MONROE — From the beginning of the Monroe School Board meeting Wednesday meant to question candidates to replace departing member Amy Bazley, board president Dan Bartholf voiced how hard the decision would be for the eight remaining members.

“You’re going to make it difficult for us because you’re all very qualified,” Bartholf said. 

Five people applied for the appointment: Tim Wolff, Nicole Josephs, Ashlee Glowacki, Eric Eckdahl and Megan Christen. 

Christen was absent from the meeting. Interviews proceeded with the other four applicants. Each were asked the same five questions in succession based on their numerical position, which was decided by pulling slips of paper from a basket. 

Eckdahl, a stay at home father of four and area business owner, said he wanted to serve on the board in the past, but never felt it was the right time to run for office. He noted his work on two referendum committees and has worked to successfully raise money in conjunction with St. Victor School. Eckdahl said he wanted to serve the public to ensure there are good schools to benefit students and the entire community. 

Wolff, vice president of human resources for Colony Brands and owner of The Vault in South Wayne, agreed that with a strong school system, area businesses have a positive resource to recruit the best employees.

Ashlee Glowacki reflected on the special education services of the district as one of its best aspects. The Milton native who moved to Green County within the last year to serve in the Human Services Department said as the parent of an elementary student with Autism, she is grateful for knowledgeable teachers. With a master’s degree in education, Glowacki also has a background working with children within the foster care system and juvenile delinquency as a collaborative services teams coordinator with the Lafayette County Human Services Department.

Nicole Josephs, a Monroe graduate with young children enrolled in the district, agreed that teachers within the district are “top-notch.” Co-owner of a local business with her husband, Josephs said as her children attend the same schools she did, she wants to make sure students are given the same, “if not better,” opportunities that she had.

The one seat the four candidates were vying for was previously occupied by longtime board member Amy Bazley. Re-elected in April 2018, Bazley recently stepped down with two years left in her term, meant to expire in April 2021. Bartholf said after the majority of school board members chose a candidate, that board member will need to be elected to the board in April. 

If all incumbents up for election in 2020 run once more, which include Nikki Matley, Cheryl McGuire and Jim Plourde, the ballot will have at least four candidates for the board. Whoever receives the top three most votes will secure terms for three years each. The fourth, who would have received the lowest number of votes, will serve for one year before needing to be re-elected.

All four agreed a facilities referendum was a likely need for the district. Glowacki said students are aided by having a proper atmosphere. She noted that clear communication through a multitude of platforms would be necessary to properly inform the public. Wolff said there is a “definite need” and noted the referendum would be part of the challenges the district currently has to face. Eckdahl said as in past referenda, the district could use social media, hosting question and answer sessions and use funding for advertising to raise awareness. He said a main goal would be to speak to people worried over increased taxes. Josephs said buildings within the district are outdated and that changes are vital to ensure students are prepared for the future.

Glowacki noted that a recent collaboration for improved mental health resources between the district and Monroe Clinic is the type of work she would embrace as a member of the board, adding that she chose her current occupation because she is “passionate about policy” and currently works on other board at both the state and local level to achieve similar goals.

The vote, which began one hour after the meeting started, unfolded in three rounds. In the first, Bartholf, Mary Berger and Matley voted in favor of Wolff; Rich Deprez, McGuire and Dylan McGuire supported Glowacki; and Teresa Keehn and Jim Plourde voted for Eckdahl. Josephs received no votes.

In the second round, the numbers switched to three in favor of Wolff and Eckdahl, with Berger, Keehn and Matley in favor of Wolff, and Deprez, Plourde and Bartholf voting for Eckdahl, while Cheryl McGuire and Dylan McGuire supported Glowacki. In the third round of voting, with the choice between Eckdahl and Wolff, only Deprez and Plourde voted for Eckdahl, leaving the remaining six votes to Wolff. 

After accepting his position, Matley led Wolff in his swearing in.