Your choices for Wausau School Board
Six candidates are facing off for four seats on Tuesday
Our last preview involves a six-candidate race for Wausau School Board.
In this case there are four seats up for grabs by six candidates. The top four candidates in number of votes will earn seats on the board.
The race involves three incumbents and three challengers, all with interesting and unique backgrounds.
The Wausonian spoke to four of the candidates over the phone. Cory Sillars declined the interview but sent a statement; and Charles Burger never responded. The Wausonian will provide a brief summary for readers based on Sillars’s statement but won’t re-print the full statement out of fairness to the candidates that took the time to speak to The Wausonian.
John Huntington
Huntington became interested in running for Wausau School Board after his experience with the elementary school consolidation study. Unlike the previous consolidation plan, he was impressed with the way the district and the consultant handled the consolidation process. But it also opened his eyes to the challenges the district faces.
Huntington says his priorities are providing the best education possible for students, recruiting and retaining the best teachers, and ensuring the board makes good choices to retain the trust of the community.
While Huntington praises the consolidation process, he bristled at the East-West river divide, which he says hinders unified decision making. He points to the argument over mascots when the former consolidation plan was in place as a good example.
Huntington presents himself as a good choice for transparency and for balance. He points out that right now only one of nine board members lives on the east side and his election would help change that balance. And he presents himself as a strong advocate for the trades and for STEM education.
Lance Trollop (I)
Trollop is a partner at Bremer and Trollop Law Firm, and is finishing his 15th year on the board. Trollop says he is running again because he loves his community and argues his long time on the board, including serving as its president, makes him a strong candidate and valuable voice on the board.
Trollop says his top priorities are attracting and retaining quality teachers, finding ways to address a growing behavior problem in schools, and ensuring that the district is fiscally responsible and efficient. All of that is in service of the over-arching goal of student achievement.
The long-time board member touted the elementary school consolidation as a great achievement for the district. He again cited behavior concerns in the schools, and said that is exacerbated by increased trauma and poverty in the district.
Trollop points to a proven track record of preparedness and thoughtful decision making in why voters should choose him. He says voters can talk to anyone who’s attended meetings regularly or see them for themselves to judge for themselves.
Yauo Yang
Yang is a pastor at The Cross Church and worked in education for 13 years, including eight as a teacher and five as an administrator. He’s also a veteran of the Iraq War and led The Joseph Project for a number of years. Yang says he is running in order to give back to the community he says has given him so much.
Yang says his priorities include ensuring teachers have the resources they need to be effective in the classroom, being a wise steward of tax dollars including making sure the district is right-sizing its buildings in the face of declining enrollment, and keeping positive relations and open communication with the community.
Yang says he is happy with the current administration, but he’s very concerned about the increase of behavior problems in the district. He says in some cases, it almost seems like the students are running the schools.
Yang says he is the only candidates with an education background, and that in-depth knowledge will help the board make an informed decision on education issues.
Kathryn Ruland
Ruland is a single mother who works at Ulta Beauty and is the president of Deeply Rooted Church, a pagan church in Athens. She’s running because she says it’s a dream to run for public office inspired by her New York Suffragette great-grandmother.
Ruland says her top priorities are nutrition for students, including free lunch for all students, not just younger students; supporting both students and teachers, arguing that the schools are the focal point of the community; and advocating for student voices, arguing for their First Amendment rights.
Ruland says she visited Franklin and Rib Mountain elementary schools after the consolidation and was pleasantly surprised, saying the classrooms weren’t overwhelmed as she initially suspected. But she has criticism of school board members who dismiss disruptive students without considering the root causes of their behavior.
Ruland pitches herself as a voice for under-represented students and groups, including single parents, LGBTQIA+ students, and families of special needs students.
Cory Sillars (I)
Sillars told The Wausonian he didn’t have time for an interview but sent a statement. In the interests of both fairness to the other candidates and getting readers information, the Wausonian will provide a brief summary of the candidate.
Sillars is a lifelong Rib Mountain resident and small business owner who currently serves as the clerk of the Wausau School Board and a Village of Rib Mountain trustee. In his campaign statement, he highlighted his work promoting operational efficiencies, advocating for school funding in Madison and voting to reduce the tax burden for district residents. If re-elected, he plans to focus on finding solutions for the district’s ongoing operational needs and advancing student achievement by building on the 2022 referendum.
Charles Burger (I)
Burger did not respond to The Wausonian’s email and follow-up email requesting an interview. According to interviews with other outlets, Burger is a regional sales manager for Quantum. He was appointed to the Wausau School Board in October, has been an adviser to organizations including NASA, is a certified instructor with the Department of Natural Resources. He told the school district when he was appointed that he aimed to “build upon Wausau School District's fine tradition and history of excellence.”
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