FREE New Glarus School Board Coverage
Because we were unable to fit the New Glarus School Board Candidate answers in this week's print edition, we made the editorial decision to make them available on our website, free of charge, for everyone in the community (including subscribers and non-subscribers). Thank you to all local citizens who stay engaged and get informed about local election and the people who represent them. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7.
There are four candidates running for three open seats on the New Glarus School Board, Cassie Ballweg (incumbent), Mindy Marty, Casey McCoy (incumbent), and Heather Thornton (incumbent).
Cassie Ballweg (incumbent): I was first elected to the New Glarus School Board in April 2023 and currently serve on the Curriculum, Sports & Co-Curricular Committee and the Handbook/Personnel Committee. I have represented New Glarus as our district delegate at the CESA 2 Delegate Convention and have attended the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Annual Convention each year, serving as our district’s voting delegate in the Delegate Assembly. As a lifelong member of the New Glarus community and a graduate of New Glarus schools, I am proud to now serve the district that shaped me. My husband and I are raising our two daughters here — one in 4K and one in 1st grade — and I am deeply invested in ensuring our schools remain strong for current and future generations.
Mindy Marty: I graduated from Illinois State University with a BS Education and major Elementary Education. I graduated with Departmental Honors and Cum Laude.
I served on the 4K committee at McFarland School District during 2013 and was instrumental in the implementation of 4K at preschools. My husband, Karl Marty, grew up in New Glarus and his ancestors are the original Swiss settlers in New Glarus. We lived in McFarland for 20 years. We moved back to New Glarus.
My son graduated from New Glarus High School in 2025, and our younger son is a Sophomore at New Glarus High School.
I am an Executive Recruiter, and I started my own business in 2008.
Strong advocate for Special Education services and music program.
I was a Cub Scout Den Leader for 5 years with Scouting America and Eagle Scout Mom.
Casey McCoy (incumbent): I am the parent of a New Glarus senior running to serve a second term on the New Glarus School Board. I spent more than 20 years in wildland fire management, advancing from an entry-level technician to leading state fire programs. In that role, I managed complex initiatives, worked with diverse customers and implemented projects focused on measurable outcomes. My family relocated to New Glarus in 2021. My wife is an R&D Scientist in Middleton, and I operate a professional photography business. I currently serve as Chair of the Policy Committee and have been a member of the Budget Committee for three years.
Heather Thornton (incumbent): We have lived in New Glarus almost 12 years and I have been on New Glarus school board for 3 years. We have 4 kids in the district, in the elementary and middle schools. I am a nurse and I work in Madison for a hospital providing education to our staff.
What are your top three priorities if elected to the board?
Ballweg:
1. Continue to ensure we retain and recruit high quality staff - a district strategic goal I support wholeheartedly.
2. Preserve fiscal responsibility for the tax payers of New Glarus while also maintaining the caliber of excellence those same taxpayers have come to expect and deserve.
3. Keep the focus of every decision we make on the student and the student's success with an equal balance between college and non-college student paths.
Marty:
1. Lift up the students who have average or below average test scores. Provide additional help with reading, writing, English and math.
2. Create courses and course schedules at New Glarus High School that benefit all students including average or below average and Advanced Placement. Highlight a variety of tech ed courses that benefit the trades.
3. Provide adequate special education services and support teachers at all levels from early childhood to senior year of high school.
McCoy: School boards juggle and prioritize a number of unique challenges – especially districts like ours operating in the shadow of expanding urban areas. Here are three priorities of many. 1. Student achievement to ensure all kids in the district are prepared for their next step, be it college, military service or entering the trades/workforce. 2. Fiscal responsibility to ensure taxpayer funds are used effectively while balancing the needs of students, teachers, the community and the school, so we can meet current needs without falling behind future demands. 3. Transparency and communication to ensure parents and the community trust the Board/District, are informed and engaged, and feel connected to their school.
Thornton: I will continue to ask questions to ensure equitable policies and curriculum decisions, address budget challenges, and prioritize transparent communication in the board's decision making. I see the school board as part of the leadership team that helps support our teachers and provide a framework of stability for the students they serve.
Are you well versed in open government laws and Robert’s Rules of Order?
Ballweg: I am. After a full term on the New Glarus School Board I have an understanding and experience following open meeting laws and Robert's Rules of Order.
Marty: The purpose of Robert’s Rules of Order is to facilitate democratic decision making in organization, balancing efficiency with fair participation.
