By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Voters in the Geneseo School District will have the opportunity to vote for three school board candidates at the upcoming April 4 election. The seats are four-year terms.
Two incumbents, Diane Olson and Kyle Ganson are seeking re-election to the board and five newcomers are vying for seats on the school board.
The newcomers are Scott Henson, Lance Neal, Nolan Paxton, Julie Robinson and Erin Schumacher.
In our quest for information regarding the qualifications of each candidate, we put together a list of questions for them to answer, and asked the candidates to answer each question in 200 words or less.
Over the course of the week, we’ll explore all seven candidates.
KYLE GANSON and his wife Michelle have four children, Aaron, Rachel, Ryan and Matthew. Ganson is retired and previously served as a teacher, coach, building principal at the elementary and middle school level and District Superintendent. He has 35+ years of educational experience in Illinois.
Ganson’s political experience includes completing his first term on the Geneseo Board of Education.
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bradley University, Peoria; Master of Science in Educational Administration from Illinois State University; Master of Science in Educational Administration from Western Illinois University.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “I strongly believe school boards need individuals with relevant experience and training to provide objective, analytical oversight to the wide range of issues encountered in public education today. I strongly believe all children have a right to the best possible educational opportunities that their communities can provide in a safe, nurturing environment that is inclusive by design with high expectations for achievement. I have spent most of my adult life working to provide experiences and encouraging students to dream and explore and believe in themselves. Serving as a Geneseo School Board member is an honor and a calling to contribute back to the community.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILLYOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? – “My perspective of the major issues facing the Geneseo School District include state mandates, teacher shortages and turn-over, and efforts to promote social-political ideology into the public school system. Given the scope of these issues, I will briefly state my position that I believe in strong local control of educational programs and services. I support the employment of the most skilled and talented professional teachers available, and public education must be free from ideological indoctrination that seeks to omit or distort facts for the purpose of promoting an individual’s or group’s political agenda.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS – “Please vote!”
-SCOTT HENSON – and his wife Melissa have two sons, Cole, a seventh grader at GMS; and Owen, fourth grader at Millikin Elementary. Henson is a 1999 graduate of Geneseo High School (which at that time was JD Darnall High School); earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Western Illinois University where he majored in Business Management with a Minor in Marketing. He is Regional Sales Manager for M&L Logistics.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD? “I want to effect change in a positive way and help our community grow and thrive. A good quality education is at the root of a good life for everyone. I want to help this happen while maintaining the beliefs and values that our community is built on.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? “I feel the State as a whole has lost focus on what is at the heart of a quality education. The chief issue that the district faces is to maintain the values that the Geneseo community is built on. While I realize that we must follow the law, we don’t want to lose sight of what is at the center of a quality education. The core subjects: Math, English and Science. I want to help eliminate the outside noise that comes from the political environment and focus on education at its foundation. - Doing all of this, while maintaining a safe and comfortable learning environment for our students and teachers. This requires political diligence, fiscal responsibility, collaboration, and a bit of common sense.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS - “I was born and raised in Geneseo, IL, and love this town. My wife and I have chosen to raise our children in this wonderful community and excellent school system. I don’t want our community or board to lose sight of what great schools and teachers we do have.”
Tomorrow, we’ll see comments from Lance Neal.
