School Board race has four vying for three seats

By JAKE MEISTER

Special to Ozaukee Press

Four candidates are running for three seats on the Grafton School Board next week, and one notable name that’s not on the ballot will mean change for the board.

Board President Paul Lorge, who has been in office since 2002, is not running for re-election, but incumbents Carrie Walls, vice president of the board, and Steve Nauta are. They face Robert Mallon and Joe Bichler in the Tuesday, April 4, election.

Walls, 46, who has been on the board for nine years, said she leads from the perspective of a parent.

“I bring the perspective as a parent of three children in the district — including one in special education — as well as the experience of having attended School Board meetings and events for the last 15 years,” she said.

Walls said changes underway in the district are a reflection of the belief there is always room for improvement.

“In academics, a new curriculum for English language arts in the elementary schools has just been approved, as well as new classes and apprenticeship opportunities at the high school,” she said. “Also, a new strategic plan is being developed with the community to set priorities around educating students. This includes focusing on hiring and retaining quality staff, communicating effectively with all stakeholders and ensuring there is enough space, particularly in elementary schools, for students as enrollment increases.”

Walls, a physical therapist who has lived in the district for 15 years, has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in physical therapy from Boston University.

Three of her children attend Grafton High School and the fourth is in college.

Nauta, 50, is no stranger to Grafton, and that, he said, is an advantage.

“I am a lifelong Grafton resident and 1991 graduate of Grafton High School,” he said. “I believe that I bring a unique perspective of the great history of Grafton while embracing the new traditions and changes in our district and community.”

Although the Grafton School District has excelled, it faces no shortage of challenges. Nauta said.

“Maintaining a balanced budget in today’s environment with increasing costs, retaining and attracting talented staff and planning ahead to support and accommodate the growth of population within the Grafton School District are a few pressing items that I anticipate in the next term,” he said.

  It is a goal of his, Nauta said, to ensure that the district’s strategic planning process, one that has involved parents, staff members, school groups and students, is seen to fruition.

  “It will be a goal and priority of mine to make sure that this process is completed, implemented, communicated and tracked,” he said.

    Nauta, who has lived in the School District for 50 years, is a senior account manager who has a bachelor’s degree in business and management from Cardinal Stritch University.

He has two children who attend or have attended Grafton School District schools.

Bichler, 35, said he wants to help the district recruit and retain high quality staff members while making sure it is responsive to taxpayers.

“I want to help attract top talent to give our growing families and community an amazing educational opportunity,” he said. “I feel it is important to be good financial stewards, as it paves the way for future decades of families within the School District.”

Bichler said the district’s strategic planning process, which he has been involved in, is key to its future.

“I have been fortunate to participate in a strategic planning focus group within the last several weeks and appreciate how we are able to come together to set forth a strategic plan for the future with a multifaceted approach,” he said. “There is significant involvement from the community, parents, staff, leaders, students and others to build this strategic plan that will be the guiding light for our future.”

Bichler, who has lived in the School District for two years, is a strategic sourcing director in the heath care industry who has a bachelor’s degree in business management from North Dakota State University.

He has three children who attend Grafton School District schools.

Mallon, 39, who has two children who attend Kennedy Elementary School, said he wants to improve upon the good work of the district.

“I have been very pleased with how our district has performed and want to help maintain the exemplary work of our past boards,” he said.

Mallon said development and Grafton’s growing population are a challenge for the district, which must decide how to “right-size our facilities and resources.”

“I hope to leverage my experience in strategic planning, development and space utilization to help navigate how we as a district pivot and react,” he said.

Mallon, who has lived in the district for seven years, is a facility operations leader for a local residential and retail developer.

He attended Milwaukee Area Technical College before pursing a vocational career and related trades programs.