The key principles include Equal Rights, only one main motion at a time, majority rule and minority rights, quorum and silence is consent.
The board makes a motion, calls to order and writes the minutes.
Open government laws ensure transparency by granting public access to government records and meetings. These laws require public notice of meetings and allow citizens to request records, which ensures public business is conducted in the open. Key aspects of open government laws include Open Records Laws and Open Meetings Laws. Open Records Laws compel state and local agencies to maintain, preserve and provide public access to records. Open Meetings Laws require that meetings of government bodies be open to the public, properly noticed and accessible to people with disabilities. The goal of these laws is to foster accountability and allow citizens to participate in and observe the decision-making processes of government.
McCoy: I feel I have a solid understanding but would always leave room to learn. In addition to my first term on the New Glarus School Board, where we function within these sideboards at all times, Robert’s Rules of Order are also utilized in the fire service and affiliated organizations. As such, I have many years of experience with Robert’s Rules, including four years of application as the elected Vice President of a state fire instructors society.
Thornton: Open government laws provide a legal framework that promotes transparency, accountability and participation in government processes. From what I have witnessed the school board takes this very seriously and makes sure we follow the correct processes. I have acquired a keen understanding about Robert's Rules of Order since joining the board.
What steps would you take to ensure – or hopefully even enhance - transparency in local government?
Ballweg: Communication and transparency with residents of the New Glarus district is a topic we visit regularly. I encourage anyone I encounter who have questions about a topic on a meeting agenda to attend that meeting. With the virtual option, being plugged into what the board is discussing is easier than ever. We've seen an increase in local media attention to board meetings and I think this is great. We all have the same goal - a thriving and successful place for the students of New Glarus School District - and supporting transparency in the items the board discusses can only buttress that goal.
Marty: I believe that the New Glarus School Board has been meeting in closed session. It is important to share the issues with the public. Then, the sessions should be open. Inform us about the issues via email and online and create digital access.
McCoy: I think there are two complimentary parts to local government transparency. First, clear legal and policy requirements in place – timely, detailed agendas and supporting materials available for public review; opportunities for public input, comment and feedback; consistent use of parliamentary procedure; and publication of decisions in locations that are easily accessible to the public. Second, the organizational culture must genuinely respect and invite thorough, open discussion. It isn’t about compliance; it’s about creating an environment where members expect debate and deliberation to reach the most well-rounded decisions.
Thornton: I feel that our current board works together well to be as transparent as possible. I ask important questions prior to the board making decisions to make sure that we, as a board, are transparent in what the options are before us and how each option will affect the staff, students, administration and tax payers.
What is the district currently doing right?
Ballweg: I can confidently say we are doing a lot right! The results we have seen on the school report cards show the academic excellence we are producing, the passing of the referendum in 2025 showed the support we are so thankful to have from our community, and the longevity of our staff's employment show the support systems we have in place to have successful staff.
Marty: Discipline is achieved at New Glarus High School.
Students are safe at New Glarus schools.
McCoy: A sizeable part of the reason my family moved to New Glarus is the quality of the school district. I am constantly reminded of this through the kids I get to meet at Board meetings and school events. So, the direct response is that the New Glarus School District consistently leads school district ratings in both Green and Dane Counties, reflecting the many things it does well.
Thornton: New Glarus schools have amazing staff and administration. We are very lucky to have longevity among our staff and it allows for continuity in the education provided to our learners.
What could it do better?
Ballweg: With the spotlight on the successes we are seeing in the district, it can be easy to ensure those areas continue to thrive. Naturally, when something is going well we want it to keep going well! I want to ensure the areas not highlighted on the school report cards are getting just as much attention - student's social emotional well being, our special education programs, and parent involvement in their child's day-to-day. Are we doing these things well already? Yes - as a parent with school-age kids in the district I have first hand experience that we are. Do I want to spend time ensuring these areas are getting as much attention as general education and report card success? Also yes.
Marty: Provide English and Math courses that prepare students for college, the trades or after high school that are the entire duration of the school year during Senior and Junior years of high school.
Communicate with parents via email and online more frequently.
Teachers and coaches raise funds so that students have exceptional opportunities.
Provide course credit for Jazz Band, Madrigals and Vocal Jazz. Provide the opportunity to participate in two jazz bands.
The music department at New Glarus High School is underfunded. Organize spaghetti dinners and other fund raisers.
Teacher absences at New Glarus High School have a direct negative impact on student success and create an unnecessary cost for the residents.
There is a lack of transparency. The School Board needs to inform parents about important decisions that negatively affect us.
