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Candidate Profile: David Wickline
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Brodhead School Board

There are three candidates running for two spots on the Brodhead school board: Incumbent Mike Krupke and newcomers Abbey Wellemeyer and David Wickline.

Position Sought: Brodhead school board

Age: 55

City: Brodhead

Family: Married, one son

Occupation: Sales manager

Education: High school graduate

Previous elected positions held: None



What are the top issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?

Currently it seems that the district is facing capital expenditures for building repairs. This seems to be an ongoing issue with the district which usually means there is a referendum to resolve the issue. I think that having referendums can be hard on the system and hard on the community. However, I understand that due to government restrictions placed on school systems and how they are able to do the business of teaching our young citizens, referendums may be necessary at times to meet the needs of the school district. However, my goal would be to see if there is a way to set a budget and tax structure that removes the need for referendums in the future.



What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?

I think Common Core will affect districts everywhere. While I'm not sure that this is the best approach to the teaching process, just as I wasn't sure that No Child Left Behind was the best solution either. While these programs may have some excellent programs, a one-size-fits-all type of program seems to leave many children lost in the system. It seems to me that educators are the best ones to know how to teach the students in their classrooms. It would be my hope that the board can work with administration to set programs based on the teachers input that is best for the Brodhead school district. What happens in Madison or Washington D. C. doesn't always seem to reflect the needs of our school system here in Brodhead.



Why are you the best candidate for this office?

First I think it is good for a person to serve the community in some way, I believe this would be the best position to serve Brodhead based on my life experiences. I have run my own business for 17 years, dealing with people and personalities as a sales and marketing professional. For nine years I served on the New Glarus Home Board, a non-profit nursing facility for senior citizens located in New Glarus. I fulfilled my tenure in 2014 after serving as board vice president and chairman of the Building and Planning committee. In each position I worked with people and listened to all point of views working to solve issues to the benefit of all parties. I believe I can listen to the voters and the taxpayers of the community and work with the school administration to solve issues that will continue to give the students in Brodhead a quality education.