Decades of living
these values...
★Creating Great Public Schools
★Promoting Career & College Readiness
★Expecting Transparency in Governance
★Attracting & Retaining Quality Educators
★Supporting Safety in our Schools
★Demonstrating Fiscal Responsibility
Creating Great Public Schools
Promoting Career and College Readiness
I believe that all students deserve great public schools!
Strong Public Schools = Strong Communities
As a former Business & Special Education teacher in the District, I have always worked to ensure that all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.
As a parent of two School District of Waukesha graduates, I am proud of the education they received, and I am committed to providing the same opportunities to my grandchildren (future West graduates) and every student.
After retiring, I have continued to serve the community as a volunteer in the schools at every level (4K-age 21)--working with students doing everything from supporting literacy development, tutoring through AVID, to providing Blessings in a Backpack.
TOGETHER, as a community, we can provide strong public schools.
Supporting Safety
in Our Schools
I believe that creating safe schools is a very high priority.
In 2018, my vote was critical in passing the $60 million school referendum which focused on updating our buildings in order to create safe entrances. After listening to stakeholders and modifying the proposal, it was approved by 65.5% of the Waukesha voters!
Another facet is the importance of creating a safe school environment so that all students can feel welcomed. By taking these steps, we can help our vulnerable and marginalized students know that they belong in order to allow them to be successful academically.
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Attracting and Retaining
Quality Educators
I believe it is critical that we actively work to attract and retain high-quality staff to offer the best educational opportunities for ALL students!
Since I left the Board, educator resignations in Waukesha have DOUBLED! This is devastating for our school community.
As a retired teacher, I understand the importance of making our staff feel appreciated, valued, and supported. As an experienced educator, I have been able to mentor many new teachers during their first years in the profession---which has helped to position them for success and longevity in the district.
Another way I have worked to support and show appreciation for educators is through the annual WEF Grant program which awards grants worth about $35,000 for innovative projects each year in the School District of Waukesha.
Also, I have been supporting aspiring educators through scholarships since 1983---including more recently creating my own Diane Voit Aspiring Educator Scholarship through the Waukesha Education Foundation.
Expecting Transparency in Governance
I believe as an elected official that all stakeholders deserve a voice in the decision-making process and that the governance process needs to be done with transparency.
As the chair of the Technology Committee during my tenure on the Board, my priority was to implement the online "BoardDocs" system. This program allows the community to access Board of Education committee schedules, agendas, relevant documents, etc. at the same time they become available to the Board members themselves.
This allows all stakeholders (parents, students, staff, and community members) to be aware of policy decisions and provide an opportunity for feedback. It is important that our Board members listen respectfully to everyone who will be affected by the decisions in order to create a democratic process that will result in policies that are in the best interest of our students.
I believe in the value and importance of college and career readiness for our students!
As a Business Education instructor for 38 years at North High School, I taught many valuable, real-world skills within my classes and placed hundreds of seniors in the workplace with on-the-job experiences to explore their potential career pathways. As a result, I saw firsthand the importance of preparing students for future careers and continued education.
It is critical that we are offering a guaranteed and viable curriculum so that our students are able to develop the academic skills to open the door for further education and career opportunities.
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Demonstrating Fiscal Responsibility
I believe, as elected officials, we are accountable for how we spend the taxpayers' dollars.
While serving on the Finance and Facilities Committee, we were able to develop an accelerated plan for repayment of the 2018 $60 million referendum. These smart financial decisions are resulting in considerable interest savings by paying off the debt in 6 years vs. the traditional 20-year plan.
Having been on this committee, I engaged monthly in the budget development process and reviewed all expenditures. Through these actions, we were able to accrue a significant surplus (in the tune of tens of millions of dollars).
I have personally been advocating at the state level for the full reimbursement of state/federally-mandated special education services. By reimbursing districts, it would have a significant impact on the school budgets across Wisconsin. For example, the School District of Waukesha in 2022 spent $28 million on these required services, yet the government only reimbursed us for $11 million. That's a $17 million budget gap that we have been having to offset using money from our general fund. This a key reason for the annual structural budget cuts. This is not sustainable.