WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON 4-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTEN?
**KRIS BEAVER: I neither favor nor oppose this. While research says that it is beneficial, we have no room to add it. This is not an issue that has come before the board.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I am against it.
RANDY STARK: I am not yet knowledgeable enough around the details of this topic to establish a position. I look forward to hearing any discussion.
TIM STEPANSKI: I am against it.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
POSITION ON LAST REFERENDUM??
WHAT WAS YOUR POSITION ON THE LAST REFERENDUM IN THE WEST BEND SCHOOL DISTRICT?
**KRIS BEAVER: I was in favor, but felt that the question should have been split into three parts.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I was in favor of it. At the time the district gave the appearance that the 119 million dollar option was the only one available. Knowing what we know now that there is no immediate growth issue effecting Barton, I would have not supported the last referendum if it were on the ballot now. But at the time when this fact was not made clear I did support it. This type of mistake will definitely be avoided if I am elected. The process of the last referendum should have been much more transparent to the public.
RANDY STARK: I was in favor of it. In question 2, I described what I believe is a decline in the attractivenesss of the West Bend School district to families with school age children. Despite a high academic delivery, I believe this decline is accelerating. At the center of this issue is decades of inattentiveness around facility upgrades and expansion. While the 2008 referendum was large, it proposed to resolve the 30-40 years of insensitivity to the needs of the district. While the 2009 referendum is smaller in dollar volume, it will leave some uncompleted capital improvements that will be necessary for the long term needs of the District. I am convinced that if we become increasingly overlooked as a district in which people prefer to live, the results will become very apparent. Our property values will be negatively impacted, crime and social issues will increase, and the willingness of businesses to locate in our area will diminish. I maintain that the value of our school district is the single largest determinant in the value of our community.
TIM STEPANSKI: I did not support the previous referendum for several reasons. The school district came to the taxpayer and asked for over $100 million - asking us to sacrifice, but did not offer any cuts on their part. Spending still took off. I also felt the school district did not offer any solutions to ensure that this wouldn't happen again, instead, it would have beeen a blank check written by the taxpayer not knowing when they would come back and ask for more. I believe that fiscal responsibility must be in the forefront of our thoughts and minds and the board did not display their willingness to practice that.
**KRIS BEAVER: I was in favor, but felt that the question should have been split into three parts.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I was in favor of it. At the time the district gave the appearance that the 119 million dollar option was the only one available. Knowing what we know now that there is no immediate growth issue effecting Barton, I would have not supported the last referendum if it were on the ballot now. But at the time when this fact was not made clear I did support it. This type of mistake will definitely be avoided if I am elected. The process of the last referendum should have been much more transparent to the public.
RANDY STARK: I was in favor of it. In question 2, I described what I believe is a decline in the attractivenesss of the West Bend School district to families with school age children. Despite a high academic delivery, I believe this decline is accelerating. At the center of this issue is decades of inattentiveness around facility upgrades and expansion. While the 2008 referendum was large, it proposed to resolve the 30-40 years of insensitivity to the needs of the district. While the 2009 referendum is smaller in dollar volume, it will leave some uncompleted capital improvements that will be necessary for the long term needs of the District. I am convinced that if we become increasingly overlooked as a district in which people prefer to live, the results will become very apparent. Our property values will be negatively impacted, crime and social issues will increase, and the willingness of businesses to locate in our area will diminish. I maintain that the value of our school district is the single largest determinant in the value of our community.
TIM STEPANSKI: I did not support the previous referendum for several reasons. The school district came to the taxpayer and asked for over $100 million - asking us to sacrifice, but did not offer any cuts on their part. Spending still took off. I also felt the school district did not offer any solutions to ensure that this wouldn't happen again, instead, it would have beeen a blank check written by the taxpayer not knowing when they would come back and ask for more. I believe that fiscal responsibility must be in the forefront of our thoughts and minds and the board did not display their willingness to practice that.
POSITION ON 2009 REFERENDUM
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE 2009 WEST BEND SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM?
**KRIS BEAVER: I am in favor of it.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I am in favor of it.
RANDY STARK: I am in favor of it.
TIM STEPANSKI: Still undecided.
**KRIS BEAVER: I am in favor of it.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I am in favor of it.
RANDY STARK: I am in favor of it.
TIM STEPANSKI: Still undecided.
OPPOSING BOARD MAJORITY
WILL IT TROUBLE YOU TO OPPOSE A BOARD MAJORITY ON AN ISSUE?
