Colfax school board candidate: Heather Logslett
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COLFAX — There are two positions up for election on the Colfax Board of Education in the April 1 election and there will be three candidates on the ballot.
The candidates are Heather Logslett, Tiffany Schaffner and Todd Kragness, who currently serves on the Colfax school board.
The Colfax Messenger sent out questionnaires to the candidates.
Here are the answers to the questionnaire from Heather Logslett.
• Tell us about your family.
As a lifelong advocate for community engagement and education, I am proud to run for the Colfax School Board to ensure transparency, accountability, and excellence in our district. I grew up in Glenwood City and have called Colfax home since marrying my husband, Tanner Logslett, a Colfax native. My husband is the owner of Logslett Plumbing and is a volunteer firefighter in Colfax. We have been married for nearly 10 years and have two children, Creslyn (3rd grade) and Julian (kindergarten), who are actively enrolled in Colfax Elementary School.
My passion for community involvement runs deep. My twin sister, Jeanna Berge, and I co-founded Colfantastic Events in 2020, bringing new energy and excitement to the community. Our dedication to Colfax led to us receiving the J.D. Simons Community Volunteer Award. Additionally, we have worked tirelessly to establish the Colfax School Athletic Booster Club, which has been a huge success thanks to the amazing support of the community and dedicated booster club members/sponsors! This group also successfully revived the homecoming parade after 30 years!
• What is your occupation?
I am a dedicated leader in both healthcare and community service. I have been a registered nurse for 14 years, with 7 of those years in leadership. I currently serve as a Nurse Manager at Mayo Clinic Health System. Additionally, I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders, where I have been elected to a second term. My experience in leadership, governance, and advocacy has strengthened my ability to make informed decisions, navigate complex challenges, and ensure accountability—all of which are critical skills for a school board member.
• What is your educational background?
My commitment to growth and excellence led me to complete my Master of Science in Nursing: Leadership Management & Organization, graduating with high honors while working full-time and raising a family. This experience has reinforced my ability to lead, balance priorities, and pursue continuous improvement.
• Why did you decide to run for a position on the Board of Education?
I decided to run for the Colfax School Board because I believe decisions should be made with the input of all stakeholders — especially those who are directly impacted: our students, staff, and the broader community. Unfortunately, I’ve seen that decision-making often feels unilateral, lacking both transparency and fairness. A prime example of this was when we requested to be placed on the board agenda to discuss collaboration with the Colfax Booster Club. Our request was ignored for 18 months without ever being put on an agenda (we didn’t want the 3-minute open timeframe where a decision doesn’t have to be made). As a taxpayer and parent of active students in the district, this lack of engagement and collaboration is deeply concerning.
I am a persistent person who has open communication and follows through with what I say I will do. This experience has made me wonder how many other families and community members are being shut out from important conversations or denied opportunities to contribute ideas to better Colfax. The lack of communication and fairness must be addressed, and the concentration of power needs to be eliminated—the public matters in public schools.
I believe it’s crucial for our school district’s leadership to uphold fairness and transparency. While it’s understandable that an administrator may have a spouse working within the district they lead, it can raise concerns when this becomes a recurring pattern, especially in a small community. It’s vital that all decisions are made with the best interests of our students and staff at the forefront, and that the leadership team reflects a diverse range of perspectives.
I am running because I believe I have a fair and impactful influence on the direction of our district, always prioritizing what is best for Colfax. This means engaging in difficult conversations and advocating for what is right. A strong voice paired with common sense can truly make a difference and drive meaningful change. It’s all about standing up for what’s right and making decisions that are both fair and practical. Promises and policies only matter if they’re enforced consistently, and the district must stand by its commitments. I stand for fairness, common sense, and follow-through. I will always advocate for what’s right, even when it’s difficult, because that’s what our students, staff, and community deserve.
• What do you believe are the two biggest issues facing the school district?
I believe the two biggest issues facing the Colfax School District are lack of transparency and community engagement and ensuring that the district evolves with the changing educational landscape.
