School board candidates have their say during a candidate forum

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Candidates who are running for eight open seats on the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education for the upcoming Nov. 8 election fielded questions ranging from safety in schools to the nationwide teacher shortage to issues they see facing the Patrick Kennedy, who’s running for a four-year term, said that he’d like to focus on finding a “great superintendent to lead our school” and finding “more opportunities to build bridges between parents, children, schools and the faculty and along with the community.” district at the New Buffalo Education Association’s candidate forum in the Performing Arts Center Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Emily Walters and Ren Nash, students in the high school’s government class, moderated the forum for the candidates that are listed below.

Denise Churchill, who’s running for a six-year term, said that she’s spent 30 years in finance, the last 15 of them being dedicated to education.

She said she believes that her experience will “serve the board well regarding fiscal decisions of our district.”

“If elected, I will uphold the interests and ethics of our board with continued transparency to parents and caregivers – I will promote supportive, inclusive academically challenging public education for our students, one that encourages all children to reach their full potential,” she said.

She’s concerned about the district’s declining student population and students’ “postsecondary paths.”

Todd Tanskley, who’s running for a six-year term, said that, as a board member, he’d “like to “encourage life skills.”

“I believe it’s important for our kids to leave their school as a head school student, with some practical skills and safety,” he said.

Tanksley said he wants to encourage students to have a “grateful attitude” regarding their generous school district as well as “hard work – you can’t get through life without it, it’s a necessity” – and “critical thinking skills.”

Brad Brunner, who’s running for a six-year term, comes to the board candidacy with 18 years in education (10 of which were spent being a teacher).

“For me, 18 years in education, I have seen from a teacher’s perspective, from a principal’s perspective and a director of teaching and learning what a priority is in education,” he said.

Issues that stand out to Brunner is student mental health and wellness and New Buffalo dedicating “resources to recruiting the highest quality of teachers.”

Ashley Grzywacz, who’s running for a four-year term and has a degree in psychology and experience working in the mental health field, said she’s an “advocate for the mental and emotional wellbeing of the children in the community – all students need to feel loved and supported and it starts at home.”

“I believe parents have the fundamental right to direct the care and teaching and education of their children - I firmly believe parents need to have seat at the table when policies and programs are considered that will impact their children’s future and wellbeing – it’s common sense,” she said. “We have so many resources at our disposal, I’d like to see if kids could be more active in the community, whether that’s volunteering or helping with low-income housing – there’s a lot of reward for giving back to the community,” he said. Lisa Werner, who’s running for a four-year term, has been on the school board for 18 years. Her top priority is continuing to “promote a safe, nurturing learning environment for all students by providing a space that empowers students as leaders and decision makers, celebrating individual student growth and modeling a growth mindset and fostering the same in students, teachers, administrators and support staff.” “With economic volatility and rising costs, many families are struggling…Schools need to be a space filled with joy for students,” she said.

Werner added that for too many students, schools are a painful place due to focusing on one thing: testing.

Justin Baney, who’s running for a fouryear term, said that he believes in the system, I believe in this school, I believe in this district” – something that he and his wife tells friends.

He believes one major issue is finding a “solid superintendent” as well as going “back to the basics – which doesn’t mean taking a step back as some may think.”

“I see the strengthening building blocks in education and making way for our school to better educate our students - in a lot of ways, moving forward is raising critical thinkers,” he said.

Vanessa Thun, who’s running for a four-year term, has run a small business wither husband for over 20 years and sat on the city’s tax review board and election committee and is the current president of the New Buffalo Railroad Museum.”

She said she cares “deeply about mental health – mentally strong children become super strong students, they become better friends and members of society.”

“Being on the board puts us in the critical position to make sure we listen, we continue to learn, and we determine the best choices for our kids in our school community,” she said.

Thun added that SEL (social emotional learning) is critical to help teachers, principals and counselors intervene for those children who have parents who “aren’t involved” and wants community members to help kids “get to that next step” and seek help for mental wellness.

Candidates for the New Buffalo School Board answer questions

Candidate Patrick Kennedy speaks to members of the public during the meet and greet

Social Studies teacher Tina Keller, Emily Walters, Ren Nash and middle school science teacher Mary Cooper

Candidate Brad Brunner speaks to members of the public during the meet and greet