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Candidate Profile: Les Bieneman
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Position sought: School board

Age: 66

City/town of residence: Town of Monroe

Family: Wife, Francy; daughters, Kristin, Susan and Sara

Education: BS, UW-Oshkosh

Occupation: Part-time environmental teacher in the Argyle School District

Previous elected positions held: Four years on the Monroe school board



What are the top issues facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?

1. The biggest and most important challenge is providing a quality education for the wide spectrum of interests and abilities that exist in our students. While test scores and state rankings are important, they should reflect our efforts, not be the guiding force in our decision-making process. I fell we should have kept the Charter School and will work to expand the offerings and types of classes that we offer.

2. A vital component in determining student academic success is the individual teacher/student interaction. Students learn more from teachers they like and respect. Teachers and administrators perform better when they are respected and encouraged. Education, both locally and nationally, has been, many times unfairly under harsh attack. We must work hard to maintain a district that attacks quality teachers and students, and doesn't drive them away.



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

1. The continual issue of money; how to raise it and how to efficiently allocate it. This issue will not disappear as long as education is funded under the currently system. Many times I feel that we are more a board of finance than a board of education.

2. The continuing development of expansion of programs that promote self image and the respect and appreciation of diversity.

3. Form more alliances with business, clubs and organizations. The advantages can be financial, shared responsibility, and increased opportunity.