Candidate Profiles
Candidates were asked to reply to a questionnaire and their answers, in their own words, are printed in their candidate profiles. See link to Election 2013 below for profiles.
MONROE - Five candidates are vying for four seats on the Monroe school board on the Tuesday, April 2 ballot.
On the ballot are four incumbents: Daniel Bartholf, Les Bieneman, Brian Keith, and Scott Schmidt; and one challenger, Melissa Lees.
Meeting students' individual educational needs tops the list of the district's most pressing issues for all the candidates. (See profiles on Page A3.)
To achieve this end, the candidates say the district must find ways to use its budget more effectively, while providing schools with the tools and technology they need.
Bartholf, Keith and Schmidt advocate for more access to technology for both students and teachers. Bartholf said the introduction of iPads in the sixth grade has proven to engage parents and students more and has made teachers more efficient. Keith pointed out the need for more vocational training and class offerings.
Lees made a general appeal for more pedagogic tools, and included giving needed skill sets and transparent guidelines to teachers and academically challenging courses to students. She said education standards should be globally competitive so students can succeed in the job market.
Bieneman called interactions between individual teachers and student a "vital component in determining student academic success." Schmidt also identified creating collaboration time for teachers to develop better curriculum and obtain professional development as a key issue.
Bartholf, Bieneman, Keith and Schmidt brought out the issue of funding in schools. Bieneman calls for efficient allocation, while advocating for alliances with businesses, organizations and clubs to gain advantages in finances, responsibility and opportunities. Keith wants appropriate and effective allocation based on student needs. Schmidt also calls for assuring tax dollars are "spent efficiently." Bartholf noted long-term maintenance projects are pending, and says, in the interest of students, he wants funds spent "in the most economical way."
On the ballot are four incumbents: Daniel Bartholf, Les Bieneman, Brian Keith, and Scott Schmidt; and one challenger, Melissa Lees.
Meeting students' individual educational needs tops the list of the district's most pressing issues for all the candidates. (See profiles on Page A3.)
To achieve this end, the candidates say the district must find ways to use its budget more effectively, while providing schools with the tools and technology they need.
Bartholf, Keith and Schmidt advocate for more access to technology for both students and teachers. Bartholf said the introduction of iPads in the sixth grade has proven to engage parents and students more and has made teachers more efficient. Keith pointed out the need for more vocational training and class offerings.
Lees made a general appeal for more pedagogic tools, and included giving needed skill sets and transparent guidelines to teachers and academically challenging courses to students. She said education standards should be globally competitive so students can succeed in the job market.
Bieneman called interactions between individual teachers and student a "vital component in determining student academic success." Schmidt also identified creating collaboration time for teachers to develop better curriculum and obtain professional development as a key issue.
Bartholf, Bieneman, Keith and Schmidt brought out the issue of funding in schools. Bieneman calls for efficient allocation, while advocating for alliances with businesses, organizations and clubs to gain advantages in finances, responsibility and opportunities. Keith wants appropriate and effective allocation based on student needs. Schmidt also calls for assuring tax dollars are "spent efficiently." Bartholf noted long-term maintenance projects are pending, and says, in the interest of students, he wants funds spent "in the most economical way."