Candidates for 2-year term mull elementary education options

Small class sizes and better communication with the community.

• Photos

Those were two commonalities Monday for Brainerd School Board candidates who are seeking a special two-year term.

Candidates debating Monday at the Brainerd School Board candidate forum for the one two-year term were James Hunt (left), Bob Nystrom and Tom Peterson. A fourth candidate, Theresa Knierim, was ill and unable to attend. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.

Three of the four candidates - Jim Hunt, Tom Peterson and incumbent Bob Nystrom - voiced their opinions at a school board debate in the Little Theater at Brainerd High School. The debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Brainerd Lakes Area and the American Association of University of Women.

Karen Christofferson with the voters' league was the mediator. The panel was made up of Dan Hegstad of Lakeland TV; Kathy Hegstrom, BHS teacher and league member; Tom Freeman, a BHS senior and debate member; and Mike O'Rourke of the Brainerd Dispatch.

Theresa Knierim, the fourth candidate, was ill and did not attend. However, Knierim submitted a speech that said, "Our children are our community's greatest resources. We are charged with giving them the education they need to succeed. As a school board member, the decisions I make would reflect my belief in the importance of our children's education and how deeply that affects the future of our community."

The four candidates will vie for the one two-year-term seat on Nov. 3.

The three candidates at the debate also agreed on reopening Whittier as one section of K-4 and housing the Lowell Enrichment program, one of five elementary options that came out of the school board's Facilities Committee in September. The other four options included relocating Baxter fourth grade to Forestview, purchasing new portable classrooms for Riverside school, purchasing used portable classrooms at Lowell School or opening the Washington Educational Services Building as one section of K-4 and moving the Lowell Enrichment program there.

Nystrom said each has merit, but he'd support reopening Whittier because the district could make it work and help keep low class sizes. Peterson and Hunt both supported the reopening of Whittier, but did not support moving Baxter students to Forestview. Hunt also did not support the purchasing of portable units.

"There are a number of questions that need to be answered first," Hunt said. "Moving students to Whittier does not solve the problem."

Hunt said he wasn't sure if the cost the district reported in a Brainerd Dispatch article was accurate. He wanted more details on the cost of each option.

Peterson said the school board first needs to talk to the community. He said extensive planning well be necessary before the board could go to the community and ask it to support a referendum. Peterson said the time constraints of the five options are "far too short."

Hunt said the need for additional finances in the district is always going to be high and the district needs referendums to generate money or it will have to make more cuts.

Nystrom agreed with Hunt and said he has learned from the district's past failed referendums. He said the board should have gone to the community first on what the district could afford and then asked for its support in a referendum.

Peterson said he could bring new ideas to the board; Hunt said he has the experience and the awareness in the community; Nystrom said he always puts students first.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.