**KRIS BEAVER: No, it has not in the past.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: No.
RANDY STARK: No. Ideally, we as a board achieve success through collaboration and consensus. However, in the event that we are unable to reach consensus, I hold no reservations about maintaining an individual position.
TIM STEPANSKI: No.
**KRIS BEAVER: No, it has not in the past.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: No.
RANDY STARK: No. Ideally, we as a board achieve success through collaboration and consensus. However, in the event that we are unable to reach consensus, I hold no reservations about maintaining an individual position.
TIM STEPANSKI: No.
OVERRULING DECISIONS
ARE YOU WILLING TO OVERRULE DECISIONS MADE BY DISTRICT MANAGEMENT?
**KRIS BEAVER: Yes, and I have done that.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: Yes.
RANDY STARK: Yes. In the event that my individual decision making process described in question 6 takes me to a position that is different than that of district management, I am prepared to vote accordingly.
TIM STEPANSKI: Yes.
**KRIS BEAVER: Yes, and I have done that.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: Yes.
RANDY STARK: Yes. In the event that my individual decision making process described in question 6 takes me to a position that is different than that of district management, I am prepared to vote accordingly.
TIM STEPANSKI: Yes.
HOLDING MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABLE
TELL US WHAT APPROACHES YOU WOULD EMPLOY TO HOLD MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISMANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT RESOURCES?
**KRIS BEAVER: A complete and timely investigation would be conducted and if wrong-doing were found, the person would be punished accordingly.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I will employ strict oversight that will keep every district dollar accounted for. I will regularly talk with management on ways we can lower spending. Any habitual mismanagement of district resources by an employee will result in that employee being relieved of their position.
RANDY STARK: To be effective as an administrative team, we must recruit and retain quality personnel while offering them the confidence and support to make appropriate decisions around the use of resources. Simultaneously, we must maintain effective accountability and periodic review of those decisions.
TIM STEPANSKI: District resources belong to the taxpayer. It is important that the citizen is made aware of the situation. It is also important that after a complete investigation, the person responsible would be disciplined up to and including termination and possible prosecution.
**KRIS BEAVER: A complete and timely investigation would be conducted and if wrong-doing were found, the person would be punished accordingly.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: I will employ strict oversight that will keep every district dollar accounted for. I will regularly talk with management on ways we can lower spending. Any habitual mismanagement of district resources by an employee will result in that employee being relieved of their position.
RANDY STARK: To be effective as an administrative team, we must recruit and retain quality personnel while offering them the confidence and support to make appropriate decisions around the use of resources. Simultaneously, we must maintain effective accountability and periodic review of those decisions.
TIM STEPANSKI: District resources belong to the taxpayer. It is important that the citizen is made aware of the situation. It is also important that after a complete investigation, the person responsible would be disciplined up to and including termination and possible prosecution.
BALANCING THE DISTRICT BUDGET
WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON BALANCING A DISTRICT BUDGET IN DIFFICULT TIMES?
**KRIS BEAVER: My philosophy has not changed no matter the economy. The district needs to employ a zero based budget format. I have been pushing this for three years. What this means is that you fund the things that you are legally required to fund and then you prioritize the rest of what you do.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: My philosophy is to not center the reduction of spending in one specific area. The driving factor will be what has the least effect on the community at large. The raising of fees on families will be considered a last resort.
RANDY STARK: A balanced budget should be preferred in nearly all circumstances. Discretionary borrowing, however, is necessary and appropriate for large capital improvement projects.
TIM STEPANSKI: A budget is to be balanced no matter what the situation - good or bad. We are accountable to the taxpayer and it is imperative that we can prove we will operate within our means.
**KRIS BEAVER: My philosophy has not changed no matter the economy. The district needs to employ a zero based budget format. I have been pushing this for three years. What this means is that you fund the things that you are legally required to fund and then you prioritize the rest of what you do.
CARL WILLIAM KNEPEL: My philosophy is to not center the reduction of spending in one specific area. The driving factor will be what has the least effect on the community at large. The raising of fees on families will be considered a last resort.
RANDY STARK: A balanced budget should be preferred in nearly all circumstances. Discretionary borrowing, however, is necessary and appropriate for large capital improvement projects.
TIM STEPANSKI: A budget is to be balanced no matter what the situation - good or bad. We are accountable to the taxpayer and it is imperative that we can prove we will operate within our means.
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