Q&A: Candidates for the Neenah Joint School Board share their goals ahead of this month's primary

Appleton Post-Crescent

NEENAH - The Feb. 20 primaries are coming up, when voters in the Neenah Joint School District will narrow the field of eight candidates in advance of the April 2 general election.

The eight are running for three open seats. The top six vote-getters will advance to the general election.

The Post-Crescent asked candidates to fill out a questionnaire explaining their relevant experience, why they wanted to run and what community members are telling them are the most important issues.

Some responses were edited for length and clarity. Candidates are ordered alphabetically by last name.

Incumbents Brian Epley and Kristian Sahr will face challengers Alex Corrigan, Susan Garcia Franz, Tom Hanby, Chari Long, Jeb Pfeifle and Roxanne Schwandt-Knutson. Incumbent David Williams is not seeking reelection.

For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit myvote.wi.gov/en-us.

Alex Corrigan

Resident of: Appleton
Age: 40
Occupation: Currently a stay-at-home mom
Highest level of education: J.D. (law degree), master's in social work
Campaign page: Alex Corrigan for NJSD School Board on Facebook
Relevant experience: I am a lawyer and social worker. The focus of my MSW work was in both children and families as well as systems management. Beyond my professional training, I have four children who will all be in the NJSD as of next year (one is still in preschool). I have had to navigate the ins and outs of the available programming in Neenah and have been incredibly impressed with the talented teachers and staff in the NJSD.

Brian Epley (inc.)

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 45
Occupation: Structural engineer
Highest level of education: Bachelor's degree
Campaign page: Brian Epley for Neenah School Board on Facebook
Relevant experience: I've been a member of the Boys' & Girls' Brigade for almost three decades, focusing on leadership building in youth. I'm an active member of First Presbyterian Church and have served in several leadership roles. I've also been on Neenah's Board of Education for six years, serving as vice president one year and board president for the last four years.

Susan Garcia Franz

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 52
Occupation: Community health strategist
Highest level of education: Master's degree
Campaign page: Susan Garcia Franz for NJSD School Board on Facebook
Relevant experience: I have been active with a statewide group called Decoding Dyslexia Wisconsin that has been working on policy change and education around the recognition of dyslexia in our schools. We have been working on the steps to improve literacy levels in our schools with changes in curriculum that helps more students learn to read. I also received my master's in public administration in 2022 and have been working on strategic ways to improve community input. I am active in several community organizational boards.

Tom Hanby

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 58
Occupation: Carpenter supervisor for a local home builder
Highest level of education: High school graduate
Contact information: 920-725-7055
Relevant experience: Previously I served on the Neenah School Board from 2020 to 2023 and additionally filled a Neenah board vacancy in 2006-2007. In 2022, I served as the chair of the board Policy Committee. I have been a regular attendee and participant at Neenah School Board meetings for 20 years since 2004.

Chari Long

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 54
Occupation: Small business owner
Highest level of education: Bachelor of arts in sociology
Campaign page: Chari Long for NJSD School Board on Facebook
Relevant experience: As a parent, my involvement in my children's education has always been my first priority. I spent 15 years as a daily presence in their schools, classrooms and on the PTO. I was part of the Academic Booster Club, advocating for advanced curriculum and teaching staff for our gifted students. While the budget for the programs was being cut in 2009, I saw firsthand the importance of having a school board that understands the landscape of our students’ needs. I’ve spent the last 10 years coordinating business to business and designing and executing workshops around the world. I know how to work with people and get things done.

Jeb Pfeifle

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 45
Occupation: Director, supply chain, Amcor Packaging
Highest level of education: Bachelor's in business management
Campaign page: Jeb 4 Neenah Excellence on Facebook
Relevant experience: 20 years of progressive leadership responsibility at Fortune 500 packaging companies.

Kristian Sahr (inc.)

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 54
Occupation: Technology education teacher
Highest level of education: Master's degree
Campaign page: Kristian Sahr for Neenah Board of Education on Facebook
Relevant experience: 26 years as a public school teacher, three years on the Neenah School Board.

Roxanne Schwandt-Knutson

Resident of: Neenah
Age: 45
Occupation: Realtor, associate broker at Realty One Group Haven, and independent travel adviser
Highest level of education: Bachelor of science in marketing and business administration with a minor in economics
Campaign page: Roxanne Schwandt-Knutson for NJSD School Board on Facebook
Relevant experience: As a Realtor, I have relevant experience working with individuals and families moving into and out of the district, I also have hands-on experience and knowledge of how home prices are affected and valuing real estate using factual historical data of sales and projected sales. I also drove a school bus before my first-born was enrolled in school. He is now a freshman at Neenah High School. I developed real relationships with several parents of my bus kids, and many of my first elementary bus kids remember me through their own high school graduations.