Transparency and Community Engagement: There’s a noticeable gap between the decision-makers and the public, especially when it comes to keeping the community informed and involved. Important decisions are often made without input from those who are directly impacted: students, parents, and staff. This lack of transparency can erode trust and create division. We need to make board meetings, minutes, and agendas easily accessible and provide opportunities for open communication.
I recently addressed an issue in the Letter to the Editor regarding concerns about the selection process for the upcoming elementary principal. I questioned the fairness of the process, particularly the decision to only post the position internally rather than externally. This raised serious questions about the fairness of the process, the lack of communication around it, and the districts commitment to transparency and excellence. I also advocated for the need of a diverse interview panel to ensure the community’s perspectives are considered in such an important decision. Final decisions should be made by majority vote ensuring the most qualified candidate is chosen based on collective agreement rather than unilateral decisions. Public schools are not just educational institutions—they are community institutions, funded and supported by the public, and decisions must reflect and be supported by that public.
Evolving with Today’s Educational Needs: The world is changing rapidly, and so should our schools. We need to ensure that Colfax is providing a modern education that prepares our students not only for four-year colleges but also for trades, vocational training, and other career paths. Preparing students for a wide range of opportunities—whether it’s a career in the trades or pursuing higher education—will ensure that every student has a path to success. We need to invest in diverse educational options and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in today’s world.
• How would you go about addressing those issues?
To ensure fairness, transparency, and trust within the school district, we must focus on clear communication, community involvement, and openness in decision-making. I prioritize common sense decision-making and follow-through.
Here are actionable solutions that are both practical and effective: Board meeting agendas, minutes, and key decisions should be easily accessible on the district’s website.
Live-streaming board meetings and promptly posting updates will help the community stay informed and engaged.
Hosting quarterly town hall meetings where community members can ask questions, share concerns, and offer suggestions will create a more collaborative environment.
Decision-making should be rooted in transparency, with clear explanations of how and why decisions are made.
Regular policy reviews should ensure that district policies align with best practices for openness and accountability.
For key positions, such as the elementary principal, the interview panel should be diverse—including administration, teachers, parents, and community members. This ensures a broad range of perspectives and allows those directly impacted by the hiring decision to have a voice in the process.
By implementing these strategies, we can build a school district that values transparency, respects community input, and ensures decisions reflect the best interests of students, staff, and families.
• How would you go about increasing transparency for the Colfax school district?
As a Colfax School Board candidate, I firmly believe in transparency and accessibility in our district’s decision-making process—an area that is currently lacking. Our community deserves clear, timely, and easily accessible information about the decisions that impact our schools.
Meeting minutes should be promptly posted on the district’s website in a format that is easy to find and navigate. Unfortunately, Colfax has no meeting minutes accessible online, while other districts post agendas and minutes, some dating as far back as 2012. According to school policy, minutes must be published as a Class I notice within 45 days of the meeting. The minutes are not posted online, but the policy also states that the minutes shall be available for purchase at a fee estimated by the business office from the District Administrator’s office. Let’s be clear: As taxpayers, we already pay—we shouldn’t have to pay again just to know how our money is being spent.
Live streaming school board meetings is a simple yet powerful way to ensure that all stakeholders — especially those unable to attend in person — stay informed and engaged. Many school districts already provide this service, fostering trust and inclusivity. Implementing live streaming in Colfax would demonstrate a real commitment to transparency and encourage greater community involvement. This is common sense to me!
Beyond formal board meetings, I propose quarterly town halls where parents and community members can meet with board members, ask questions, and collaborate together. These informal sessions would promote open communication and strengthen relationships between the board and the community. It’s time for a new standard of openness in the Colfax School District!
• Anything else you would like voters to know?
You will vote for the Colfax School Board where you normally vote for other elections! If this is your first time, what a great first-time opportunity!! Did You Know? School Board Elections are often decided by just a FEW votes — sometimes even ONE!
Election Day: April 1, 2025 #WePayWeGetASay Share & Encourage Others to vote!
