Exeter-Milligan School Board Candidates Forum

1.    Additional information on each candidate:

SSharon S. Baum Kuska, Ph.D., P.E., LEED A.P. (incumbent)

2.    Spouse: Galen Kuska, farmer

Children: 

Casey Kuska (wife Kristina), employed as a 4^th grade teacher in the Independence, Missouri school system, currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Administration (expected graduation – December 2014), a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and 2006 graduate of Exeter-Milligan Public Schools

Allee Kuska, a second year medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University and 2007 graduate of Exeter-Milligan Public Schools

Megan Kuska White (husband Justin White), employed by Farmers Cooperative, lives on a farm between Exeter and Milligan, a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and 2008 graduate of Exeter-Milligan Public Schools

3.    Background history:  I am currently beginning my 29^th year as a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the College of Architecture.  I have degrees in architecture and engineering: bachelors in architectural studies, masters and doctorate in civil engineering.  I am a licensed Professional Civil Engineer.  When Galen and I got married 28 years ago, I moved into the Exeter-Milligan community to start the next phase of my life.  I am originally from Tecumseh, Nebraska, where I grew up on a farm with three brothers. 

4.    Motivation to become a School Board member:  At this time, I am motivated to seek re-election to another term on the Exeter-Milligan School Board as I feel I can still make a positive contribution to the education of the youth in our district.  I have a strong passion for education and for the community, and feel I can make decisions and suggestions that can serve the best interests of both the students and patrons.  
   
     Adam Erdkamp 

 -  My wife is Becky Erdkamp, who is currently employed as the Marketing Manager at our family car dealership.  We have two young sons.  Deacon is four and just started preschool in the new TYKE program at Exeter-Milligan Public Schools, and Axel will turn three in October.  I was born and raised in Exeter, graduated from Doane College in 2000, and we have made Exeter our home since the beginning of 2004 after living in Denver for a little more than three and a half years.

   As I mentioned before I grew up in Exeter and graduated from Exeter Public Schools in 1996.  After four years of study I graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Doane College in 2000.  In the spring of that year I accepted a management training position from FirstBank Holding Company of Colorado.  During the training program I gained experience in several different areas of bank operations and management.  Upon completion of the training program I worked as a Bank Officer and was eventually promoted to Vice President.  In late 2004 I left the bank to return home and work with my Dad at our family’s car dealership.

Currently I help with the overall management of our Chrysler Group dealership.  I spend the majority of my time assisting customers with vehicle purchases and arranging financing for customers.

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  -     I enjoy being able to help contribute toward the betterment of the community and have had the opportunity to be involved with several local groups and organizations. I feel being a member of the Exeter-Milligan School Board would allow me to make a valuable impact in our community by helping to provide a good learning environment for the children in our school system.  I would also like to become a member of the School Board so I can have a voice and be present as our communities make the important decisions we will face in the years to come.  Because my kids are just coming into the district I feel it is a good time to become involved regarding their educational experience.  I feel my business background and volunteer experiences would help me make educated an fair decisions.  I am more than willing to listen to different opinions, as we need to consider all options when making choices that will directly impact the lives and educational outcomes of the children in our communities.

   Kendra Jansky

# -  Husband – Jeff, Daughters – Kate – 8^th grader in Exeter and Cameran – 5^th grader in Milligan

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-  - I was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas and following graduation attended Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas.  While playing women’s basketball I earned an Associate of Arts degree.  I continued my education and basketball career at Doane College in Crete and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a business major.  It was while I was in college that I met my now husband and decided to stay in the area.  I currently am a consumer loan officer at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Milligan and am in my 15^th year of employment.

# - Four years ago I participated in Fillmore County’s leadership program, known as ODEGEO.  Since that time I considered the possibility of serving on the school board given the opportunity.  I feel that it is important to have representation not only from both communities but in gender and age as well.  This natural variety of insight and perspective is what optimistically nurtures a well-rounded board.

  

     Mark Bigelow

    -  Wife Becky. Works at Greg’s Market.  Children: Mariah graduated from Exeter-Milligan and is attending college at Peru State.  Nathan graduated from Exeter-Milligan is attending Wayne State.  Alicia graduated Exeter-Milligan and is finishing up at Central Community College Columbus and will transfer.  Kelsey is a 9^th grader at Exeter-Milligan

_ - My background is shady at best!  I picked myself up and made something of myself!  I endeavored and succeeded, this is a powerful lesson.

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   - To help our school to become a better learning facility.  To get our students prepared for higher education or to become successful in the work force.  My main goal would be to show them values, ethics, and how to stay on the right path to achieve their goals.

 

Timberwolve gridirons improve their record to 7 - 0

Kyle Jensen heads to the side to weave in out of Mustang defenders for another Timberwolf touchdown.

 Jack Dinneen #96 breaks loose from Meridian defenders, catches a Sam Zeleny pass and heads into the end zone.

 Dusty Axline #1 leaves the Mustangs in the dust as he finds the end zone for the Timberwolves.

 #50 Broc Mueller, clears the way for Dusty Axline (carrying the ball) to make a first down for the Timberwolves.

Freshman Eric Olsen #8 carries the ball for the Timberwolves with Meridian players #34 Cesar Nunez and #80 Cody Lundholm chasing him.  Timberwolf teammates #88 Evan True and #10 Seth Maxson heading to help.

Kirby Soukup kicks a beautiful punt for the Timberwolves.