McCoy: No school district or board gets everything perfect. I see myself as one member of a larger team – students, teachers, administrators and elected leaders – working toward the same goal. This team is committed to continuous improvement and that means we can always work to sharpen how we communicate and ensure our operations remain transparent and worthy of the community’s trust.
Thornton: Our school district is currently working on future plans in regards to what needs to be done to keep up to date on buildings and property maintenance, and what future growth may look like. We are working on what projects make sense to tackle over the next 5-15 years if we maintain our current size. When would it make sense to replace major components or renovate and what those projects might cost. This helps our district be a good steward of funds and not be caught with huge bills that could have been prevented. I would like to see continued work in this space.
Many teachers are sounding the alarm about troubling trends regarding academic integrity caused by A.I., which makes cheating incredibly easy. Many reliable reports state A.I. is now doing much of the schoolwork for many students. How can local schools ensure that students are actually engaging with the material and learning vital life skills, particularly in an environment where cheating is easy to do and very difficult to detect?
Ballweg: The presence of A.I. in schools is a topic our board has reviewed on several occasions now and has already taken a proactive approach to. In the classroom, teachers are utilizing software to detect the use of A.I. and is a topic they are encouraged to openly talk about with their students. Along with that, I would like to see the dangers of A.I. in terms of plagiarism, loss of creative function, and personal integrity highlighted and directly taught to the student body. A.I. is unavoidable at this point and I err on the side of over-information and over-education rather than avoidance. A.I. is coexisting in our society, and our schools, as both a tool and a danger and should be taught to students as such. When we say "hey, you need to worry about and teach about A.I.", we are asking our already busy teachers to be more creative and proactive in their teaching, and as a board we should also be expected to be more creative and proactive in our efforts to support our teachers in that.
Marty: Take tests in person that are paper and pencil opposed to writing the answers or essays in Google Docs or online.
Provide assignments that are written in handwriting that are on paper.
McCoy: The strategic direction established by the school board regarding A.I. is contained in current NGSD policy (Academic Honesty, po5505) where it states “the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)…is strictly prohibited for the completion of school work.” I have concerns about the influence of A.I. but it’s a tool with utility that isn’t going away. Personally, I would prefer to see a significant reduction in the dependence on digital devices in schools, specifically smart phones and Chromebooks (I encourage all parents to read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt). I think returning to a physical, written format for most teaching and testing – with appropriate accommodations for special needs – would not only reduce screen time and but also demonstrate the origin of the knowledge. A.I. has been a frequent topic of discussion during my 3 years of service. I welcome further discussion to help administration, teachers and staff further develop and refine implementation tactics as we move forward.
Thornton: I believe we need to teach students how to utilize AI in a way that is responsible. There are many reports that AI will take over certain industries and if we do not prepare our students to be ready to interact with it they may not be able to succeed. There are many ways AI can help students, such as the program Grammarly for those experiencing dyslexia. This program can aid in fixing spelling mistakes and confusing grammar rules. When the goal of an assignment is to prove how effectively a student can think critically and not if they can spell, this program is a lifesaver. It also makes it much easier for the person grading the assignment as they are able to understand what the student is trying to convey.
With generations of data, it’s now a known fact that social media and screen time addiction are causing immense harm to young people, causing anxiety, depression and even worse. Misinformation (and disinformation) are ubiquitous, and profit-driven algorithms prey on the most vulnerable teens. What role can schools play in helping young people navigate this treacherous media landscape and stay mentally healthy?
Ballweg: In my opinion, the best and easiest way to help the students we serve navigate this media landscape is to openly address it. I would strongly support social media and screen time becoming a designated unit in all health classes, with the dangers being at the forefront of the curriculum. Along with educating the students, I would strongly support parent education on the topic. Our wonderful administration team is currently running a district wide book study on the book The Anxious Generation and I think this shows the commitment our staff team has to keeping up with the needs of our students and their parents as the landscape around social media and screens changes. I would also support a cell phone ban at school. I recognize there is some nuance to this in today's culture and climate, but overall a restriction on students' access to devices can only lead to positive outcomes.
Marty: Implement phone free policies during the school day.
Provide digital literacy.
Partner with parents: offer workshops to help parents manage screen time at home.
