Name: Jim Streveler
Age: 64
Family: Wife, six children
Education: BS in Ag education, minor in chemistry, vocationally qualified in tech ed areas
Occupation: Operating a beef farm
Town/village of residence: Cloverland
Civic and government involvement: Member of county comprehensive planning committee, chair of the Cloverland comprehensive planning committee, volunteer fireman for Cloverland Volunteer Fire Department, member St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Lake Nebagamon, involved with 4-H judging and youth education, officer in Amnicon Farmer’s Union.
Why are you seeking the seat?
I would like to improve the involvement of the people in their district such as getting board committees to be more active, various needs and curriculm in the area being taught.
How can the district weather the coming budget crunch? What cuts do you feel can be made to keep costs down? Do you forsee taxes increasing to maintain the quality of education?
We don’t know exactly what the budget crunch is going to be, but it’s going to be very interesting. We acan weather the budget crunch best with people involvement in their future. I don’t like staff cuts where it causes a loss in education or in personal development for students. I would look at changes to the days schedule and to the days that are scheduled as far as numbers.
As far as tax increase, we will not be allowed to have much of a tax increases. And I think taxes rate after parents, teachers and students involvement to maintain a quality education.
Do you have a plan to absorb students from the South Shore School District, if it dissolves? How big a financial strain would that put on the district in regards to busing costs? Is there enough room in the schools to absorb them? How would those issues be addressed?
I hope that South Shore stays independent as long as they see it is feasible. If it were to come to that point, we would be able to do an absorption of all the areas. The MS would show the most concentration. And, on the other hand, we might not get all the students from the district. Busing would add some cost but it would not be a major problem, I don’t feel.
What other big challenges are facing the district?
Health insurance cost I think affects everybody. Student integrity (drug use, bullying, lack of interest in school), home schooling and virtual education.
How would you deal with them?
Health insurance – I think there’s something that can be done with HRAs for teachers (health reimbursement accounts). I think more can be done with those accounts.
Student integrity – Give students more learning experiences that increase their responsibility and knowledge, and this should help them take pride in their community. This should help with the problems we have. We’re reaching a good percentage of kids, but some kids we’re losing. They are not in extra curricular activities, not in sports, don’t have something inspiring them, either a teacher or in the school curriculum. I feel this is because we don’t give them the learning experiences that increase responsibility and knowledge and give them pride in themselves.
Home schooling and virtual education – We need to offer technology that is more than computers ... it’s the applications we use computers for.
We’ve been in the computer age. It’s time to be doing more applications with them that relate back to the jobs that use them. The cure for home schooling and switching over to virtual education is to give them something in school they can’t get elsewhere; a hands-on experience that lets them work with the computer as they would in a future job. When I was on the board before, I suggested it could be improved that way. Integrating computer applications for all departments and increasing knowledge that can be used in future work is important to students’ education.
What strengths do you bring to the job; what sets you apart as a candidate?
I’m dedicated to learning, the personal development and experience. I’ve got 33 years experience teaching, 31 years experience as a substitute bus driver. I served on the school board for six years and worked with youth in various capacities for the last 40 years. I’ve also been involved in the community.
Is there anything else you feel is important for voters to know about you or your qualifications?
I just try to keep people informed and I respond to questions people ask me. I always try to give them an answer. If I don’t know the answer, I will look for it. I try to keep people informed. I would appreciate your vote April 5.
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