Five candidates seek election to Staples-Motley School Board

Age: 50.

Address: Motley.

Position sought: Staples-Motley School Board seat.

Occupation: Dairy farmer.

Education: A 1973 Motley High School graduate.

Civic/community involvement: Staples-Motley Assembly of God, Staples-Motley School Board member for 12 years and on the Freshwater Education District.

Why are you running? "I want to continue to work to provide the best we can for our students with the resources available. I believe that local-based and governed schools are the best and we need to keep in the forefront the first level of accountability that needs to be the parents, guardians, students and the community we serve. There are many issues we need to consider, such as student needs, facilities, transportation, energy costs and funding. We need to learn from the past, operate in the present and have a vision for the future."

Mary Freeman

Age: 49.

Address: Staples.

Position sought: Staples-Motley School Board seat.

Occupation: Substitute teacher.

Education: Concordia College with a degree in health, physical education and coaching.

Civic/community involvement: Blandin Community Leadership trainee, Faith Lutheran Church, a volunteer in the S-M school district and a Staples-Motley School Board member.

Why are you running? "To serve our community as a leader in the area of education provides an opportunity to work in an area that I have 20-plus years of experience but challenges me to look at schools and education from a different perspective. The goal of school governance is to positively impact the lives of children in the community and promote a positive environment for the professionals working with those children every day. The challenge of pursuing this goal within the parameters of federal and state mandates and financial resources available is formidable, but must be met with enthusiasm and perseverance."

Robert Jenkins

Age: 63.

Address: Motley.

Position sought: Staples-Motley School Board seat.

Occupation: Disabled.

Education: A 1961 Motley High School graduate and a few college courses.

Civic/community involvement: Rosenmeier Center, Staples-Motley Community Education Board and chairman of the Citizen's Advisory Council for Public TV 22.

Why are you running? "This side of the school district doesn't feel ownership of the school. We need to feel ownership. I handed out tea bags at a school board meeting and said no taxation without representation. If you don't feel ownership, you don't take pride in your school. We're also losing students and I want to know why. There are roughly 270 students who open enroll. I want to know what we are doing wrong. I've talked to parents of students who open enroll to another school and they said they left because they couldn't get into sports or other extracurricular activities."

Gary Nytes

Age: 56.

Address: Staples.

Position sought: Staples-Motley School Board seat.

Occupation: Executive director of the National Joint Powers Alliance.

Education: Bachelor's, master's and specialist degrees from Mankato State University.

Civic/community involvement: Member of the local, state and national associations of school administrators, Association of Educational Service Agencies and the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies.

Why are you running? "I believe that the essence of quality is change. Without change, there can be no growth and if an organization is not growing, it is dying. The Staples-Motley School District is dying, and I am a professional change agent. If elected I will use my 30-plus years of experience as a public school administrator to help bring about the changes so desperately needed in our school district. During my last three-year terms on the board, we made sweeping changes including consolidating the two districts, passing a referendum, reducing administration and adding on to the Staples Elementary building."

Barb Schmitt

Age: 59.

Address: Staples.

Position sought: Staples-Motley School Board seat.

Occupation: Agricultural business owner for 36 years.

Education: An Austin High School graduate, post-secondary education in medical technology and has an insurance license certificate.

Civic/community involvement: A Staples-Motley School Board member for 15 years, Freshwater Education Board, Region Five Development Commission, Governor's Youth Build Advisory Board, Initiative Foundation, Staples No. 93 Lions, LEAP Committee, Unity Bank Central Board.

Why are you running? "I have a passion to serve our community and our schools. Our district is in a transition with new leadership with our new superintendent. I believe my experience will be advantageous during this period. I have the time and energy to devote my time to school board business. Rural schools are facing many budget restraints and my understanding of school finance will be helpful when making those tough decisions. I care very deeply about children and their education. I'm proud of the Staples-Motley School District. I hope I have the opportunity to be part of its future."