Eight candidates vie for West Central Area School Board Seats

Reed Anfinson

Publisher

There are six candidates running for a four-year term on the West Central Area Board of Education with four seats on the board open.

The candidates are Mike Bruns, Darin Grosz, Jared Olson, Kayla Sanstead, Jeremiah Ulrich, and Claire Vincent. The top four vote getters among the six will win a seat on the school board.

There are two candidates running for a  two-year seat on the board, Nathan Porter and Joshua Ulrich. There are two open seats, so  both will likely get elected unless there is a strong write-in candidate. The Herald has not been informed about anyone seeking election through a write-in campaign.

To help WCA citizens get a better understanding of what each candidate stands for and why he or she is running, we gave them all a list of questions. 

The Herald did not get a response from Jeremiah Ulrich. Following are their replies:

Four-year WCA board term

Kayla Sanstead

My name is Kayla Sanstead. My family and I live near Hoffman. My husband, Dave, graduated from WCA in 2000. Our three children attend/attended WCA South Elementary and Secondary School. 

Our oldest, Damon, graduated from WCA in 2023. Owen is currently a Senior and Piper is in 8th grade. I have been a registered nurse for 17 years, currently working at SCMC in Morris. My past work experiences include managing a healthcare facility and staff. 

Why are you running for the WCA School Board?

Four years ago I ran for school board because I love the WCA school district and community. I want to continue to be able to have a say in the education and opportunities that we offer to our current students and all future students. Also, being a member of the board gives me the opportunity to be more involved in the district and give back to the community. 

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district?

Declining enrollment (primarily due to more families homeschooling) and aging facilities. 

Are there policies you would like to see implemented in the school district that aren’t currently in place?

There are always new policies that should be implemented or revised, but there is one that has to do with an issue that occurred recently. I feel we need to have a better defined disciplinary action plan, especially when it comes to students making threats. There were recently 2 threats made by students about shooting up the school. I feel the discipline for an action like this should be expelling the student. 

Are the school district’s facilities adequate for its educational and recreational activities?

All three of the schools in the WCA district are in need of improvements to meet necessary educational/recreational needs. The elementary schools are aging and are in need of significant remodeling. I am hopeful we will be able to come up with a facility plan the majority of the community will support. 

What impact do you hope to make for the WCA School?

If I am re-elected, I plan to continue to bring an open mind to the board table. I feel as though I am able to make educated, difficult decisions when necessary. And I want to continue to provide the necessary support to help the WCA School District grow and thrive for years to come. 

Claire Vincent 

My name is Claire Vincent, and I live in Erdahl Township with my husband Bill. My children are adults and did not attend WCA. However, I often think about how much they would have enjoyed life as a WCA student!

My employment history includes more than three decades of work as both a school psychologist and school administrator. My first job was in rural Kansas where I worked as a school psychologist. And before assuming the role of WCA secondary principal, I worked in Two Harbors and Robbinsdale Area Schools.

Why are you running for the WCA School Board? 

My dedication and interest in our school district remains as strong as it was when I served as the secondary principal from 2015 – 2019. I very much want to serve on the board as I enjoy collaborating with others and believe that my background as an educator since 1985 will benefit our district when considering the impact board decisions have on our district’s climate and  the quality of instruction our children receive.

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district? 

Three challenges we must persist in finding solutions to include:

– Increasing our number of enrolled students. 

– Supporting students, teachers and families who are challenged by stressors that make school difficult.

– Solving our facility challenges due to aging buildings.

Are the school district’s facilities adequate for its educational and recreational activities? 

I am particularly concerned about the condition of our elementary buildings and believe that we must find a path forward to secure a solution that meets the needs of students, feels right for our five communities, and is also financially manageable for taxpayers. 

The development of a task force to look deeply at this issue is underway and I believe we will succeed in establishing a funding and construction plan that will meet with voter approval.

What impact do you hope to make for the WCA School District as a school board member?

I want to continue to build trust with community members as this is essential to improving the learning experience and outcomes for our students. In addition, I would like all voters to know that I am ready to fully engage with the responsibilities that come with being a school board member, and that I enjoy identifying tasks needing attention and taking the necessary steps to move forward with an effective solution.

Jared Olson

My name is Jared Olson. I am a West Central Area alumnus. My wife and I live on the family farm between Hoffman and Barrett. I have two stepdaughters that currently attend WCA and a daughter who will be starting preschool next year. 

Why are you running for the WCA School Board?

