A pivotal election will take place on April 1 for the Oregon school board and it is so much more important than anyone can imagine.
We believe the incumbents, Odorico, Mixdorf and Christensen are the best choices for our school district and here’s why.
We believe, contrary to the challengers, that the current board has elicited teacher and community input and demonstrated openness and receptivity to the opinions and ideas presented to them.
There are many positive interactions occurring in this district—committees formed and confronting various concerns, focus groups with significant parent and teacher representation tackling tough issues, surveys sent and public comment asked for--all of this with the sole purpose to improve communication and solve our district’s problems.
The Oregon Observer with their series on the Personalized Learning Initiative has showcased a prime example of successful collaboration amongst the school board, administration, teachers and families. The incumbents are doing this now.
Also, given our current economic climate, it will take a board that is both knowledgeable and experienced to meet the financial challenges that lay ahead. Our current buildings are old, both physically and functionally.
If you don’t think that this matters when new families are looking for potential communities to relocate – you are mistaken. Just ask the folks who head up the HR departments at local companies. Verona, Waunakee, Sun Prairie, Middleton, those are the communities that are being viewed and considered. When families don’t relocate in our community that starts a decline that is hard to stop.
Our local business suffers, home sales suffer, school enrollment suffers, the number of teacher jobs decline. The incumbents Odorico, Mixdorf and Christensen understand this and are confronting this problem now.
The leadership demonstrated by school board members Odorico, Mixdorf and Christensen is professional, inclusive and forward-looking.
With their hard work and dedication to our students, they have earned re-election and deserve our vote April 1.
Mallory & Gary Gorman
City of Fitchburg