Glenwood City school board candidate: Tryn Gross
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City Tribune Press Reporter sent out questionnaires to candidates for the Glenwood City school board in the April election. Here is the questionnaire submitted by Tryn Gross.
• Why did you decide to run for a position on the Board of Education? Currently there is no one on our school board that represents our elementary kids. Current members either have older kids in school or no longer have kids in school. I think the elementary kids should have some representation. I’d also like to see more participation at the meetings. I’ve been attending meetings for two years and I’d like to see more questions, suggestions, and participation in general.
• In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing education in the state of Wisconsin? Lack of support. Our schools need our support in more than just funding and they seem to be losing support in multiple ways. Funding is being cut, academics are increasing to unrealistic levels, teachers are forced to push the academics in order to meet standardized tests and are unable to address the other needs that students require since academics are only one thing that is done in the classroom. We can’t keep increasing academics (expecting a kindergartner to perform at a first grade level) and expect our kids to succeed. The needs of our students go beyond academics and we should be able to address those needs if we want our students to thrive.
• What do you see as the biggest issue facing the Glenwood City school district? Funding. Our funding continues to get cut and it impacts all aspects of our school. Our district is fortunate to have support from our community in a variety of ways, but with state funding being cut it’s taking a toll on our district.
• The school is currently building a softball field with funding the school received from the city’s TIF district. With a nice city-owned ball field within walking distance, would it not have been better to use that money to support a Safe Route To School project or help fund the current projects under the recently-approved referendum? Being part of the Task Force that helped determine the immediate needs of the school, I can tell you that building a school owned and operated softball field was on our list of items at the beginning of the process. It isn’t safe for our kids to be crossing the highway when there is no safe way to do it. The state will not allow a crosswalk because the entrance to the school does not line up with Misty Lane. Changing the school parking lot and adding an entrance so that it does line up was considered, but the state will not allow two entrances that close together. Other options have been considered, and this was the best option. Our school is very limited at doing improvements and updates when using a field they do not own. Long term it is much better for the school to have their own field. We were already going to referendum when our administration was notified this money was available. This money wasn’t available prior to deciding what would be included in the referendum.
• What else would you like residents of the Glenwood City school district to know about you as a candidate for the Board of Education? I have three small boys, two currently in school and one quickly approaching school age. I care a great deal about our district and after attending board meetings for the last two years would like to add participation to the meetings. I spent a lot of time on the Task Force helping determine what improvements are necessary for our school and am grateful to have gotten that opportunity as it has made me more aware of our school district’s needs. I’m an active member of the GCE PTC (Parent Teacher Connection) and would like to represent the elementary kids in the board room.
