The upcoming Austin School Board race is packed, and on Nov. 6 the decision on who will be seated will be left up to the voters.

Seven candidates have filed to run for election. Four of those seven are incumbents and have served at least a one term on the school board. Some of the issues that candidates could expect to face in the future if elected to serve would be addressing growing student enrollment as well as continuing to meet facilities’ needs to accommodate that growth.

Here are the candidates running for Austin School Board:

Kathy Green (incumbent)

Community Involvement: First United Methodist Church, Austin Community Scholarship Committee, Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, Development Corporation of Austin

Occupation: Austin School Board Treasurer, Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) President, Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), Board of Trustees President, and National School Boards Association (NSBA) Regional Director

What made you decide to run for school board?

My decision to run for re-election to the Austin School Board is based on my desire to continue my work to advocate for public education. I have made it my life’s work to both elevate and support the work that takes place in our classrooms and to provide for the necessities and enrichment experiences that students need to achieve academic success. That means different approaches for many kids. The current leadership I provide at the local, state and national level is dependent on my re-election.

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future you’re hoping to address?

The most important issues facing the Austin Public Schools are keeping current and proactive in regards to our ever-changing demographics and technology, and monitoring our facilities’ capacity and needs. In a time of limited and tentative funding from the state and federal government, we need to leverage our resources in the most efficient and effective manner to provide for programming and classroom needs.

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat on the Austin School Board?

In the work I have done at the local, state and national level to support and advocate for our schools and public education, I have been able to not only bring back invaluable experience, connections and knowledge, but I have shared Austin’s story of incredible programming, community engagement, public/private partnerships, staff innovation and student talent and achievement. I bring an outreach that takes our voice for needs and accolades beyond the border of our community.

If re-elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

During this next term I would wish to continue working with the dedicated group of people who are focused on the well being of our students. I would work towards providing programing that is relevant to building the foundation of our students’ success. Backing students whether they are preparing for a hands on or academic based future. I would support the professionals that meet them in their classrooms each and every day. My approach would be with high expectations for engaging and empowering all learners for life.

Peggy Young (incumbent)

Community Involvement: Member of the Board of Equalization and Appeals for the City of Austin; member of the Fire Civil Service Commission for the City of Austin; board member for the Mower County Senior Center; member of the Austin High School Packer Backer Booster Club; past president of the Austin Jaycees

Occupation: Customized Training and Education Business Consultant at Riverland Community College; licensed realtor with Sterling Real Estate

What made you decide to run for school board?

Nearing the completion of my first term, I feel as if I’m finally running at full speed. Policy, finance, personnel … I have a greater understanding of the “ins and outs” of our district than I did four years ago. I am now in a better position to help carry out the wonderful future that is planned for our district.  Most important, I have a deep desire to ensure the success of our students.  A strong, healthy school district creates a strong, healthy community. I don’t want to watch. I want to do.

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future you are hoping to address?

This is a great time for Austin Public Schools.  The partnerships our district has forged allow us to be creative in our curriculum and offer opportunities to our students that other districts just can’t offer.  I’m sure we would all agree that the current workforce shortage is an important issue for our district and our community.  We have talented, enthusiastic students in our schools who can fill (some of) the employment gaps locally with the continued growth of advanced manufacturing programming in our schools. Funding for equipment in career tech labs is costly and is currently not a priority at the state or federal level.  This is where creative partnering becomes even more important.  We have healthy CTE programming in our district today; I would like to see this area grow even stronger.

Another area that absolutely needs attention in our district is finding a permanent, appropriate home for our Community Learning Center (CLC).  We have leased space at Queen of Angels Church for a number of years, but the infrastructure of the building, increasing numbers of students enrolling, and desire to offer additional programming make it critical that we find a solution to the space issues currently plaguing the CLC.  The committee that was formed this past year did excellent work in surveying the needs of the families we serve and the needs of the district; we now need to build upon this base and create a long term plan.  Early childhood education creates a foundation for successful students K-12; we owe them a proper place to grow and learn and prepare for their future in APS.

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat in the Austin School Board? 