McCoy: As I mentioned in the previous question, I favor limiting digital devices in school. I think that could address, or at least limit, addiction and exposure. As for misinformation, I would encourage treading carefully. Speech is fundamental, even the speech that shares poor information. Selecting an official arbiter of true and false is full of potential unintended consequences. I believe the role for schools is to partner with parents to demonstrate and teach kids how to recognize poor information. Teach them to demand more or supporting information, particularly when a statement agrees with your own beliefs. To teach them to think critically, or as Thomas Jefferson said, to “question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear...I repeat that you must lay aside all prejudice on both sides, and neither believe nor reject any thing because any other person, or description of persons have rejected or believed it.”
Thornton: New Glarus school district does a great job of making sure that students have connections. One of the goals within the high school is that each student participates in 2 or more activities or sports. This provides students with connections to other students, teachers & coaches and also lowers the time spent with social media/screen time. We also are lucky to have mental health professionals available to students at each school.
Wisconsin’s school funding formula has been lamented by many people for many years. It’s complicated, but in essence it places the lion’s share of the burden on local property taxpayers, punishes districts with flat or declining enrollment, and binds the hands of local district unless they repeatedly go to referendum. Local property taxes across southern Wisconsin have also skyrocketed in recent years. Some homeowners are currently paying double what they paid in local taxes just a decade ago. The increases are driven by numerous government entities, but in general, how can local government balance the need to pay its bills and provide vital services with the need to keep our area an affordable place to live? Can local school boards somehow convince the state to fix the way schools are funded?
Ballweg: The New Glarus School Board takes this responsibility seriously. We work to manage resources efficiently, prioritize student outcomes, and be transparent with our communities about financial needs. We openly recognize structural challenges in Wisconsin’s funding system cannot be solved at the local level alone. Over the past three years, I have served as a voting member of the Delegate Assembly at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Annual Convention. Each year, representatives from districts across the state have overwhelmingly supported increased state investment in public education and reforms that would reduce over-reliance on local property taxes. Through unified advocacy from our board in communications to our legislators, policy positions supported by our board and lobbied for by WASB, and direct engagement with legislators, we can — and do — communicate what is and isn’t working in our schools.
Marty: Lobby for changes to the state funding formula.
Write to state officials.
Review expenditures to contain costs.
Create alternative revenue through grants, donations and partnerships.
McCoy: As with individual households during difficult times, local governments must continue to prioritize services and pursue efficiencies. Having lived in 6 states across my fire management career, Wisconsin’s school funding is the most complicated of any state I’ve lived in. I don’t know what the solution is for school funding but I don’t think it will be a single, easy one. School boards can advocate, and the NGSD board has relatively regular opportunities to interact with local legislators, but I think the solution lies at the state level, and that will require engagement beyond local school boards.
Thornton: New Glarus is part of the 'Dane County School District Governance Consortium.' One of the main goals of this group is to advocate at each level of government for appropriate school funding. This group meets quarterly and consists of school board members and administration from each district within Dane County as well as other school advocacy groups. I have attended most of the meetings and found them to be a great way to learn more. Discussions surround key issues with the goal to move forward with a bigger voice; rather than each group pushing forward different goals. One of the pieces that this consortium advocated for in the past year was full funding of special education. While the state legislature said they would fund special education at 42-60% for the 2025-2026 school year, in actuality this will be at about 35% when actually paid out to public schools. Imagine how this might look in your own personal finances. If your car suddenly needs an expensive repair and you have not budgeted for it, you will need to pull money from somewhere else in your budget to cover this, such as your food money. This inconsistency in funding makes it difficult to plan for the year and future when this keeps happening.
Members of the board don’t always see eye-to-eye, but their debates are (usually) respectful and fairly good-natured, at least compared with many other government bodies. Explain how you would bring different ideas to the table, and even disagree, in a way that is productive, helpful, and does not detract from civil discourse:
Ballweg: If anyone has attended a New Glarus School Board meeting in the last 3 years you likely would have noticed the level of respect we have for each other and the cordial manner in which we speak when we disagree. A basic openness to other opinions and ideas when confronting a topic is the easiest way to support this decorum of respect. As I prepare for meetings, my goal is always to simply absorb the information provided and formulate my questions. If I anticipate a difference in opinion on an action item, I strive to come into the meeting without a concrete vote decided in order to be open to the discussion at the meeting. A disagreement should be supported by thoughtful questions and a maintained focus on our district's strategic goals, and this is how I approach each meeting.
Marty: My honors project for Elementary Education at Illinois State University was about conflict management. I read the book, Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury. I learned how to negotiate agreements without giving in. Some of the highlights: focus on interests not positions, separate the people from the problem and use objective criteria.