Why are you running for office?

Corrigan: Public education has been a passion of mine since before law school, and I see this as a great opportunity to keep advocating for kids. I really love this community and feel like this is an excellent opportunity to be of service to my friends and neighbors. The NJSD has been incredibly welcoming to my family, and I would be honored to continue the excellent work that this board has already done. I look forward to hearing what my neighbors feel is important in their school system and participating in this incredible part of government.

Epley: As a '97 NHS graduate and proud Neenah resident I believe strongly in public service. My service to you is through my continued desire to invest time and energy in the success of the Neenah public schools. I want to see all the children of this community succeed in their educational journeys. Children are our future and the most important investment we can make.

Garcia Franz: I am running for school board to be able to support changes that support all students in improved reading levels in the district. I also want to support additional efforts to help students succeed while in school so they can lead productive, fulfilling and successful lives. The school district's work is to give students opportunities and tools, and I want to be a part of the board of education to help make that happen.

Hanby: I am genuinely interested and concerned about our school district providing the best possible education for all our students to excel in their area of interest so they can become our future workers, citizens, volunteers, teachers and leaders. Being a school board member is an opportunity to do so. It is much more beneficial and rewarding than the work of other available elected positions. Following the joys of success and improvement of our school system has simply become a way of life for our family. The board works best when it has individuals from different walks of life contributing and assuring that all citizens are represented in the process.

Long: My focus is on curriculum and improving student outcomes, with an emphasis on bringing dyslexia teaching techniques and diagnostic tools to every classroom and teacher. According to the experts at the Dyslexia Reading Connection in Appleton, 20%-30% of the general population are dyslexic. I support and encourage parental involvement to cultivate a learning community of well-rounded individuals that personify Neenah's passion for excellence.

Pfeifle: We moved to Neenah over a year and a half ago, our fifth (and hopefully last) hometown in the last 20 years. I am running for office based on significant vested interests; I have two children in the district and wish to see this community continue to thrive. I want to ensure that parents and teachers are heard, have visibility into board activities and are brought along for the ride on key decisions. I promise to focus on the best possible outcomes for our students, provide transparency to parents and teachers on key policy matters and diligently serve the community to the best of my abilities.

Sahr: To continue my public service in education. My 26 years in the classroom brings valuable insight to school board policy.

Schwandt-Knutson: I am running for school board to advocate for parents, ensuring our voices shape the decisions of the school board, as well as to champion the needs of our students, fostering an environment where each student can thrive and succeed.

What makes you the better candidate?

Corrigan: I don’t know that I am the better candidate. I know that I am running with a lot of talented people who care a lot about education. I have been studying education policy for two decades and believe strongly in the professionals who already work here and supporting them to the best of my ability. I hope to help facilitate communication between the community, the staff and the administration and build a consensus whenever possible. Having young children in the district makes me deeply invested in the future of the NJSD and in continuing its history of excellence.

Epley: Representing the community is about communication and constant learning. I have learned plenty in six years on the board, but I know I have more to learn. Serving four years as president has let me lead the board and learn how to bring our team together. With nine opinions that can be difficult, but I work hard to maintain our focus on students.

Garcia Franz: I have been attending school board meetings over many years now, and I understand the steps needed to support schools to help students achieve success in their academics. I understand the processes that take place and am able to articulate inputs to support further success in the Neenah Joint School District. I also had a student in the district that struggled, so I know some of the steps to help parents, students, teachers and the district to improve the academic journey for all students.

Hanby: I am always willing to listen to the ideas and concerns of our residents, staff and students. My interest is in inclusive and thorough meetings, rather than fast and easy. I have nearly perfect attendance during 20 years of board meetings, including my committee assignments. Whenever possible, I attend in person and participate fully and openly in the conversations, bringing community input into deliberations that decide the direction of our school district. I voice the opinions representing our community’s views and rights and ask hard questions even when they do not follow the administration’s wishes. My vote is not a rubber stamp for the administration.

Long: I have two older gifted children, NHS ‘14 and ’16. My 11-year-old son, also gifted, is dyslexic. NJSD schools do not recognize dyslexia as a specific learning disability. The extra help they provide for learners struggling to read is the same learning tools that failed to bring him to reading proficiency. So I began homeschooling my son. I have an unmatched passion for returning my child to public school and bringing dyslexia recognition and tools to all classrooms, which studies show increase reading comprehension for all students, not just those on the dyslexic spectrum.

