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The Avon School Board will be holding an election to select two of the five candidates running for a three-year term on the board. The election will be held on April 9th from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The polling place of the Avon School District will be held at the Avon Community Fire Hall. The five candidates running for the two open school board positions are Bridgette Muller, Matthew Grant, Joe Paulsen, Annie Thury, and Craig Vanderlei. Let us meet the candidates and see where each stand on issues facing the Avon School District. With the Avon School District and its students being the heart of the community, it is important to get to know a little bit about the candidates, what they stand for, the issues they feel are important, and what they see in terms of the future for the school. Bridgette Muller Bridgette Muller is about to complete her first full term on the Avon School Board and is seeking to be re-elected. She wants to continue to be a part of the school board that serves her hometown, and to be a voice for the students, staff members, and community. Bridgette is a life-long member of Avon and graduated from Avon High School in 2000. Bridgette wants to be a part of the school board in order to be involved in her children’s education, to understand obstacles that the district faces, to understand goals that the district has achieved and wants to achieve, and to further her knowledge on how the school district operates. Issues that Bridgette sees the Avon School District facing would be adjusting to the ever-changing digital age. She sees that the Avon school needs to be able to adjust to the new technology and problems that the new technology creates in order to continue to move forward to provide the Avon students with the best education possible. That being said, how the school moves forward must also comply with the mission of the school in mind. When asked what her vision for education in the school district is, Bridgette said that she wants to make sure that the mission and vision of the school remain a priority for student achievement. Avon has had a strong school and community for many decades, and she wants to see that strong foundation maintained for future generations. Bridgette also would like to get more of the community and parents involved in order to role model for the students that it is always important to be involved within both the school and community. Organizations and community activities that Bridgette has been involved in include Avon Post Prom Committee, All School Reunion Committee, coach of the 2nd/3rd/4th grade girls’ basketball team, high school volleyball official, announces with Live Ticket, and helps out with other various school activities. She has three children Keegan, Kaydence and Kyzleigh. Bridgette works as a human resources and payroll manager at Rush-Co in Springfield. When she is not busy working or volunteering, Bridgette is usually chasing after kids and attending school and community events. Matthew Grant This is Matthew Grant’s first time running for the Avon School Board. Matthew and his wife, Toni (Luke), and daughters moved to Avon at the beginning of the school year of 2020. As a newer resident of Avon, Matthew brings a different perspective to some of the issues facing the Avon School District. Grant has taken the time to attend school board meetings over the years since living in Avon and has noticed that there is a lack of trust between the teachers and school board members. This is one of the issues that Matthew knows that the district needs to address and find a solution for. One way that Matthew sees this issue starting to be mended would be that there be more transparency by the school board in the decisions that they make. Matthew is also a big advocate for the fine arts and would like to be able to build the Avon school’s already amazing music, art and drama departments and better educate parents and community members about the importance of fine arts and creating more opportunities for students who are involved in these activities. Matthew’s approach to getting things accomplished is “see a need, fill a need”. Some of the other issues that Matthew feels that the school board needs to be addressing would be children dealing with outside pressures, especially problems created by digital sources; the importance of being able to create dialogue between students, teachers and parents; and addressing peer pressure, mental health and behavioral issues. Grant’s vision for education in the Avon School District would be for Avon students to leave Avon High School after graduation as well-rounded students that are successful and supported in all areas. Not only does Grant want that for the Avon students, but he wants the Avon teachers to feel supported and empowered to help their students succeed. The Grant’s have three daughters Analiese (23) who is a married and teaching in Lincoln, NE; Ellanore (15) and Shaeleigh (11) both who are students in the Avon School District. Matthew works remotely as a software developer for Applied Systems of Chicago and is also a musician that plays in an instrumental post rock band called Minor Movements. Grant also works for the Avon music and drama departments in a contracted position, which has allowed him to build connections with both Avon staff and students. Joe Paulsen This is Joe Paulsen’s first time running for the Avon School Board. Joe and his wife, Stacy, and children moved to Avon six years ago. Paulsen decided to