As an Executive Recruiter and Business Owner, I have negotiated the job seekers base salary and compensation for more than 25 years. I have also attended seminars and workshops about negotiating.
McCoy: In the teams I’ve led, I pursued the culture of transparency I mentioned in the 3rd question. As a team, we understood – even expected – that we will not always agree and yet each member is expected to respectfully present and receive questions, opinions and ideas. We agreed to recognize that we reach the best decisions by ensuring each topic and question is thoroughly considered from many perspectives. Disagreements may be passionate but they remain professional. Finally, when everyone has made their points and a decision is made, we agree to move forward together in support of the teams’ direction.
Thornton: There have been a few times in the past 3 years when I did not agree with the rest of the board on specific topics. One time we worked through a compromise by discussing which points were sticking points for each group. Another time, I asked enough questions that I felt comfortable moving to the other side. Thankfully, while we do not all agree on all topics, we currently have thorough, respectful discussions.
What are the school district’s biggest challenges in the coming years?
Ballweg: Big surprise here, but school funding is the biggest challenge for our district. With the Wisconsin state budget behind inflation every year for the last 17 years, the tax burden has fallen to the taxpayer. As a growing community with a desire to continue and increase upon our success as a district, we will be challenged with the lofty balancing act of keeping up with our success while considering the cost of that success.
Marty: Hiring teachers and staff to accommodate a growing student population.
Creating a budget that addresses the lack of school funding issue.
McCoy: Budget and finances are always in this conversation. I think the district will also need to be prepared to maintain continuity of operations and success as expected and unexpected changes occur. Meeting a strategic goal to recruit and retain quality people is likely to include a number of key administrative positions in the foreseeable future. Also, as the direction of the federal government changes every 4-8 years, the school will need to be prepared to adjust to 180-degree changes in policy.
Thornton: All school districts throughout the state will find funding challenging. Most districts have gone to referendum within the past 3 years. It has been such a swing since I was a kid when the state funded schools at a much higher rate, not relying so heavily on property taxes. For almost the past 2 decades funding for school districts has not kept up with inflation and this is really hitting hard.
What are the greatest opportunities moving forward?
Ballweg: Our growth is our greatest opportunity. We have a community who supports our schools, our athletics, our arts, and our people. The growth we expect to see from people's desire to be a part of this success we are having is a unique opportunity a lot of rural districts don't have.
Marty: Provide workshops during the evening for adults who are interested in woodworking at the renovated tech ed room at New Glarus High School. This should create income for the school district. Provide an open house for the tech ed room, woodworking and new welding equipment during parent teacher conferences.
Showcase the new Elementary School for the community with events on a quarterly basis.
Generate revenue with ticket sales at the new football, soccer field and track. Increase participation at sporting events. Encourage the pep band, future cheerleaders and dance team to participate so that a greater number of parents and students buy tickets and concessions.
McCoy: I recognize that not everyone may look forward to it, but the planned subdivisions and likely resulting population growth in New Glarus could mean higher enrollment that could help mitigate budget pressure.
Thornton: New Glarus has opportunities for steady growth. We are close enough to Dane County to draw people in, but also far enough away that we likely will not grow too fast. This should allow for our district to maintain and potentially slowly grow which is an ideal situation for our community.
What’s an important local issue you feel is not talked about enough?
Ballweg: One local issue that isn’t talked about enough is how the increase of short-term rentals in New Glarus is impacting housing availability for young families. While tourism is an important part of our local economy, it is also contributing to a shortage of attainable housing for full-time residents. This affects who can afford to live here. When young families and outside families wanting to move into our district struggle to find housing, it impacts the long-term strength of our community and schools. Balancing tourism with the need to remain a livable community for working families is an important conversation we need to have to ensure our town continues to thrive for future generations.
Marty: Why does the New Glarus continue the Sugar River Raiders soccer team with Belleville High School when we built a very expensive football/soccer field and track, which is the New Glarus Glarner Community Complex? Why do we continue to support the cost of busing between New Glarus and Belleville for soccer? However, New Glarus High School no longer has a track team with Belleville High School.
There are major potholes on the roads in town in New Glarus. The sidewalks are also crumbling.
New Glarus is building a beautiful new library. Where is the parking lot?
McCoy: No Answer.
Thornton: New Glarus is blessed with longevity of its staff. This is amazing! I do worry that we will have a year where there are a lot of retirements and therefore a lot of holes to fill in teaching positions. We have great teachers but I fear finding them may be harder in upcoming years where many schools will be vying for them.
