Meet the candidates: Melrose Area School Board

Incumbent Lee Uphoff; Eric Seanger, who was appointed to fill an open seat; and candidates Joe Rosenberger, Josh Thieschafer, Jason Toenyan and Allen Wieling are vying for four seats on the Melrose Area School Board.

Josh Thieschafer

Age: 44

Occupation: Construction manager

Why are you running for this position? I have children in the district and have a vested interest in what happens in the district. From the students’ side, curriculum and education are No. 1. From the school board side, it is about transparency and accountability, sound fiscal policy and social policy. I have served on the Melrose City Council; Economic Development Authority, Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation boards; Avon Planning Commission and Stearns County Housing and Redevelopment Authority board. In my career, I have built and remodeled schools, including in this district. I have worked with school boards and administration on all those projects.

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? Our children’s education should be the No. 1 priority for all of us, from school board members to administrators, staff, teachers and paraprofessionals. Our community is vital in shaping our students. I look forward to learning and working with the Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota School Board Association to help us maintain an independent school district that make sense for us in outstate Minnesota, and not “One Minnesota,” to preserve local control of our school district.

Are there other issues you want to address? Transparency of a school provides trust and strength in our community to the students, the parents, voters and taxpayers. A sound fiscal policy is critical in that role. We do have facility needs that have been take out to a referendum three times and failed. The voting and tax-paying public have been surveyed, and community task forces have been created. There is a definite breakdown in how this has been handled over the past eight years. This needs to change. We have policies that are either ineffective, enforced incorrectly or just plainly mishandled. This needs to be addressed.

Jason Toenyan

Age: 46

Occupation: Part owner and plumber for a plumbing and heating business

Why are you running for this position? I am passionate about this community and its kids. Growing up in this community, attending kindergarten through Grade 12 here myself and currently having my three children attend this school makes me want to see this district continue to flourish and thrive. School districts always have important decisions to be made that affect families and students. I want to be a part of the decision-making process to offer a great learning atmosphere well into the future, because whatever decisions are made today will have an effect on tomorrow’s generation.

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? With the announcement of the upcoming retirement from our current superintendent, finding a new superintendent for this district is a pertinent and pressing issue. Finding the right superintendent who will work well with the school board, faculty, staff and students to meet the district’s needs is very essential to meeting the vision and goals for our school.

Are there other issues you want to address? Public schools across the nation are struggling in general right now with a number of issues. We need to try to resolve these issues, especially in our district. We need to be more transparent and involved as a community to make sure we can offer the best education possible right here in our district.

Lee Uphoff

Age: 77

Occupation: Retired

Why are you running for this position? After working in the school district for 30 years and being on the school board for eight years, I feel like I have an understanding of what our school and students need.

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? The most pressing issue is the shortage of space and the need to update some areas. Even though we have less students than when the school was built, we have more needs for these spaces. In trying to meet the needs of all students, we provide many extra supports from social workers, special education teachers, English second language teachers, college classes and growing career technical education classes. We also use state test scores to identify students struggling in specific areas and provide them with help from trained support staff. ...

Are there other issues you want to address? Another issue is hiring and retaining quality staff. There is a definite shortage of teachers, administrators and support staff in all schools, and it is something we all struggle with. This year, we have the important task of hiring a new superintendent who will continue to lead us on a path that meets the needs of all students and continues to keep us financially sound. 

Allen Wieling

Age: 50

Occupation: Pastor

Why are you running for this position? I am passionate about seeing the Melrose Area School District succeed and remain committed to doing what is best for the students and the community. I believe I can be a part of helping make that a reality. 

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? It still comes down to the industrial technology areas needing to be updated, and even though it is a hard topic, we need a new swimming pool facility. If we are going to attract new doctors and other professionals to the Melrose area and keep teachers in the district, we need to show that we are investing in our students. I believe we can accomplish this if we all work together to find creative ways to finance the projects. 

Are there other issues you want to address? I would like to see more transparency from the school board. There needs to be trust built between school board members and the communities we serve. School board members need to be seen in the community at some events and possibly volunteering for some school events. As one board member, I cannot make all of this happen, but I will be a reasonable voice and do my best to advocate for what is right. 

Eric Seanger

Age: 53

Occupation: Electrical contractor

Why are you running for this position? I have been involved with local government for over 20 years in the city of Melrose and find it interesting to become informed on pertinent issues and being part of the decision making process. Serving on the school board is one more way to do this.

What issue affecting your school district do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? My view is that this would be funding. We receive a set amount of money from the state every year, which does not necessarily match the expenses incurred, particularly in the areas of buildings and maintenance.

Are there other issues you want to address? My goal as a board member would be to become informed on the issues at hand and try to make the best possible decision for the school district.

Joe Rosenberger

Age: 55

Occupation: Sixth grade teacher

Why are you running for this position? I am running for the Melrose Area School Board to assist the community in an everchanging future with connectivity and transparency, to provide a positive future for our students with understanding and support, and to offer insight and opportunity for change, if needed.