District
School Board Elections

Current/Past Occupation:

Project Manager, Bremer Bank

Family:

Daughter/Son-in-law Mattie and Cameron Marcus, son Logan, and daughter Kailee (all graduates of Hudson Public Schools)

Party affiliation if any:

Non-partisan incumbent. Six years experience on the school board and current Board Vice President.

Question 1: How would you assess the value of remote learning in schools down the road?

Face-to-face teacher/student learning has proven to be critical for the success of most students. Students who do not do as well in a school setting, or students that need flexibility of full or partial virtual classes have options with the Hudson Virtual Academy. I expect that we will continue to improve our Virtual Academy to provide options for scheduling and classes for our students to achieve their educational goals.

Question 2: Is the school doing enough to support student mental health? Why or why not?

We, as a school community, are still learning from the effects of the pandemic on our students. While student performance has bounced back impressively compared to some districts, we are looking closely at how our counseling department can improve supporting the mental health challenges of our students. We have transitioned some position from a traditional counseling role to have more mental health focus.

Question 3: How would you grade enrollment numbers at the school currently?

While we are continuing to attract 87% of possible students (historically average), our enrollment numbers have trended down due to lack of affordable housing for young families that are choosing neighboring communities with lower home prices. We are not losing students because families choose other alternatives. There are just fewer students.

Question 4: What are the biggest problems facing the school right now? 

State and Federal funding that does not change with the rate of inflation has forced local municipalities to pay more of the educational cost. The current system punishes our district, which enjoys a higher median income and successful schools. Lower enrollment caused by recent state and countrywide trends as well as a lack of affordable housing for young families in our area. We have an aging population.

Question 5: What are your goals if elected or re-elected to the school board?

I plan to work to continue our lowest-in-the-area class sizes, while providing the programming and educational opportunities that our parents and school community enjoy and expect. I support attaining and retaining a quality teaching and support staff while being an advocate for our district stakeholders. I plan to continue to be a non-partisan voice that listens to all in our community. We have a lot to be proud of in our Hudson Schools. 

Current/Past Occupation:

Training and sales for pharmaceutical and biotech companies

Family:

Married 43 years, three grown sons, two grandchildren

Party affiliation if any:

Republican

Question 1: How would you assess the value of remote learning in schools down the road?

Remote learning has tremendous value. It allows for a more individualized curriculum, more parental involvement and can keep our in-person class sizes manageable.

Question 2: Is the school doing enough to support student mental health? Why or why not?

The Public Schools should not be involved in diagnosing nor providing therapy for mental health issues. This should solely be the role of professionals in a clinical setting. Students are diagnosed with real clinical mental illnesses may not belong in a classroom setting and alternative educational placement should be considered. Certainly, teacher safety and the safety of other students should be of the utmost importance.

More importantly, we should have an audit of our policies, procedures and curriculum to assess areas where our schools inflict mental harm to our students.

For example, our school district forced masks on all of our students and staff during COVID-19. The mental health effects of this policy have been very harmful. In essence, the schools terrorized children, forcing filthy and unhealthy masks on emotionally immature children. Our students were told, “If you don’t wear this you are going to kill the child next to you, or you are going to die.” This was for a disease that was not harmful to our children. In addition, students were bullied if they wouldn’t wear the masks. And some students were threatened with bodily harm at school and on social media.

In my opinion, we cannot trust our children’s mental health to the public schools. This is a matter for the clinical mental health community. This particular policy, and others reinforce mental health issues rather than helping our students.

Question 3: How would you grade enrollment numbers at the school currently?

Declining enrollment will continue in our school system for the foreseeable future. Currently more than 1/8th of the students in Hudson Schools district are getting their education from private schools and homeschooling.

Parents with traditional family values do not trust the social engineering, current curriculum and student discipline offered in our district. Many make huge financial sacrifices to rescue their children from public schools. It is time to begin surveying the hundreds of exiles from Hudson Schools to determine how we can improve our schools and bring some of them back.

Question 4: What are the biggest problems facing the school right now? 

Too many parents do not trust the Hudson Schools to provide a moral and safe environment for their children. Our school can do better, and our children deserve better.

Question 5: What are your goals if elected or re-elected to the school board?

