By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Voters in the Geneseo School District will have the opportunity to vote for school board candidates at the upcoming April 1 election. The seats are four-year terms.
Kane Causemaker is seeking re-election to the board and three newcomers will be elected to the school board. Current board members Jackie Mickley, Barry Snodgrass and Karen Urick are not seeking re-election to the board.
The newcomers are Casey Disterhoft, Tyler Robertson and Kelly Storm.
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.|
All photos are submitted and the candidates are listed in alphabetical order with their responses:
KANE CAUSEMAKER (SEEKING RE-ELECTION) – Kane Causemaker and his wife Christina have a daughter Kolby (16); and a son Knox (14).
He graduated from high school in Geneseo in 1995 and earned a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education from Oklahoma State University.
Causemaker is employed as Protein Procurement lead for JBS.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOLBOARD? – “There isn’t a profession more vital to a child’s potential than a legitimately great teacher. Just as important is the creation and maintenance of a suitable learning environment. After college, I regrettably did not pursue a career in education, and this is just my way of attempting to be an asset to Geneseo’s school district.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? - “My greatest concern is for the students in our district to have everything they need that helps them maximize their potential in the future. We have to manage their needs and also create a work environment conducive to quality teacher retention, all while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We can accomplish this with sound and open communication between the BOE (Board of Education) and administration.”
CASEY DISTERHOFT - and his wife Angelica have one son Noah, and two daughters, Keira and Isla.
Disterhoft graduated from JD Darnall High School (now Geneseo High School) in 1995; and earned a Bachelor’s Degree after attending Black Hawk College and Western Illinois University.
He is the City of Geneseo, Chief of Police.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “I’m running for school board to be part of an elected unified team representing the Geneseo School District area voters, ensuring our most valuable resource, the children, have a safe learning environment and a top tier education that gets them prepared for success in the rest of their lives.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? – - “Sustainability of a growing district population and taking steps by looking at what could be done to make the Geneseo School District even more desirable to other families when they make the decision to relocate.”
“Recruitment and retention of high-quality staff. We have great staff here in this school district at every building, in every unique section of the educational experience, and working with them to make sure this district exceeds in the future is something I look forward to.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
“I’ve dedicated my life to serving others, it is part of my soul and faith. I see serving on the school board as another opportunity where I can give back and make a positive difference in this community that I love.
I look forward to this opportunity of working with parents, staff and the children, making sure the children that come through this school district get a great education and are set up for success in their future so they can reach their goals and dreams.”
TYLER ROBERTSON – and his wife Renee have four children, Shaw (12 years); Harper, (10 years); Ryder (eight years); and Reed (six years).
Robertson is self-employed as business owner at Geneseo Child Care LLC, a DCFS licensed child care and preschool with two locations in Geneseo; also, owner at Charming Geneseo Farmhouse Airbnb Rental of Geneseo. He is president of Life’s Little Miracles, Inc., a DCFS licensed child care and preschool in Port Byron.
He graduated from JD Darnall High School in 2007 (the last year the school was known as JD Darnall High School before being renamed Geneseo High School) and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “My interest in running for the school board is vested in seeing our school district provide the children of our amazing community just as many great educators, role models, and opportunities as it has provided to myself growing up in Geneseo. I’m proud to be from Geneseo and am proud that we already have a great district by many standards.
After attending board meetings for the past year, my interest to be involved was sparked at the many critical choices our district faces, which affect and shape our community. I consider myself very connected to our area through my own children’s activities, through church, and through my business, all of which gives me a strong understanding of the wants and needs of our community. All facets of our community thrive when we have a great school district to build around.
Geneseo is home to a wonderful array of early learning programs that feed into the district, and I know many of these young learners personally. I’d love to see these children continue to succeed in our primary and secondary educational programs and beyond. The current school board has expressed the goal to not only be good at what we do, but to be great at it, and I am aligned with that vision.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? – Efficient and effective use of district funding always remains a critical balancing act. Striving for improvement while maintaining balanced funding is difficult, especially with the rate of inflation we’ve seen in recent years. To go along with challenges in funding, our district is also experiencing an ongoing, steady decline in enrollment with the overall number of students served. Yet, our population with IEPs has been increasing and is forecasted to continually increase, which presents challenges regarding resource allocation and how to best serve this population in the future. I believe my diverse business management experience will enable me to bring data-driven, as well as ‘outside-the-box’ solutions to the board.
Another issue that will require further attention and evaluation is our grading scales. Our current pilot of the standards-based program has raised concerns about clarity for parents and students and the need for a singular direction across the district is important for the progress of making successive decisions, like curriculum, to support the chosen scale.
My goal will be to facilitate open dialogue on all issues like this one, exploring options, and to develop solutions that maximize the potential of every student. I think it is also important to note that all issues that face the district come with many complexities, and so it will be crucial to collaborate with the board team members on solutions that benefit all students.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS – “Geneseo CUSD #228 will be transitioning to a new Superintendent to lead the next chapter in the history of Geneseo academic performance. The success of anyone in this position hinges on the support they receive from the community and that success ultimately is tied to the success of our district. Therefore, I would encourage the community to welcome whomever the Superintendent may be, and foster positive support when the time comes to ensure a smooth transition and a successful future for all.”
KELLY STORM – and her husband, Tyler, have two sons, Chambers, (seven years old); and Chesney (four years old). Storm is employed as a commercial insurance producer.
She graduated from Annawan High School and pursued General Studies at Quincy University.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “I’m running for the school board because I’m committed to strengthening our schools and supporting Geneseo’s tradition of excellence.
With a background in community involvement and a clear understanding of the challenges we face, I want to work closely with teachers and administrators to create a supportive, high-achieving environment for students and staff. Serving on the board will allow me to help preserve and build on Geneseo’s strong community values, district support, and outstanding leadership.
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTGRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? – “Joining any board, I believe it is essential to fully understand all topics and issues before proposing any recommendations or changes, particularly at a time when we’re welcoming a new superintendent. This transition presents a unique opportunity to reassess and refine our strategies to better serve the entire district.
As a new member at this critical juncture, I am committed to collaborating closely with the new superintendent and other board members to implement the necessary adjustments and enhancements. My goal is to ensure that our policies and practices are effectively aligned with the needs of all stakeholders in the district, thereby optimizing our educational environment and outcomes.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS – “I am eager to serve our community and help maintain Geneseo Community School District #228 longstanding reputation for educational and athletic excellence. I am committed to supporting our educators, administrators and coaches in fostering an environment where learning and achievement are prioritized. I look forward to contributing to a district that not only values excellence, but also nurtures the potential of every student and staff member.”