Meet the candidates for Polson's board of education

The Lake County Leader asked the individuals running for positions on the Polson School Board to answer the following set of questions as they prepare for the upcoming election on Thursday, May 8. Following the questions are the responses for each candidate.

• Why are you running for a seat on the Polson School Board?

• What do you hope to accomplish, if elected?

• What experience do you have that would make you an asset to the school board?

• The Polson School Board has had a tumultuous year. What will you do as a board member to help the school district get back on a positive track?

John Kelly

The means and opportunity now exist to bring the district and our community together. What is needed is the vision and will to do it. I look forward to being a part of this effort.

To assist in restoring civility and functionality to the process of providing a quality education to all students and preparing them for whatever career path they choose.

Extensive background in business management, involving planning, budgeting conflict resolution, labor relations, problem solving and community relations.

Identify areas of common ground where we can work together to produce positive results. Develop a process for dealing with tough issues that keeps us focused on our mission and working as a team.

Caryl Cox

There’s a lot of unfinished work I’d like to be a part of. We started a long-term strategic planning process last year; I hope to work to resurrect that process with staff and community involvement to chart a strategic direction for our district.

Some of the most vexing issues before this (and many) district(s) revolve around: 21st century curriculum; student engagement in the educational process; addressing the cultural and academic needs of all students; aging facilities; adequate funding for education. I hope to keep these issues up front and center and to seek creative and on-going solutions with staff and community input.

I’ve been on the board, so I understand the trustee role. I was on the City Planning Commission in a medium-sized Midwestern town. I taught statistics and evaluation at the University level and ran a small business in program evaluation, so I understand the evaluation process. I’ve been to Helena to speak with legislators about educational issues. I am a board representative on the MtSBA Class A caucus.

A synergistic board/superintendent relationship, which I (and I hope, others) intend to work to foster and in which everyone understands their roles, is key to moving forward. A newly configured board and new superintendent can hopefully demonstrate a united front, open to possibilities and creative solutions.

Jami Hamel

I am a parent that has high school kids in the Polson District. I want my own kids and all students to be focused on schoolwork and education, not on the administration issues and politics going on around them.

I would like to be part of a collaborative effort with the school board, new superintendent, administrators, teachers, parents and the community to move the Polson School District in a positive direction.

I was an elected official with our local tribal government, served on the CSKT Tribal Council for eight years and was the Vice Chairman for six of those. I have leadership abilities and political experience that is important for an elected position. It is important to know that you are an elected representative of the community that is keeping the schools’ and, most importantly, students’ best interest in mind at all times.

I would like to find respect among all trustees by demonstrating positive leadership. The school board needs to monitor the progress in student achievement and quality instruction, identify student needs and make decisions based on the data, be informed of all school district aspects to make and be accountable for their decisions, have positive relationships with staff and faculty to ensure student success and listen to parents and the community and include them in communication.

Ashley Schweigert

We moved to this valley for several different reasons, but we moved to Polson School District for one – the reputation of great education that Polson schools offered. Some feel we may have lost that a little, I feel that we can get back to that level and higher, with the right guidance, communication and cooperativeness.

We have the ability as school board trustees, to make sound, sane and ethical decisions regarding our schools, to remain open-minded, and to have a true open door policy. I will see to it that is what will happen if I am to be elected. We all need to think positive. I believe this is still a great school system, but I still want to strive for the better.

I feel that with my personality and background in finance and budgets that I can contribute a great deal. Also, having my own children in this great school provides motivation for myself to succeed on the Board of Trustees.

I hope to help get our district back on track by focusing its attention on what is needed – the actual role of a school board and not getting sidetracked along the way – by supporting our teachers with what they need to ensure our children are being educated at the level that this community deserves.