The original mission statement of Wisconsin public schools was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1787 in the Northwest Ordinance. Unanimously passed by the same Congress that constructed the US Constitution, it reads: “Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”

I would like this inspirational and historic mission statement to become the mission of Hudson Schools. Making everything we do for our students a testament to the vision of our nation for our public school system.

Current/Past Occupation:

Licensed Medical Social Worker

Family:

Husband Jesse, and our three children Page, Allie and Will.

Party affiliation if any:

Party affiliation not relevant in a nonpartisan race.

Question 1: How would you assess the value of remote learning in schools down the road?

Our world is evolving, and our education system must also evolve. Remote learning opportunities have become one of the tools that are being utilized more frequently. I believe that classroom face-to-face interaction is the best option for educational development however remote learning may reach some of our non-traditional students. The Hudson School District should strive to meet the academic needs of all students and online learning has been a welcome opportunity and should continue to be offered.

Question 2: Is the school doing enough to support student mental health? Why or why not?

As a social worker I’ve learned there is never a one size fits all solution to mental health. Every year our schools are assessing new challenges in relation to mental health. The Hudson Schools and board are constantly evaluating the needs of our students and I believe trying to make the best decisions for families, students, and our community. It is critical we have parent and community involvement in our mental health discussions. Our teachers, SRO officers, social workers and counselors have been invaluable assets to identifying and helping students in crisis.

Question 3: How would you grade enrollment numbers at the school currently?

Enrollment numbers at the Hudson School District are down for a variety of reasons. Research presented to the board in June of 2022 projected somewhere around a 6% decrease in student enrollment. This is most likely reflective of the higher cost of raising a family in the Hudson school district. It is becoming increasingly expensive for young adults to raise a family and it’s having an impact on our enrollment. The board will be looking into alternative and creative ways to increase our student population.

Question 4: What are the biggest problems facing the school right now? 

The biggest challenge is the projected budget deficits. In April we are excited to have a healthy community discussion on the future on the school district. The board has already begun making cuts to our budget to address the changing realities. The community asked that we have a smaller footprint in Hudson and following suit I voted to sell the district property on UU and begin the process of moving the administration building into the Middle School and sell the administration building. We will need to, as a community, take a hard look at how we can provide the very best education that taxpayers can afford while finding ways to increase enrollment and maintain a balanced budget.

Question 5: What are your goals if elected or re-elected to the school board?

When I ran for the first time in 2021 my goal was to get back to the basics, prioritizing students acquiring the skills they need to continue on in education or begin their journey into the workforce. My goal is to be a good steward of tax dollars, to ensure our students feel safe, and maintain the goal of educating our children academically while keeping outside agendas out of our schools. I am proud of the work we as a community have done to make Hudson one of the top districts in the state maintaining those core principles. If I am so honored to have earned the support of the Hudson community I want to continue to fight for those back to basics ideals.

Current/Past Occupation:

My career is in public health. I currently focus on programs and policies to reduce the impact of tobacco on communities across the U.S.

Family:

My family has lived in Hudson for 15 years. We have two children who attend Hudson Middle School.

Party affiliation if any:

Democrat. However, School Board positions are nonpartisan and I strongly believe the School Board must listen to all views and find common ground.

Question 1: How would you assess the value of remote learning in schools down the road?

The District offers a virtual academy for the high school that allows students to take some or all classes online, and this is a valuable option. To assess the value for middle or elementary grade levels, we need input from our teachers, District administrators and parents to determine if virtual learning is a viable and sustainable option for younger students.

Question 2: Is the school doing enough to support student mental health? Why or why not?

The District has important programs for mental health, including co-located mental health services in school buildings and Mental Health First Aid training, but more work is needed. The 2021 YRBS found 34% of Wisconsin high school students reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless. However, schools cannot address mental health alone. It requires strong partnerships with families, mental health providers, the faith community, and organizations that work with youth. The District’s Mental Health Task Force was important for engaging the community and identifying areas for action, and it should be reconvened.

Question 3: How would you grade enrollment numbers at the school currently?

Enrollment is declining, but it is not due to the policies or practices of the District. While increasing the number of open enrollment seats is helpful, that alone will not fix the issue. There are multiple outside factors that the District and Board cannot control.

