135 Geneva Rd., Salem WI 53168 (Owner), DeAnna Delimat, 34231 HighDr., East Troy, WI...

Wisconsin Digital News

© 2021 Wisconsin Digital News

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Wisconsin Digital News

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT