New Glarus School Board Candidate Oemichen

Bill Oemichen
Age: 58
Occupation: Senior Researcher in Food Systems Security and Preparedness, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Board Chair of Slipstream, Inc. (Madison, Wisconsin) and AgCountry Farm Credit Services Board Member (Wausau, Wisconsin).
Years lived in district: 20
Incumbent? No
Have you been on the school board or held any other public office before? If so please describe: Current chair of the $5.2 billion Wisconsin College Savings Program (Edvest) Board of Trustees. Former Wisconsin Office of Preparedness & Emergency Health Care Director, Wisconsin Trade & Consumer Protection Administrator, and Deputy Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner. Former member, Wisconsin School Accountability Commission. Elected to four terms on the Saint Croix County Board of Supervisors (Hudson) and former chair of the Wisconsin Counties Association Tax & Finance Steering Committee.
Why are you running for school board? I am running for the New Glarus School Board because I strongly believe in the vital role public education plays in the success of rural communities like New Glarus.
New Glarus should be proud that its school district performs at a high level. As a former member of the state of Wisconsin School Accountability Commission, I learned which educational and financial strategies and tactics help ensure student success. I would bring this knowledge to the New Glarus School Board.
I am strongly committed to the school district providing pathways to success for all students, regardless of background and abilities, whether they are directly entering the job market, heading to trade school, or heading to a college or university.
Retaining high performing teachers and administrative staff is key to maintaining high student achievement levels. I will work with board colleagues and school district leadership to ensure the district values faculty and staff and provides the highest possible quality facilities while balancing local property tax burdens.
With all this said, there are still areas where the district can further improve based on recent test scores and I will work to ensure the district is always in a cycle of continual performance improvement.
What issues do you find most important to the school board? How would you handle these issues? Increasing Student Achievement. As a parent of two recent New Glarus school district graduates, I am very proud of the high level of student achievement in our relatively small and rural school district. New Glarus School District ranks high in math and language arts achievement compared to other Green and Dane County school districts, and indeed compared to schools statewide. New Glarus High School offers a large number of advanced placement courses, courses that directly benefit students, including lowering their college tuition costs.
Maintaining High Quality Academic Facilities. School facility quality is directly tied to student achievement and is a priority for me. School facilities have been improved following successive and successful bond referendums. However, a growing district and aging buildings means additional infrastructure improvements will eventually be needed. We need to work closely with the greater New Glarus community to plan ahead to ensure, where possible, the school district can take advantage of relatively low interest rates and building costs. At the same time, we need to be mindful of the impact these improvements will have on the school property tax levy and taxpayers.
Collaborating on Additional Performance and Athletic Facilities. A number of community residents seek additional improvements to performance and athletic facilities, particularly given continual district growth. Where possible, the district should collaborate with the village and surrounding towns to cooperatively develop needed facilities because we can do far more working together than we can independently of each other.
Improving School Safety. Last but not least, I want to ensure our schools are as safe as possible and provide a positive learning environment for all students, teachers, administrators and staff. Recent safety improvements are beneficial and must be continually evaluated for effectiveness.
Any additional comments? I earned a B.A. in Economics from Carleton College, a Juris Doctorate (Law) Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served as a Public Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota and as an Adjunct Professor in Business at the University of Minnesota.
My family and I belong to the Swiss United Church of Christ, I served as Treasurer and as Board Chair of the Monroe Clinic, and I volunteered many years as a cast member in the German Tell Play. My wife, Mary Anne, is the former Clerk of the New Glarus School Board.
I work well with Senator Jon Erpenbach, Representative Sondy Pope and other state legislators and will collaborate with them to assure our school district receives equitable amounts of state financial support. Expanding charter schools and vouchers is not an educational solution for residents of our rural school district. Rather, these state policies essentially transfer revenue from rural districts like New Glarus to suburban school districts in Southeast Wisconsin. This places stress on property taxes levels and area taxpayers, many of whom live on fixed incomes as retirees.
Finally, I have directly managed public budgets of more than $200 million, successfully supervised more than 600 employees, and developed and taught curriculum at the public university level. I would bring these skills to the New Glarus School Board.