Position sought: School Board - Monroe School District

Age: 42

City/town of residence: Town of Monroe

Family: Kerri Bartholf (wife); Addison Bartholf (daughter; fourth grade at Northside); Carsen Bartholf (son; second grade at Northside); Graysan Bartholf (son; 1st grade at Northside); and Emersyn (son; not school age)

Education: Monroe High School (1992); UW Wisconsin-Madison (1996 BS Finance); University of Cincinnati Law School (1999 JD Law Degree)

Occupation: Lawyer at Voegeli, Ewald and Bartholf Law Offices, S.C.

Previous elected positions held: Monroe School Board (2012 - appointed by board to 1 year term; 2013 - elected to the 3 year term)



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

The top issue facing the District is its declining fund balance caused by the State's significant funding cuts over the past several years. These cuts have left the District in a position where the District will soon have to make significant cuts across the board or pass a referendum allowing the District to exceed revenue caps to continue to meet our students' educational needs. Since the amount of potential cuts would devastate the quality of education we could offer, I will work hard to educate the community on the issues and ramifications and the importance of passing a referendum.



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

Another issue facing the District is its increasing free and reduced/poverty rates and the impact on these children. These children are as capable educationally as those students coming from homes with financial means, but these students are at a disadvantage by not having access to educational supports. This can be access to technology like computers, not having books at home to read, or even parental help because the parents are working several jobs just to get make ends meet. The District has been working on this issue, but as a board we must continue to push our teachers and administrators to bridge the gap so that all children have the same educational opportunities.

Declining enrollment over the past decade has been a continuing problem for the District. By offering an exceptional level of education with choices and programming will slow those students leaving our District and will attract students from surrounding areas to come to our progressive District.

I would like to increase community involvement in school board meetings and issues facing our District and our Students. Finally, I would like the board to review its long range goals, simplify its plan to make it understandable for everyone which should assist us moving forward over the next 5, 10 or more years.