• Housing: The price of housing within the District is high and not attracting young families looking for starter homes.
• Growing population with a shifting age distribution: The communities within the District are growing, but that is not translating to more school-age children.
• Declining birth rates: Since 2007, the U.S. has experienced a declining birth rate and we are seeing that in St. Croix County. The decline is related to societal-level birth pattern shifts including, the age at when people start a family and how many children they have.

Addressing enrollment will require the Board to engage with other partners like community planning commissions which set housing development priorities. Strong-performing schools are important for a vibrant and growing community.

Question 4: What are the biggest problems facing the school right now? 

• The operational budget. We have a funding issue and the state funding formula puts our district at a disadvantage.
• Recruiting and retaining teachers and staff. This is not unique to the District, but is happening within the larger ecosystem of teacher burnout and fewer people going into the profession.
• Mental health. We need to continue working with all of our community partners to improve the mental health of our students, teachers, and staff. 

Question 5: What are your goals if elected or re-elected to the school board?

If elected, I will focus on:

• Strengthening partnerships with the community, parents, and teachers. When people know they have a seat at the table and a voice in the process partnerships thrive and achieve great things.
• Serving all students. I believe in the importance of every student feeling acceptable and valued for who they are and that they know their school community is there for them.
• Supporting our teachers and staff. They are the backbone of our schools and critical to the District’s success.
• Being a good steward of funding. There are finite resources and the Board must adopt a budget that remains within funding limits and aligns with District priorities and goals.

Current/Past Occupation:

Part-time bookkeeper, homemaker

Family:

My husband Patrick and I have been married for over 30 years and are residents of North Hudson. We have two children who graduated in 2021 from Hudson High School.

Party affiliation if any:

Non-partisan race

Question 1: How would you assess the value of remote learning in schools down the road?

Remote learning is a great tool if used correctly. Our district has Hudson Virtual Charter High School with 250 students (Spring 2024). Some students are fulltime and some part time. It works well for some students: kids who are motivated, need a fresh start or nationally competitive athletes. I am cautious in using remote learning for younger students  or students who need more support. In general, I don’t favor using remote learning as an alternative for snow days. As found during the pandemic, most kids get the best education from in-person professional teachers. 

Question 2: Is the school doing enough to support student mental health? Why or why not?

According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey given at Hudson High School (December 2021), 50% of students experienced significant anxiety and 17% had considered suicide. This is heartbreaking and alarming. Our district currently offers many supports: co-located therapy; First Aid Mental Health Training for 10th graders; “Speak Up Speak Out,” a program where kids can reach out 24-7-365 if someone is struggling or in danger. The district needs to continue to invest in mental health resources, but also recognize that parents, state, and local governments need to collaborate to address youth mental health concerns.  

Question 3: How would you grade enrollment numbers at the school currently?

Our enrollment numbers are very concerning! Like most Wisconsin school districts, Hudson has declining enrollment. Wisconsin’s public school enrollment fell by 53,000 (5.8%) from 2013-14 to 2022-23. Excluding 4K, district enrollment declined 11% or about 500 students in the last ten years. Projections are that enrollment will continue to trend downward or best case scenario, remain flat. Homeschool enrollment remains flat while local private school enrollment has also declined. As you may have noticed, it’s very expensive to live in Hudson! This is not an affordable community for many young families to raise their children.

Question 4: What are the biggest problems facing the school right now? 

Enrollment and funding are our biggest challenges. Fewer kids equals less funding.

Declining enrollment doesn’t necessarily mean fewer classrooms: whether there are 20 or 15 students in a classroom, you still need a teacher. Hearing from District parents that they didn’t want to close any of our elementary schools, the board paused possible closures for 3 years to investigate other ideas. I’m committed to finding solutions, including marketing our schools as destination schools. HSD’s “product” is excellent with the highest DPI report card in our conference and CESA. As a board, we’ve also listened to our community and listed the board office and UU property for sale (accepted offer on UU property).

Question 5: What are your goals if elected or re-elected to the school board?

I believe that all children deserve the best educational experience possible. I’m proud of my work on the school board, from leading during covid to really tough discussion around our elementary schools. I listen with respect and find common ground with parents, teachers, community members and my fellow board members. I will partner with parents as the best advocate for their children. I will advocate for wellness, safety, mental health and support teaching kids to become resilient, capable adults. I will work toward a consensus solution to our challenging enrollment issue knowing that it requires many stakeholders to come together.