If passion plays a role in qualifying a candidate, then I’m in.  Education has been my passion for decades. From teaching community education classes, to guest speaking in K-12 classrooms, serving on the PTC and other school committees, or delivering training to adult learners…providing learning opportunities in our community is what gets me excited. Having had a son graduate this year, I know the district on a personal level; not only as a Board member, but as a parent.  Four generations of my family have graduated from Austin Public Schools, and I want to do the work that will continue the tradition of excellence that has been so important to my own family. I am committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for our students based upon respect and responsibility. I believe in measurable improvement for each of our students, and will work diligently with administration, staff and teachers to put into place the resources students need to become successful.  I understand the role a healthy education system plays in our greater community and hope to continue forging partnerships that allow our students … and our community … to grow stronger.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term? 

As I mentioned earlier, finding a permanent home for the CLC is high on my priority list. Creating a solution, educating the public on the critical need of a project like this, securing funding, and seeing the project to fruition – this drives me.  I want to continue to see individual growth in our students and their abilities by providing resources and encouraging creative programming.  We have a district full of teachers willing to take risks in their classrooms; I want to support these teachers however I can and encourage others to do so as well.  I am excited to be part of a board that works together effortlessly, filled with people who respect the opinions of others but will fight for what they think is right for our students, considers the impacts of their decisions both fiscally and strategically, and who will work tirelessly to get the hard work done.  Austin Public Schools has a brilliant future – I hope to be part of creating that future.

Angie Goetz (incumbent)

Community Involvement:  Mayor’s Housing Task Force, Austin Youth Soccer Association board member, Austin Public Schools Facilities Committee, Personnel Committee, Policy Committee, Curriculum Committee, Early Childhood Advisory Council, Gifted and Talented Advisory Council, the Austin Public Education Foundation, World’s Best Workforce, Mower County Collaborative, and Communications Committee. I also spent two years with the Calendar Working Group studying various calendar options for the District. Cornerstone Church Women’s Ministry Coordinator

Occupation: Property manager for Science Park Housing

What made you decide to run for school board?

I want the kids in our community to have the most engaging and inspiring education they can possibly have. I want them to have every possible advantage as they grow and learn in our schools. I want to be a voice for parents and students in our district. I believe we have great teachers, innovative administrators, and fantastic students. Simply put, I’m excited to be a part of all that lies ahead for our district.

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future you are hoping to address?

The challenge of the achievement gap is statewide and local. Facility needs for all our programs and students. Potential district calendar change that is beneficial for our community’s students and families. There is a mental health crisis in our nation and it affects our schools. It is an important issue because it affects how students will succeed in school now and in their futures. 

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat in the Austin School Board?

All the candidates have their own unique strengths they would bring to this position. I have three kids in our district and I believe that every student in this district deserves our very best as school board members. They deserve our innovation, hard work, belief in them, long-term and short-term vision, and our leadership. I am a thinker, question-asker and leader. I have experience and vision for the future of Austin Public Schools that includes hope and a promising future for all of our kids.     

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

I want to see the continued progress toward the goal of narrowing the achievement gap in our community. It will continue to take a determined team effort on behalf of the school board, our community, parents, administration and all school staff. We are making strides and I want to see our kids achieve their highest potential.    

Don Fox (incumbent)

Community Involvement: Came to Austin as a teacher and football coach. Had been coaching and teaching in states like Michigan and South Dakota before staying in Austin for the last 15-20 years. Involved as the assistant principal at Austin High School. Became principal at Southgate for six years. School is what I love.

What made you decide to run for school board?

Well, my desire was to always be involved with teachers, students and administration. It was a job that I always wanted. This is another opportunity to continue that, hopefully. That’s why I’m running. I have love for schools and for its teachers. I served two terms and am finishing out my term and running for the next one.

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future you are hoping to address?

We are beginning to address having more room for additional students. I’m hoping we can get Pre-K and first grade students all together at one site citywide. I’m also hoping to get the high school to have a little bit more room for growing student enrollment. That would be my aim to get this going.

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat in the Austin School Board?

Well, I’ve been elected onto the board twice, and that in itself has been quite an experience and a learning experience. I wanted the strongest group to be able to fit in as a team. We’re all a team. We’re working to do the best we can to help students, teachers and administrators. That’s our job to do so. I love schools and teachers. That’s where I stand. There isn’t a person on there who doesn’t. We have to work together.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

I think looking at the student enrollment and the movement is my focus. I think our aim is to make sure we have the facilities for what may be a larger student enrollment. That’s a big goal.

Curtis Schmit

Community Involvement: City of Austin Street Department      

What made you decide to run for school board?

