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Ben Baratto
779 Bluffview Circle
Retired
Wife, Sharon; daughter, Dena
1. What do you support about the current District 861 School Board's direction and what do you disagree with?
I currently serve on our district's curriculum committee. The school board has supported the curriculum director and district staff as they develop and implement curricula. Test scores have improved in some areas; however, recently published test results indicate that curricula needs ongoing attention.
2. Have you been employed by the district? Do you have children in 861?
I taught Spanish at Winona Senior High for twenty-nine years and chaired the Foreign Language Department. Our daughter graduated from Winona Senior High. A granddaughter has graduated, another is presently enrolled, and a third will enter kindergarten this fall.
3. Do you support a hard freeze?
Contract negotiations between the WEA and District 861 have not been settled. While negotiations are in process, it would be inappropriate to comment.
Cindy Peterson
1929 Gilmore Avenue
What do you support about the current District 861 School Boards Direction and what do you disagree with?
I support the efforts our teachers and administrators who work on a daily basis educating our children. I do not support the public personality clashes and outside influences driving the business of this district, and everyone I have spoken to has had enough of it. Solutions to the problems we face can and must be solved locally for our district to not only survive, but to thrive.
Have you or a member of your family been employed or done business with any educational system in Winona? Also, do you have children in District 861 or who have graduated from District 861?
My family’s business is the Bridal Boutique; I have worked there on and off for 32 years. I also work volunteering at the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University and at Project Compass. I have worked in Mental Healthcare for over 15 years. I currently work at Hiawatha Valley Mental Health to do Crisis work in Houston, Winona and Wabasha Counties.
I was born in Winona in 1965. I am a 1983 graduate of Winona Senior High School. My Daughter attended Winona Middle School in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She then attended a College Prep School in Kansas City.
Do you believe district Unions, including the teachers union should take a hard pay freeze for current or future contracts?
Yes. Our current economic times demand it. Our community has said “yes” every time this district has come to it for financial support. In the past several years most people in the private sector have seen their pay cut. We need to ask our teachers to say “yes” to a hard pay freeze while this district and our community face the current economic storm.
Fred Petersen
:24183 County Rd 20
Winona, MN 55987
Employment:
Family:
Wife - Alisa
Children –
Erin Muraskin
Tory Schulz
Lee Medema
Christian Medema
1. What do you support about the current District 861 School Board’s direction and what do you disagree with?
Having already served on the Winona School Board for eleven years, I would prefer to remain retired. However, Stacy Mounce's disappointing leadership compels me to again become involved.
Ms. Mounce's conduct creates dissension and drives good people from public education. In spite of overwhelming public protest, she and three board members who align with her agendas fought to deprive the district of a most competent superintendent. The current board is harming public education.
Though she promised transparency, Ms. Mounce attempts to evade public meeting laws and avoid the scrutiny of the public. She bores ahead with her personal agenda with little regard for protocol, contradicting information, or dissenting opinions.
2. (Maximum 50 words)
Have you or a member of your family been employed by or done business with any educational system in Winona? Please briefly explain. Also, do you have children in District 861 or who have graduated from District 861?
My wife, Alisa, has worked for the district as a Para-professional and has been active in PTA. All four of our children attended Winona Public Schools. We have always been very pleased with the education they received there, and it has carried them on to lead successful and productive lives.
3. (Maximum 50 words)
Do you believe district unions, including the teachers union, should take a hard pay freeze for the current or future contracts? Please briefly explain.
Pay and benefits must be balanced with all other costs of operating the system under current conditions, and with an eye to the future. Our employees must be treated fairly and with respect. However, if conditions dictated a pay freeze, then that is what we would have to live with.
Jay Kohner
224 E. 8th Street, Winona
Owner of Jay Kohner Remodeling
Married to Emilie Falc, and we have one son, Julian.
1) If elected to District 861 School Board I believe it is imperative that we strive at building good working relationships, first between Board members, and then to extend our good will to the administrators, teachers, families and the greater community. The Public is longing for a Board and School District that works in a more civil environment. Through mutual trust, respect, and a willingness to listen to each other and a desire to learn from one another good decisions will flow. Only when the board is more cohesive and working hard to build consensus can it take the District in a constructive direction that will benefit our children and families. Great things can be done but only when working together for the common good
2) I personally do not have any business connections. However, my wife Emilie is employed by Winona State University, and my bothers (AK&S Auction Co.) have done business with the District and have worked the Cotter Auction for 30 years. Emilie and I have a 1-year-old son Julian, who we hope to enroll in Public Schools in the future.
