Franklin School Board voters guide

Judith Bialk

Age: 69

Address: 9309 S. Sherwood Drive

Employer/ occupation: part-time pastoral associate, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Community

Education: elementary education teacher, reading clinician and diagnostician, pastoral ministry

Years in community: 16

Family: married 45 years, three adult children

Related experience: service on numerous boards, committees, commissions and councils in both the public and private sectors of education; Milwaukee Public School teacher; past School Board president, St. Rita's, West Allis; reading specialist at One-on-One Learning Services, Alverno College; Administrator of Christian Formation, Our Lady of Lourdes (20 years) K-4-Grade 5; current volunteer services as reading specialist at Southwood Glen School, K-5-Grade 3

Political experience: three years of service on the Franklin Board of Education

Contact: judith.bialk@franklin.k12.wi.us

Why are you running for office?

I feel called to continue serving the children and the community of Franklin. Official retirement from teaching has provided me the opportunity to serve in this capacity for the past three years. However, this is just getting my feet wet in terms of gaining complete knowledge of running a school district. The will, the time and the energy to commit to this task are there to faithfully grow into this service even more fully with a second term.

What's the No. 1 issue in this race?

I cannot say there is one outstanding issue in this race, but rather a complexity of issues. Each time we gather, we look at issues dealing with finance and budget, business administration, human services, administrative policy, governmental relations, curriculum, special needs services, personnel issues, disciplinary issues involving students, to name a few. Every board member must be prepared to deal with each issue at its level of importance. This complexity of service provides all of us with interesting challenges.

Janet Evans

Age: 57

Address: 4415 W. Hilltop Lane

Employer/ occupation: administrative secretary, Oak Creek-Franklin School District, 14 years

Education: South Broward High School

Years in community: more than 34

Family: husband, Al; two adult children

Related experience: earned a WASB Board Leadership Award; for School Board, serve as personnel and policy liaison and has served as Community and Governmental Relations Committee chairman/liaison; volunteer on the board of Franklin Area Parents and Students United and the board of Franklin Police Citizen Academy Alumni Association; volunteer in the schools and community over many years; has past ISO 9001 Internal Auditor Certification

Political experience: current Franklin School Board member elected 2009

Contact: jtevans@wi.rr.com; (414) 421-9804

Why are you running for office?

Often, you'll hear School Board members say they run "for the kids." The fact is, Franklin School District hires a highly qualified administration and staff to provide our students an outstanding education. I'm of the opinion a board such as Franklin's, partially comprised of educators (and a spouse of an educator), presents as if looking through the wrong end of a telescope. My job is to serve the taxpayer by governing to ensure an exceptional education for our students, while overseeing your tax dollars.

What's the No. 1 issue in this race?

I see the upcoming 2012-13 budget as the most important issue in the district at this time. This goes hand in hand with the need for reduced spending and the anticipated rise of energy and insurance costs. Franklin has yet to see any changes to the health insurance plan for the district. Just over 79 percent of the budget goes toward employee salaries and benefits. We need a transparent budget where taxpayers understand how funds are allocated.

Don Petre

Age: 44

Address: 8050 S. 85th St.

Employer/ occupation: currently in my 23rd year as a teacher in Oak Creek

Education: Bachelor's degree in secondary education, University of Wisconsin-Madison; master's in administrative leadership, UW-Milwaukee

Years in community: 16

Family: wife, Jill; two daughters

Related experience: member of Superintendent's Professional Staff Advisory Council; teacher mentor; OCEA treasurer; PBIS Steering Committee; McPherson College Instructor; Caterpillar STEM Academy Instructor

Political experience: none

Contact: djpetre@wi.rr.com

Why are you running for office?

I was inspired by words that I heard at the funeral for our family friend Dick Bolender, late mayor of Oak Creek: "Quit complaining and do something about it." I wanted the Franklin School Board to have more members with a background in the field of education. I decided to do something about it. I will provide a broad range of knowledge and experience regarding school budgets, curriculum and business partnerships. I have the background and training needed for this position. I will be able to help the Franklin Public Schools meet the increasing demands of our 21st-century world.