My reason for running for the board is very much the same as the first time I ran in 2022. With many complex issues facing the district, we need creative, forward-thinking leadership.  

This means electing leaders who are open to other viewpoints, who will gather facts to determine what would be in the district’s best interest, and who will listen to understand and talk to always get the last word.

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district?

I see the district facing three big challenges. 

First of all, WCA’s enrollment continues to decline due to homeschooling, online P schooling, open enrollment, and fewer families residing in the district. 

This directly impacts the second challenge, which is the budget. The district has had to tighten its belt these past few years. Thankfully, previous boards have left the district with a fund balance that the board has been able to use to pay for some costly repairs to our facilities. 

However, some funding changes from the state and unfunded mandates have further strained the district’s finances. 

Lastly is the 800-pound gorilla in the room that everyone knows needs to be dealt with – facilities. Hopefully with a new building assessment from engineers and a community task force, some long-term solutions can be found.

Are there policies you would like to see implemented in the school district that aren’t currently in place?

I would like to see every board meeting recorded when a quorum is present. I don’t think we have to live stream everything, but at least record it and publicly post the recordings. 

I think the recent policy and nationwide push , to remove cell phones from the classroom is a welcome start to removing distractions from learning. 

Given recent events, I’d like to see a public review of the school’s security protocol. This would hopefully eliminate some parental angst and frustration about when and how the school responds to and releases information on such incidents. 

Are the school district’s facilities adequate for its educational and recreational activities?

No. WCA’s facilities have served the district well over the last 30 plus years, but it is time for some serious updates. Frequent leaky roofs, pesky boiler repairs, and other major repairs are eroding the district’s fund balance, thus placing current programming and future opportunities in jeopardy.

Our educational spaces need to be updated and revamped to provide a quality education that’s befitting of the modern age.

What impact do you hope to make for the WCA School District as a school board member?

If elected, I hope to increase the transparency of the board by having more recorded meetings and easily accessible information. In addition, I will prioritize raising test scores to keep WCA competitive with neighboring districts, as well as to ensure our students are graduating with a strong foundation of learning. Finally, I will strive to lead by example in how we treat one another. The comment sections of social media are not where important and complex issues will be resolved. As I experienced first-hand, social media can be a ruthless and nasty place. I pray that no one has to endure that, but everyday students and community members face cyber bullying and harassment all in the name of “public discussion.”  

Mike Bruns

My name is Michael (Mike) Bruns, and I reside in Elbow Lake with my wife, Lyndsay, and our three children. We have lived in this district since 2017, but I have spent a majority of my life nearby, growing up south of Evansville. 

I currently work at an IT company that primarily deals with K-12 schools all across the U.S. Also, many people may recognize me from my services as a high school sports official. I currently officiate volleyball, football, basketball, baseball, and softball, and have been doing it since 2007.

Why are you running for the WCA School Board?

First and foremost, I have so much respect and admiration for the teachers, leaders, and staff that continually go above and beyond to educate and help our children grow. To show my gratitude, I want to become a public servant that supports and promotes public education and the lasting impact it has on us all. 

Second, I am a parent, and I want to show my family how important it is to invest your time in things you value. Last, I care deeply about building relationships with people of WCA and want to strengthen those relationships through servant leadership.

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district?

Student Safety and Achievement: Students need to feel safe in their learning environment, and safety needs to be a top priority when making policy decisions and upgrading facilities. 

Students and staff who operate in a safe environment will achieve more.

Competition for Enrollment: Charter schools, online schools, and home schools are all unique competitors to traditional public schools. Access is great for creating a culture of accountability, and all of these unique institutions are forced to retain, and recruit based on their merit.

Funding: Enrollment losses and reduced state funding per pupil have created a fiscal cliff for many school systems. Tough decisions, like cutting staff and/or reducing services, have a negative impact on the district and the communities it serves.

Are there policies you would like to see implemented in the school district that aren’t currently in place?

Policy setting for a public school district follows specific protocols and guidelines. I don’t have an opinion on specific policies; rather, I want to focus on policy that promotes safety.

Are the school district’s facilities adequate for its educational and recreational activities?

It will be the top priority of the West Central Area school board, guided by input from community stakeholders, to obtain voter-approved financing for WCA facility upgrades. There is no other option but, to face the situation, get buy-in from our communities, and take action.

What impact do you hope to make for the WCA School?

Through servant leadership, I hope to create a supportive environment, be open to feedback, and prioritize sustainable goals and objectives. By listening to understand, rather than listening to respond, I believe I can build the trust and respect needed to have a lasting impact as a member of the WCA school board.