Pfeifle: I have a track record of delivering objective results working within and leading teams over the last 25 years. I have earned the trust of my co-workers and teams through a servant leadership model and have been able to successfully navigate multiple operations through very challenging situations, including one of the most deadly and destructive wildfires in American history, a once-in-a-generation pandemic, $30 million in facility expansions and numerous supply chain shortages. I will take the same approach if elected to the school board and work passionately to ensure we create the best possible outcomes for our students.

Sahr: During my 26 years of vocational education, I have had experience in budgeting, program development, staffing, curriculum development, conflict resolution and classroom management. I believe I am able to provide valuable information from that side of the equation.

Schwandt-Knutson: I am an excellent candidate because, at the root of it, I am just like all of you. I'm a community member and a parent of the district. As an alumna of the district, I am a huge advocate for Neenah schools. My life experiences and career bring a unique blend of expertise, business acumen and economic insight to contribute effectively towards the growth and development of our community and school district. Achieving my broker's license in real estate further enhances my understanding of local dynamics, making me well-equipped to address the needs of our constituents.

What do residents say the district's most important issues are, and how would you address them?

Corrigan: Honestly, I am hearing a lot about issues of transparency and communication between the board and parents. I am hearing thoughts about traffic, the new high school and school boundaries. The district is in flux, and it seems there are adjustments being made on all sides to fine tune the details of these changes and speak with each other about them.

Epley: Our long-term elementary school facilities planning is a current hot topic. The district has been planning adjustments for years, and now that is impacting boundaries. This is a sensitive topic; we have to carefully balance between the least impact on families and the best educational experience. Larger elementary facilities will allow flexibility and reduce boundary shifts.

Mental health and safety are important and related topics. Mental health is as important as physical health, and creating a safe, nurturing environment is key to unlocking their learning potential. When students feel seen and understood, we create a safe environment for the whole educational community.

Garcia Franz: I think Neenah Joint School District has presented data that states there are many students in our district struggling with reading and math. I think continued support for enhanced teacher training and implementing new processes to catch students early that are struggling will help to get the right support and curriculum at the right time and have fewer struggles and missed opportunities for students later on.

Hanby: Over the years there are common themes that do not seem to change. Our community wants to be heard (not just listened to). And they want to see their ideas and values, as well as those of their friends and neighbors, come to life in their school system. Also, our community is generous with their schools and other nonprofits, so they expect the processes to be transparent, open, honest and fair. These are all reasonable expectations that we should strive to accomplish.

Long: Transparency. Transparency of the budget and to upcoming issues; new superintendent, redistricting and school closures. I will advocate for the public to have full visibility behind why decisions are made and how our money is spent, ensuring confidence that proper procedures and protocols are followed. Transparency of curriculum: Current metrics of student success are not clear, parents don’t understand what is being taught and feel ignored when they voice their concerns. I will advocate for easier access to curriculum syllabi and consistent evaluation metrics. I pressed for and received the syllabi for my son in 2019.

Pfeifle: Focus on student outcomes. Our community has the resources to be one of the top districts in Wisconsin. Current metrics suggest we are sliding relative to other districts and our own past performance. Administration leadership performance reviews and compensation should be tied to the quantitative results they deliver.

Transparency to key decisions, curriculum and the budget. Not everyone will be satisfied with the outcomes on key issues, but everyone should have full visibility behind these decisions, with full confidence all proper procedures and protocols are followed. I will do everything possible to ensure diligence in our approach and incorporate public feedback into our decision-making.

Sahr: Fiscal responsibility; using taxpayer dollars efficiently while providing an outstanding educational experience for every student.

Schwandt-Knutson: There are students in our district who have been greatly affected by COVID closures and virtual learning. I would address this by advocating for targeted interventions to bridge skill gaps caused by the pandemic.

Parents are concerned about busing routes since the middle school opened. I would propose a comprehensive review of the routes, prioritizing safety and minimizing travel times for students.

There's a prevailing sense of being uninformed about school matters, and dissatisfaction still lingers regarding how the sale of Shattuck was handled. Transparency is crucial, so I'd implement regular community updates and involvement on school matters, including bullying, identity confusion and academic performance.

Rebecca Loroff is an education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact her with story tips and feedback at 920-907-7801 or rloroff@gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @RebeccaLoroff.