Wilson, Schultz return to School Board ballot

Two candidates who ran last spring to fill a one-year vacancy on the Elmbrook School Board will square off again April 5.

School Board member Kathryn Wilson, who was elected in April to finish the remainder of former Brookfield mayoral candidate David Marcello's term, will face Sandra Schultz in the race for the board's at-large seat.

Schultz finished fourth in the four-way race for two open School Board seats last year.

Kathryn Wilson

Wilson said her reason for running for re-election is simple.

"I still have a lot of work to do," she said.

One of the most important goals she has is "strengthening our curriculum so we continue to attract students and serve them well," she said. She wants to see Elmbrook improve its math curriculum, starting in early elementary school, so that every student is ready to take algebra by the time they reach eighth grade.

Wilson also said she would like to include a selection of classic literature in each grade level so students arrive at high school with a common knowledge base and exposure to good writing.

"The main goal of a strong curriculum is to provide a great education for students," she said. "That is the whole business of a school."

Wilson also said the district is likely to see big impacts from state-level decisions, including action on Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill and the 2011-13 Wisconsin budget. The discussions happening in Madison could "open up the conversation" so more effective bargaining can talk place between the district and its public employees.

"Our past practice of cutting programs or laying teachers off in order to give teachers unsustainable raises is something we can't continue to do," she said.

Sandra Schultz

Schultz said she is running for School Board again because she has "more quality time to really dedicate at a board level" since the youngest of her four children is graduating from Brookfield East High School this year.

Her involvement with a number of district- and community-based groups over the last 18 years has given her a good relationship with parents, teachers and administrators.

"I'm always trying to be a help where I can be a help in the district," she said.

Like a lot of concerned district residents, Schultz said, she is focused on what's happening in Madison and how it could affect Elmbrook. She has taken the opportunity to meet with state legislators to get more insight on the proposed changes.

And if big changes do take place, she said, it's up to the district to embrace new opportunities and come up with creative approaches to education while still keeping student learning as Elmbrook's top priority.

"It's really, really important that we all work together for a quality school and a quality community," she said.

Board members serve three-year terms and earn $3,600 a year.

Sandra Schultz

AGE: 47

ADDRESS: 4755 Shagbark Court, Brookfield

FAMILY: Husband, Jim; four children - three district graduates and a senior at Brookfield East

JOB: Homemaker, district and community volunteer

EDUCATION: AAS degree in Public Relations

CONTACT: (262) 781-8588, sandraschultz@live.com, schultzforschoolboard.com

Kathryn Wilson (i)

AGE: 47

ADDRESS: 1185 Simon Drive, Brookfield

FAMILY: 2 boys, 2 girls, ages 8, 12, 17, 19; married to Farshid Farrokhnia

JOB: Elmbrook Board of Education, homemaker

EDUCATION: Michigan State University, B.A. English Language and Literature, engineering minor

CONTACT:katy.wilson@wi.rr.com, wilsonforelmbrook.com