MONROE - Three incumbents and one challenger will vie for three open Monroe School Board seats on the April 5 ballot.
That newcomer, Michael A. Boehme, 66, is a nurse practitioner in Monroe.
He says his candidacy was motivated in part by a desire to help children succeed and compete in today's world.
"I hope to help make the board even more productive by injecting new energy, supporting the chosen curriculum and increasing the interface of school and community," Boehme told the Monroe Times, in a candidate questionnaire
All four candidates for school board say they support the upcoming school referendum, including veteran board members Larry Eakins, 64, a farmer, and Mary Frantz, 87, a retired physician.
Monroe school officials are seeking voter approval for a four year, $8 million non-recurring referendum April 5.
Laurie Genz Prien, 44, who has served on the board since 2007, cites state funding lapses for school budget woes, and the need for a referendum.
"I think most residents believe that we need our schools to continue to improve and strengthen our programs for all young people, the gifted, the more challenged students, and the great majority in between," said Frantz, a 9-year board veteran.
Eakins, who has served on the board for 25 years, said that the state's revenue caps don't allow districts "with static or falling enrollments enough money to maintain programs."
Thus, he said, education officials have little choice but to use the referendum process to fund schools. Prien also said the measure must be approved to maintain high-quality schools.
"As long as the referendum is passed, then Monroe will have a balanced budget," said Prien, who is an educational program manager for the school district of Beloit
Read the full candidate profiles on page A3 of today's edition.
-Gary Mays
That newcomer, Michael A. Boehme, 66, is a nurse practitioner in Monroe.
He says his candidacy was motivated in part by a desire to help children succeed and compete in today's world.
"I hope to help make the board even more productive by injecting new energy, supporting the chosen curriculum and increasing the interface of school and community," Boehme told the Monroe Times, in a candidate questionnaire
All four candidates for school board say they support the upcoming school referendum, including veteran board members Larry Eakins, 64, a farmer, and Mary Frantz, 87, a retired physician.
Monroe school officials are seeking voter approval for a four year, $8 million non-recurring referendum April 5.
Laurie Genz Prien, 44, who has served on the board since 2007, cites state funding lapses for school budget woes, and the need for a referendum.
"I think most residents believe that we need our schools to continue to improve and strengthen our programs for all young people, the gifted, the more challenged students, and the great majority in between," said Frantz, a 9-year board veteran.
Eakins, who has served on the board for 25 years, said that the state's revenue caps don't allow districts "with static or falling enrollments enough money to maintain programs."
Thus, he said, education officials have little choice but to use the referendum process to fund schools. Prien also said the measure must be approved to maintain high-quality schools.
"As long as the referendum is passed, then Monroe will have a balanced budget," said Prien, who is an educational program manager for the school district of Beloit
Read the full candidate profiles on page A3 of today's edition.
-Gary Mays