What's the No. 1 issue in this race?

It is essential to improve our facilities in order to meet the current needs of the students, parents and our community. We need to provide our students with better classrooms, modern technology labs, improved athletic facilities and support for the fine arts. I travel locally and throughout the state watching my daughters' tournaments. I have seen too many communities with much better facilities than we have in Franklin. I look forward to helping the School Board make decisions regarding these improvements so that the entire community will benefit, not just the families with children in our schools.

Aimee R. Schlueter

Age: 38

Address: 9303 Briarwood Drive

Employer/ occupation: 911 dispatcher, Franklin Police Department

Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology at Winona State University

Years in community: 15

Family: husband, Dan, two children

Related experience: PTA/PTO volunteer at Ben Franklin and Country Dale; previous PTO vice president at Country Dale; volunteer within the community and schools

Political experience: I was the vice president for the Country Dale Parent Teacher Organization. I also served two years on the Student Senate while attending Winona State University.

Contact: 4aimeers@gmail.com

Why are you running for office?

I believe I could be an asset to our community. As a mother of two and a taxpayer, I have a vested interest in the children and our community. I feel this would be a perfect way for me to exercise my inner sense of justice on something that I find important and close to home.

What's the No. 1 issue in this race?

I feel there is no No. 1 issue as there are several issues and concerns that have come to my attention. One issue can and will directly affect other issues. I understand there are concerns about the possibility of the new building/addition referendum, state budget concerns and communication. I am interested in and look forward to tackling these and the many other issues with creativity and enthusiasm.

John Paul Thompson

Age: 64

Address: 4102 Hilltop Court

Employer/ occupation: retired deputy sheriff and retired from military

Education: graduated from Boys Tech in 1967, attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Milwaukee School of Engineering

Years in community: 18

Family: wife, Linda

Related experience: worked at the Boys Club; taught at St. John's Cathedral High School and served as yearbook coordinator; worked for an engineering consulting firm; was one of the original DARE instructors in the state; was a Truancy Abatement and Burglary Suppression officer, and worked in Children's Court; taught CCD classes at St. Barbara's, St. James and St. Martin of Tours; worked with the Exceptional Chorus through Hamilton High School served on the chorus board; and held several positions in the military, including commander, battalion administration officer and supply officers

Political experience: none

Contact: thompslj@wi.rr.com

Why are you running for office?

Because of my varied experiences, I feel I can bring fresh and differing viewpoints into the board. With my military experience, I am aware of the importance of budgets, teamwork and developing programs that best serve the people - students, parents, teachers, and the community as a whole. With the financial cuts in budgets and staffing, it is very important to maintain the high level of a well-rounded education for both teachers and students.

What's the No. 1 issue in this race?

Forming a cohesive board that has the best interests of the community at large, as well as the staff and students in mind to keep Franklin the best school system that it is.

Editor's note: A photo was not available from candidate.

David A. Works

Age: 56

Address: 7965 Legend Creek Court

Employer/occupation: metallurgical engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft 

Education: Bachelor's degree in metallurgy from the Pennsylvania State University; masters in administrative management from Cambridge College

Years in community: 25

Family: Wife, Beverly; daughter, Isabella

Related experience: 33 years of industrial/manufacturing, engineering and continuous improvement

Political experience: three years as a Franklin School Board member, including one as treasurer

Contact: david.works@pw.utc.com 

Why are you running for office?

I have been very active in the Franklin School District for over nine years. I have been a classroom volunteer, Science Committee chairman, and served as PTA president for two years. Currently, I am one of the most active volunteers for the district's technology program, including the Project Lead the Way, at the high school. It is my desire to use my professional knowledge along with my experience in various roles in the district to continue to improve the academic development of our children while continuing to bring in outside grants and successfully lowering operation expenses.

What's the No. 1 issue in this race? 

The current state funding formula has provided major challenges to our school district that will require innovative methods and techniques in order to maintain the high quality of education that is essential for our students. With a successful career in private industry, I have had to lower operating costs while continuing to improve quality in order to maintain our competitive advantage.