3) Union negotiations are an arduous process of give and take and rarely simply a matter of taking a hard freeze. I do believe a freeze is a responsible, albeit painful, starting position for current negotiations given the current economic environment and statewide multi-billion dollar deficit. However, the District can also offer cost neutral incentives to reduce the pain and help close deal.
Jennifer Williamson
Address:
275 East Garvin Heights Road
Winona, MN 55987
Employment:
Instructor in Communication Studies Department
Winona State University
Family:
Christopher Williamson, Husband
Mitchell Williamson, Son age 10
Emmalena Williamson, Daughter age 9
Benjamin Williamson, Son age 7
Sydney Williamson, Daughter age 3
1. Over the last year the board has approved and explored a variety of partnerships. A school board should initiate and maintain partnerships with other entities like WSU, or programs like the Foster Grandparent program, as win-win situations.
I also strongly support the board's stated intention to maintain classroom sizes. (The only more positive direction would be reduction)
I 'm concerned over the decision to draw down the fund balance instead of reviewing all of the budget cuts proposed by administration. If the 2011/12 school year presents the anticipated financial challenges predicted, a solid fund balance will be necessary.
2. I am currently employed by Winona State University. I have been teaching there in a fixed term and adjunct capacity for the past five years.
My oldest son will be attending Winona Middle School as a fifth grader this upcoming fall.
3. Evaluating a pay freeze independent of an overall budget conversation is very difficult. I do however believe that our legislators have been very forth right in stating most districts will be facing an extremely challenging 2011/12 budget. If a budget crisis presents itself, salary freezes may need to be examined.
Kevin Rafferty
173 East Fifth Street, Winona Watlow Electric, Corporate Master Black Belt and Continuous Operations Improvement Systems Manager. My role is to mentor people across Watlow on statistical methods and lean manufacturing techniques.
Family: Spouse- Jennie; Daughters- Casie and Molly.
Question #1: Financial stress has caused the current board to think too negatively. Much of the talk has centered on cuts and blame rather than on ways of improving education and making schools more attractive. Currently the district loses more than $9,000,000 annually because students go to non-district schools. Negativity has contributed to loss of students. We need to give parents good reasons to return. Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We need to change our ways.
Question #2: My wife currently works at Bluffview Montessori. Both of my children attended Bluffview in their elementary school years, then transferred to the middle school. My oldest daughter graduated from WSHS and my younger daughter currently attends WSHS.
Question #3: The well-being of the schools and community depends on keeping teachers employed. If we undertake a strategy of growth and want to keep class sizes at a reasonable level, we will need every teacher. Salary freezes are justified as a last resort if inadequate funding threatens educational quality.
Shawn Swanon
4168 Service Drive
Goodview, MN 55987
Employment:
W&C Printing
Family:
Wife - Stacey
Children
Chloe 8
Grace 6
Sam 2
1. The reason I am running is the fact that it seems they have lost direction
and in doing so the very people that voted them in have lost confidence that
their voice is being heard. I firmly believe that any elected official has the
responsibility to act on behalf of the constituents they represent and welcome
anyone that has questions or concerns to contact me at swan1son@gmail.com
and let me know exactly what they are looking for in a school
board member.
2. Neither I or any family member has been employed by or done business with
any educational system in Winona.
I have 2 children that attend Goodview Elementary
Chloe will be starting 3 grade in the fall
and Grace will be attending 1st grade.
3. Not sure that a yes/no answer is appropriate.
Maybe the union should rethink how it wants to do
business. Would a teacher that has been employed for 20 years be willing
to take less so a up and coming teacher could see a wage increase?
Stacey Mounce Arnold
Here are the answers to the questions you submitted.
1) By changing leadership and how the staff is treated can make a positive impact on the district's trust and communications issues. The interim superintendent has already made it clear that he is one voice and part of a whole team of individuals that all have the same goal of educating students. The next step is to improve our test scores. We need to raise the bar on our expectations and encourage and foster working relationships to help everyone achieve success in the classroom. We need to empower the staff to meet and exceed our federal, state, and local challenges.
2) Our four children attend catholic schools, because my husband and I value a faith-based education. I also value our public schools, charter schools, other private schools, and home-based schools. They all have niches to offer and it is the parent's choice what option meets their children's needs.
3) I am on the District 861 negotations committee. Since the district is in mediation with the teacher's union, I am not at liberty to answer this question.
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