Exeter-Milligan Welcomes Marietta Purtschert

Marietta Purtschert is really enjoying everything about America as a foreign exchange student at Exeter-Milligan.

She misses a few things in her native Switzerland like the chocolate and the bread but claims she doesn’t miss the school.  “I wanted a break from school, to do something I had never done before.  School in Switzerland is hard.”

This year Purtschert is living with Exeter-Milligan junior Marissa Howard and her family, Marcy and Mark Reinsch and their children.

She misses her younger brothers Tim and Raphael who are 12 and 14 along with her parents but so far she is having a great time.

One of her goals this year was to improve her English, “Coming to America is just cool.  Everyone in Switzerland wants to come to America.”

On her way to Nebraska, Purtschert attended an Education First (EF) camp which she really enjoyed, “we went to Boston and had school and activities there.  We did some group stuff and tried all of the sports.”

As far as missing home, besides her family, Purtschert is really missing, “my freedom.  Living in the country is harder because I can’t drive.  I always have to have someone bring me somewhere.  At home I ride my bike everywhere.  I also miss fresh fruit, vegetables and fresh bread.”

At Exeter-Milligan Purtschert is playing volleyball and will play basketball and participate in track.  She is really looking forward to track as she spent eight years doing high jump, long jump and a few other field events.

She is enjoying the school so far, “Everyone is like chill.  All the teachers and students are so nice.  We have a lot more studying, homework and tests in Switzerland.”

Purtschert also likes all the school spirit she sees at sporting events, “My friends in Switzerland are all so jealous.  It’s like the movies here, everybody keeps supporting everybody and cheering for everyone.”

Speaking English has been the hardest for her, “Now I can understand almost everything and I am used to it.  Speaking is so hard because I can’t really say what I want to.  A smaller school is good especially at the beginning.”

Exeter-Milligan School Board Discusses Curriculum, Building Project

The Exeter-Milligan  school board met Monday, Oct 13 in Milligan with School board president Sharon Kuska absent.

After invoices were read and minutes were reviewed no corrections were made and approved.

Vice President Brent Moore led the meeting.  

Paul Sheffield gave the results of the NESA assessment reports, “One of our school improvement goals was writing.  We have made some changes through the year in our writing curriculum and unofficially we saw some improvement.  With our smaller class sizes it only takes one kid to throw it off.  But on the flip side when you have a small sample size you can pinpoint that child and figure out what you can do to help that child."

Elementary Principal Laura Kroll gave her perspective on some of the testing and curriculum.  “All of this tracking is just pieces of the puzzle.  I have learned not to panic when we get results from a testing because they are just pieces of the puzzle.  We are looking at several pieces of data for each child to see if they are having problems across the board.”

Kroll shared how the elementary teachers keep close tabs on their students’ progress especially in reading and language.  “I cannot say enough good things about our teachers.  We look at data and see what we can do to help. Instead of waiting until they fail big we have put these interventions in place for kids who need it.”

Under old business the board once again discussed a possible building project.  Sheffield showed a presentation that he had designed that reviewed objectives for the project along with the next steps.  

Priorities stated were a community fitness room and moving the classrooms out of the basement of the 1914 building.  Other priorities were a service to kitchen area, moving the fiber connection, adding kitchen storage and preschool space.

The next point of discussion addressed what is needed. Sheffield noted that a fitness center and getting the music, art and Spanish rooms out of the basement along with a community classroom were needed.  Also on the list was a commons area east of the gym used to connect the new with the old and route foot traffic out of the gym.  One life safety update was fire sprinklers.

Wants were also discussed including a new west entry and commons expansion to the west of gym, the corridor or commons to the west instead of walking through the gym and possibly a preschool room. “Right now space wise we are maxed out for the number of kids we have in preschool,” explained Sheffield. 

The projected cost of the classroom addition was 2.3 million with another $150,000 in updates for the sprinklers totaling around $2.5 million.  Funding was expected to come through the JPA with 1.5 million in bonds (which includes JPA funds already collected) with an addition bond with a levy expected to be at .0447 per $100 for 4 years to pay for the addition at current property valuations.  The rest of the funds would come from the building fund.

The board discussed other options for funding including the current depreciation fund and construction bonds along with using any surplus monies in the general fund.

Sheffield then approached the board with questions about timeline.  The next step, according to Sheffield, is a site survey, along with an architect contract.  After discussion the board advised Sheffield to get both of those processes started.

Brent Moore noted, “I think we need to inform the public before we go too far.  I think we need to get the site survey going.” 

The Board reviewed some of the projected plans on their ipads which were not shared with the public and had a further discussion on the placement of facilities.

The board discussed public presentation of the project, “I don’t think this project is out of line,” Board member Annette Gloystein said, “We can all argue the price but nothing is cheap.  This has a lot of things in it that will benefit a lot of our students and our community.”

“We can inform the public,” Gloystein continued, “but I always feel every one of our meetings is open so we are open to informing the public every month.  I think it’s important to get a little more information from the architects and just inform them during a regular meeting.”

Sheffield expressed that the board should have a special meeting to inform the public, “We need to project the needs of the school, ‘This is what we are doing because this is what is needed and this is how we are going to fund it.’”

The board is looking at three phases- first a band room, classrooms, and commons area. The other two phases are down the road where they will be looking at updating other areas of the school.

The board talked about the upcoming contract negotiations but will have to wait to get the insurance numbers before negotiations begin.

Sheffield informed the board that they will be having a Junior High football coop review with Friend soon.  The next meeting was scheduled for November 12 in Exeter at 7 p.m.