I chose to run for Austin School Board because I want to be more involved in creating solutions for our local schools. I have a 2-year-old son and I want to assist in establishing a safe, comfortable and high education environment for when he grows into the school-age population.                                                                       

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future that you are hoping to address?

One of the issues I feel is important to our school district is deciding on a permanent location for the community learning center. Also I would like to find a solution for our overcrowding problem by finding a cost-effective location for administration.

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat in the Austin School Board?

I believe I am most qualified to be on the school board because I am very outgoing, motivated and invested into making our school system continue to progress. Although our current members have done a good job, I feel that getting a fresh set of eyes from someone of my age on the board could be beneficial to the advancement of our school systems and what is going on in our district.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

I would like to accomplish a permanent location for our community learning center, and find a solution for our administration that is achievable, affordable and efficient. I would also like to make sure our trades and robotics have the funding they need for a strong future in our district. I look forward to discussing any other issues that come forward and working with my colleagues to find the best possible solutions for our community and the people involved.

Aaron DeVries

Community Involvement: Special Education Advisory Council Member

Occupation: Youth Care Professional, Gerard Academy

What made you decide to run for school board?

I want to ensure that all students regardless of their race, gender, religion, abilities or socioeconomic status, receive the best inclusive education that our community can provide.

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future that you are hoping to address?

We have a great opportunity with the Austin Assurance Scholarship, but there will be students who do not qualify for that program or do not go to college. What is the district doing to support those students? I also think we need to do a better job of giving teachers and paras the resources and training they need to successfully support all students.

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat in the Austin School Board?

I have two children in the district and I have worked successfully with teachers and district staff for over ten years to give my children the best education possible. I am not afraid to question how things have always been done to figure out how we can do things better to help our students be successful at school and in life.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

I want to help make Austin the most inclusive district for students of all abilities in the state of Minnesota. By making the district more inclusive, all students will benefit.

Ojoye O. Akane

Community Involvement: Success Coach with Austin Public Schools, served as an AmeriCorps Vista with Habitat for Humanity, Austin Public Library Board member

Occupation: Emerging Markets Officer for Three Rivers Community Action

What made you decide to run for school board?

I worked with the school district as a Success Coach/Family Liaison from 2011 to 2015 to ease communication between our minority parents and children and the education system but after many years of helping families and their children, I have seen a lot of gaps that need to be bridged and I needed to be a part of the team that will listen to parents, educators, and administrators to find a better solution that benefits all students. Secondly, as Austin Public Schools’ diversity increases, our education system needs to be forward-looking and finding better ways of serving the student population in the district.

What are the most important issues that Austin Public Schools faces in the near future that you are hoping to address?

It has almost been four years since I left the school system, I don’t know the overall makeup of the teachers; I still want to learn. But one thing I know is that we’re still having a racial gap in teacher’s population; it still does not reflect the (student) population. That is one of the things I feel needs to be addressed, and maybe exert more effort in recruiting teachers of diverse populations and minority groups, even if it means incentivizing young minority groups to enter into the education field. It’s a process, but it needs to get started, even when kids are in high school and going to college. We can uplift them and try to stoke up that desire to become teachers.  Another issue I am concerned about is funding. We need to pay our teachers more so that we can get the best teachers. We don’t want our school to be the last choice. Given the nature of our district, I believe we have a pull of resources from the state, federal and local partners to make our school the best in the country.  Lastly, we want to continue to include parents in our decision-making process. They are the best resources we have to make the learning environment better for their children, we need to listen to them more.

What makes you the most qualified candidate for a seat in the Austin School Board?

I wouldn’t say this makes me the most qualified, but I am a parent of students and already I have learned a lot. I have learned and known the issues that our parents are currently facing in helping help their children succeed in schools. I think I am more than qualified to be part of a team that seeks hard in finding better solutions to current and future issues that our education system may encounter. I will be looking forward to collaborating with all entities that seek to make our education environment better for all.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

I would like to see an improvement in the education system by addressing teachers and student issues. The goal is to make an education system that is better for all students. So if there is even a 20 percent improvement, I’d say I want to be a part of the change and a part of that improvement. I can’t over-promise myself, but at the same time I know I want to be there to make a difference. I want to work together to accomplish that. We can put our heads together to look at what kind of school system we want to see five, 10, or 20 years down the road. We’ll build that together. I want to help to be that voice and I believe I am ready for that. So give me a chance. I am very passionate about making a difference in our education system. To me, every child has a potential to succeed given the resources they need.