Letter to the editor: Prisk, Van Ess supported for school board

Editor’s note: following is a letter to the editor endorsing a political candidate(s). Fort Atkinson Online accepts letters in support of candidates with the following stipulations: letters must include name, address, and telephone number of the letter’s author. Only the name and municipality will be published. Authors may submit for publication one letter per week. Letters may not exceed 700 words. Candidates may not submit letters on their own behalf. No letters endorsing political candidates running in the Feb. 15 primary election will be published after Tuesday, Feb. 8. Fort Atkinson Online’s full letter-to-the-editor policy is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-atkinson-online-letter-to-the-editor-policy/.

Dale Prisk is a candidate for the Fort Atkinson School Board in the Feb. 15 primary election. 

Dale has two children enrolled in Fort Atkinson public schools and is committed to improving vital aspects of school operations, including student test scores, reversing declining enrollment numbers, finding creative solutions to cost savings, and increasing revenue through a conservative lens.  Dale’s professional experience gives him the financial knowledge to review statistical information and conduct risk versus reward analysis.

Dale values the Fort Atkinson community and is an active participant not only in the community but with the children of the community as well.  Dale describes volunteering in his children’s classrooms and enjoying spending time with not only his child but with the teacher and the other children as well. He talked about always looking forward to his volunteer days and attending field trips. He discussed how he has missed these experiences since COVID-19 and realizes how other parents must feel the same.

Dale also coaches a girls’ basketball team with the Fort Park and Rec Department. Being a role model and teacher for young children is important and gives Dale the knowledge and insights that school board members need. This demonstrates Dale’s commitment and passion for his community and the children of the community.

He is open minded and not afraid to ask questions. He will complete the necessary research and will involve all team members to gather pertinent information before making informed decisions. He has described being willing to meet conflicts head on and to not shy away from having objective and goal-oriented conversations on the “difficult” topics that teams or communities may face.

Dale understands the collaborative effort that is needed between the district, parents, and the community. He wants to have increased transparency between the board and the community, especially with the community being able to ask questions of the board during board meetings. On the school board, Dale would not only be a voice for parents, but help ensure that all voices are heard before the board to truly make it a 1Fort, 1Community experience. Please vote for Dale Prisk for school board on Feb 15.

Rebecca Van Ess is a candidate for the Fort Atkinson School Board in the Feb. 15 primary election.  

Rebecca has five children, some of whom she home schools and others are enrolled in the Fort Atkinson public schools. She is an active and dedicated parent and community member.   

Home schooling her children helps Rebecca to identify what is working in our education system, and other areas that need improvement. 

Rebecca is a strong advocate for parent involvement with their children, their child’s school, and the school district. She wants every parent to be heard and to have collaborative relationships with the district. She wants to improve student enrollment in the public schools in Fort Atkinson and realizes to increase enrollment, rebuilding of the bonds with parents and other community members is needed.  

Spending time with Rebecca, I can see she is not only a strong advocate for her own children but for every child as well.  She is dedicated to ensuring every child receives a quality education in the public school system. Rebecca values quality education, including “going back to the basics.”  Which is, in the current vernacular, STEM:  Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. 

Instructing students about finances, how to perform technical trades through hands-on experiences, and training for both technical schools and universities after graduation are also important issues for Rebecca.  She is a huge believer in each student learning critical thinking skills and receiving an individualized education based on the child’s needs and academic level. She cares about the future of her children, all children, and the future of our country.  

Please vote for Rebecca Van Ess for the Fort Atkinson School Board Tuesday, Feb. 15. 

Sara Foerster

Fort Atkinson

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