Boyceville School Board Candidate: Erik Evenson
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ERIK EVENSON
Erik Evenson is one of the three candidates vying for the two opens seats on the Boyceville Community School District’s Board of Education in the April 6 Spring election.
Evenson, age 45, is a board incumbent along with Peter Score who are both being challenged by Amber Carslrud for a spot on the five-member board.
Evenson along with his wife Tamara, both Boyceville High School graduates, have a daughter and a son. Ana just graduated from Boyceville High School last spring and is currently attending North Dakota State University. The couple’s son, Simon, is a sophomore at BHS.
Evenson, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota, began working as the Director of Public Works for the City of New Richmond in January of this year after most recently working at an engineering firm in Rice Lake.
Below are Evenson’s answers to a questionnaire sent out by the Tribune Press Reporter. Candidates were asked to try and limit each of their responses to 100 words or less.
Why did you decide to run for a position on the Board of Education?
I have been on the Board for 9 years. I still have great interest in the education and success of Boyceville School District.
What about your background or education or values or personality makes you particularly suited to serve on the school board?
In my profession, I have worked with many municipalities, school districts, and governmental agencies, for over 20 years, not only working with them on getting projects built but assisting them with planning, funding, grants, and policy/ordinance updates. I have been on the Boyceville School Board for 9 years. My first priority as a school board member is to set policy and direction that ensures our students receive the best education possible.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for school districts over the past year. What challenges related to COVID-19 do you anticipate will be facing the school district in the years to come?
This past year has been one of the most difficult times that many of us have faced. My hopes are that we are turning a corner and can soon be back to something closer to normal. That being said, the most important thing is that we keep kids in-person, in school and will continue to strive to do that. It is easy to second guess decisions that were made in the past year but none of us has been through something like this before. Hopefully we can learn from the past and come out of this stronger and better than before.
What do you believe to be the biggest issues facing the Boyceville school district?
Declining enrollment and funding. We need to continue to work on keeping the Boyceville the great district that it is, but also work on ways to keep current residents within the district and ways to entice new residents and business into the district.
Why are you the best candidate for the Board of Education?
That’s for the voters to decide. Bless anyone who runs for local public office.
Other comments?
During my 9 years on the school board there have been a few challenges, especially this year. However, I have never regretted being a board member. The teachers, staff, and administration of this district are fantastic. Their hard work is what keeps every year producing well rounded, highly educated students. They deserve the lion’s share of the credit for the quality of our district.