Darin Grosz

Darin Grosz, I live in Elbow Lake and have worked for the City of Elbow Lake/ Elbow Lake Municipal Power for 23 years, 15 of those years as the Electric Superintendent. My wife Haley and I have raised two daughters here. Halle is currently a student at MSUM and Macy is a Senior at WCA. My wife Haley is a 1st grade teacher at North Elementary.

Why are you running for the WCA School Board?

I am running to try and make a difference! I care deeply about our communities and I believe my experience and willingness to put the work in can help the school district get to where it needs to be, to attract parents and students to WCA and attract and retain the best staff in the area. 

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district?

One of the biggest challenges is staff retention. We have lost several quality staff in the past few years. 

Are there policies you would like to see implemented in the school district that aren’t currently in place?

Yes, there are a few. One being I would like to, if possible, see a policy that incentivizes staff living within the district. I believe that would not only help create that crucial connection needed within the communities beyond the student, parents, school connection, but would also help retain staff within the district. 

Are the school district’s facilities adequate for its educational and recreational activities?

That’s not a simple yes or no question! There are definitely things within all of our districts facilities that we all know need to be addressed and will cost substantial dollars to do so whether that be through construction, remodeling, and/or maintenance that hasn’t been addressed for many, many years. 

The question that we need answered is what does the majority of the districts stakeholders want and what will they support. 

You can have all the meetings in the world but at the end of the day it’s the stakeholders that determine what is done. For the last decade our students and staff have got nothing! It’s time to get them something! And it starts by listening to the stakeholders! 

What impact do you hope to make for the WCA School?

I believe I will bring a positive impact to the people, staff and children of this district! I am someone that is not afraid to take on difficult issues, ask the tough questions, listen to all sides, put the time and research in to find solutions and then see them through to completion. I will encourage WCA to create a culture of greatness! A culture where everyone not only is willing, but wants to go the extra mile.

Two-year WCA board term

Nathan Porter

I am from Elbow Lake.  I have worked in Elbow Lake for 29 years.  I’ve been a member of the Elbow Lake Fire Department for more than 20 years and served eight years as fire chief.  I have three children, two have graduated from WCA and one that is a junior at WCA.

Why are you running for the WCA School Board?

 I am currently on the school board and would like to continue guiding our district and supporting WCA schools students’ education.  

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district?

The number one challenge is funding.   We can see this across our state, and we need to work together as a community to find solutions to this ever-growing problem.  If we can work together to find a source of funds we can compensate teachers, offer opportunities for students and grow our elective classes that allow students to explore areas of interest while they complete the needed credits for graduation.  

The second major challenge is how do we best educate our children knowing our facilities need major updating.   WCA’s newest facility is 30 years old and has limitations that impede our abilities to keep up with the continuous advances made in teaching techniques and technology, as well as repair and upkeep needs.  The elementary buildings are even older and are plagued by expensive maintenance.  Our students and families are spread between 3 buildings in 3 different towns, which creates challenges and burdens for staffing, busing, and daily family logistics.

While we face these issues it is important that the needs of our students’ education come first to continue to prepare and bring out well rounded and educated young adults into an ever-changing world.  However, WCA and the communities it serves move forward with the necessary changes to address the needs of the district, the goal to provide students with quality learning and opportunities will continue to be the highest priority.

Are there policies you would like to see implemented in the school district that aren’t currently in place?

WCA follows the policies advised by MSBA and is adequate.   

Are the school district’s facilities adequate for its educational and recreational activities? 

WCA facilities are not adequate in today’s environment.   We have spent many hours with a firm completing an educational adequacy study which shows many deficiencies.

What impact do you hope to make for the WCA School District as a school board member?

WCA’s school board is the legal entity charged with governing the school district.  WCA’s board is responsible to its community for governing and leading efficiently and effectively to give our students what they need to succeed in life.  My plan as a school board member is to do my best to be an agent that allows the school board to function fully and in the interest of the students, faculty, and community.

Joshua Ulrich

I live just outside of Wendel.

Why are you running for the WCA School Board?

I am running for school board to give back to the community that I grew up in .

What are the biggest challenges you see facing the school district?

The biggest challenge that I see WCA facing is the budget.

The facilities for educational and recreational activities could both use some attention.

As a member of the school board, I would advocate for resources. Working to secure additional funding and resources to improve facilities, technology, and programs that benefit students both in and out of the classroom.