2012 WEST BEND SCHOOL DISTRICT SPRING ELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE COMING SOON -

MORE INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED SOON.

WELCOME

This website is provided as a community service to the West Bend School District voters by Eagle Forum of Wisconsin/Washington County Chapter.

The questionnaire answers below begin with the final question, so visitors may choose to click on the "Introduction of Candidates" in order to familiarize themselves with the candidates before beginning.

Thank you for taking the time to explore your school board candidates and their viewpoints.  Please feel free to pass on the link to this website.

The Primary will take place on February 16 to fill two at-large seats on the school board.  Every vote counts!

NOTE: 

1/23/09/10: This questionnaire has been amended to reflect the answers of candidate Doug Rakowski who was attending to a family emergency.

Candidate Carl Knepel has withdrawn from this race.

1/29/10:  Bart Williams has withdrawn from this race.  Read his letter HERE.

Please see candidate Doug Ziegler's answers to other survey questions HERE.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

What is your position on a residency requirement for 
administration and teachers? (Choose: Favor/against)


MARQUARDT: IN FAVOR
WILLIAMS: AGAINST
WEIGAND: AGAINST
CORAZZI**: AGAINST
VAN EERDEN**: AGAINST (IN FAVOR OF REQUIRING SUPT. TO HAVE RESIDENCY)
KNEPEL: WITHDRAWN FROM RACE
RAKOWSKI: IN FAVOR.
ZIEGLER: NO RESPONSE.

TEACHER BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

Teacher benefits and pensions will knowingly stress the system finances.  What is your recommendation to deal with this in the near future?  in the long term?

MARQUARDT: Public employee costs are a huge and growing challenge. If concessions cannot be realized to slow the growth (in the new contract), staff reductions will be necessary. Wherever possible, services should be privatized to avoid legacy costs. Long-term, money must be set aside and invested to cover benefits already 
committed.

WILLIAMS: Review collective bargaining agreement to see what's possible. Repeal of qualifying economic offer (QEO) law poses challenges, but may allow creative solutions (e.g., link teachers' pay to student progress 
(pay performance). We need to eliminate redundant positions (e.g., dean of students at elementary schools, 
which are in addition to principals).

WEIGAND: Here are a few thoughts: Through negotiations we need to increase the age of retirement and work on reducing benefits, much like the current social security system does. We could reduce the amount of teachers by offering more virtual classes.

CORAZZI**: The Board and teachers union are currently in negotiations on a contract for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. Appropriately, members are being asked for limited wage increases and to assume more responsibility for health care expenses.

VAN EERDEN**: Benefits and retirement benefits are a component of negotiations. Planning is under way to 
continue to examine alternatives to reduce the impact of these on the district budget.

KNEPEL:  WITHDRAWN FROM RACE

RAKOWSKI: Benefits and pensions need to be budgeted and the cost per student should be documented for the public.  Teachers need to be part of the budget process.

ZIEGLER: NO RESPONSE.

COMBINING TWIN HIGH SCHOOL

What is your position about combining the twin high schools into one school? (Choose: Favor/Against)

MARQUARDT: IN FAVOR

WILLIAMS: AGAINST

WEIGAND: AGAINST.  (I have seen no data that indicates we need a change or compel me to change what we currently have.  I am open to data review.)

CORAZZI**: AGAINST (Would support community referendum vote)

VAN EERDEN**: AGAINST (Open to reviewing new data)
KNEPEL: WITHDRAWN FROM RACE

RAKOWSKI: AGAINST (There are many factors affecting this decision.)

ZIEGLER: NO RESPONSE.

4-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTEN

What is your position on 4-year-old kindergarten?  (Choose:  Favor/Against)

MARQUARDT: AGAINST

WILLIAMS: AGAINST

WEIGAND: AGAINST

CORAZZI**: IN FAVOR (if financially feasible and district had space)

VAN EERDEN**: NO POSITION (There are no plans in the foreseeable future to pursue this, therefore, this is not an issue I have a position on. I do support our district Headstart program which serves disadvantaged preschool-age children.)
KNEPEL: WITHDRAWN FROM RACE

RAKOWSKI: AGAINST

ZIEGLER: NO RESPONSE.

2009 TAX LEVY

What was your position on the 2009 tax levy in the West Bend School District:  (Choose:  Favor/Against)

MARQUARDT: AGAINST (taxing to the maximum allowed)

WILLIAMS: AGAINST

WEIGAND: AGAINST

CORAZZI**: IN FAVOR

VAN EERDEN**: IN FAVOR
KNEPEL: WITHDRAWN FROM RACE.

RAKOWSKI: IN FAVOR (I was originally against. After learning the state was the culprit, I supported it.

ZIEGLER: NO RESPONSE.