run for the Avon School Board because he was disappointed with how recent issues have been handled on the school board and thought a fresh view might help. Issues that Joe see’s as being important and needing to be addressed by the Avon School District include teacher shortages, declining enrollment numbers, and the need to address teacher salaries. Joe believes that if teacher salaries were to change that the Avon School District would be better able to draw more highly qualified teachers to the district and retain the amazing teachers that Avon already employs. Paulsen would like to see academics put at a higher priority than athletics. Athletics have their place and teach many valuable life lessons, but academics will take a student farther in life. Paulsen sees many of the school board decisions being based on sports instead of focusing on those decisions on academic issues. Joe feels that Avon is a small but good community that struggles to bring families into the district. The school has lost good teachers because the school board has not supported them and provided the teachers with the encouragement and appreciation that they deserve. Supporting the teachers is needed to keep the school alive. Without the Avon school, there is no community. Joe’s vision for education in the Avon School District is not to see Avon have to become a part of a consolidation of schools. He also wants to see the Avon students educated in a way that prepares them for life after high school. Joe wants Avon to have a school that they can continue to be proud of for generations to come. The Paulsen’s have three children in the Avon School District. Charli and Sophi are both freshmen and their youngest is Levi who is a first grader. Joe’s wife, Stacy, is a Special Education Coordinator and teacher at Avon. Joe is employed as Avon’s Street and Water Commissioner. Annie Thury This is Annie Thury’s first time running for the Avon School Board. Annie, her husband, Paul, and their children moved to Avon in 2007. Annie decided to run for a position on the Avon School Board because she wants to be able to help keep the Avon School District thriving and growing. Annie knows that the Avon school has a vast array of positive qualities and would like work to maintain these positive qualities while improving and adding to other areas that may need attention or improved upon. She also sees that the Avon school is a great asset to the community and as a small town, Avon needs to keep this asset strong. There is also a need to challenge themselves and continually grow, learn and process that Annie hopes to be a part of as a school board member. When asked what her educational vision is for the school district, Annie said she wants to see the Avon school continue to provide high quality education, and work to help students grow and learn in ways that help them become confident in their own personal skill sets. Issues that Annie sees needing to be addressed by the school district include funding, enrollment and teacher shortages. The Avon School District will need to work to help Avon present itself as the great place to live, work and raise a family that it is. Annie has been a very active member of the Avon community and been a part of many organizations over the years including member of the City Park Board, organizing the city youth ball program meetings and uniform orderings, Avon Booster Club, 3rd and 4th grade girls’ basketball coach, helped her husband coach youth baseball teams, helps with local and county 4-H, taught Sunday School at her church and is currently a church youth leader. Annie and Paul have three children. Lincoln who graduated from Avon and is a sophomore at SDSU; Landon a soon to be graduate of the Avon 2024 class who will be attending DWU in the fall; and Rilyn who is currently a freshman at Avon. Annie has been a registered nurse since 2002 and currently works as a Certified Nurse Practitioner at Avera St. Benedict Health in Parkston. Craig Vanderlei Craig Vanderlei is seeking re-election to the Avon School Board; he is finishing serving his first term on the board. Craig is seeking re-election because he wants to be able to learn more about how the school operates. Craig is a lifelong resident of the Avon area and became a part of the Avon School District in 1984 after the district lines were redrawn. Issues that are priorities to Craig are recruiting and retaining high quality teachers, finances and ensuring that the operations of the Avon school are completed in a fair way. Craig feels that his previous term on the board has given him the experience to serve the school board as well as being self-employed. Craig has been involved in several community organizations including the Emmanuel Reformed Church and a member of the county weed board. When asked why the Avon community should elect him to the school board, Craig says that he feels he is an honest person and tries to see all sides of an issue before making the best decision for the school district. Craig’s vision for education in the Avon School District is to potentially offer more varied classes for students to help better prepare them for future careers that they are interested in. Craig is married with five children, all of whom attend Avon school. He is self-employed as a farmer. Best of luck to all of the Avon School Board candidates. Remember to vote on April 9th at the Avon Community Fire Hall from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Every vote matters when it comes to providing the Avon students with the best education possible.