The Daily Dispatch

In a June 3 election, voters will decide which of the three candidates running for school board seats in the Wahpeton School District will be the best fit for the two open city seats.

Incumbent Laurie Christensen, Breckenridge Utilities accounting clerk and Mary Wolfgram, employed by North Dakota State College of Science, have filed for the vacant city seats. Jeff Kleven, Bank of the West, is running as a write-in candidate for the city of Wahpeton seat.

A rural south seat is vacant in which incumbent Deb Mauch, current school board president, has filed for. She is running unopposed for the position.

Christensen, 46, has served on the school board for two full terms and is currently the chairman of the finance committee.

"I just want to be involved in the process of educating young children," Christensen said.

To Christensen, 46, improving communication between parents, teachers and administration is a must. It can only create more options for the students, she said.

The current curriculum is good, but she hopes to help improve options for students. Christensen hopes those options can help students transition into the next level of education, whether it's college, high school or middle school levels.

Wolfgram, 37, is a mother of three and feels parent involvement is important. She is seeking election so she can be more involved in her children's path to a good education.

Wolfgram, who is also the Christian education director at Evergreen United Methodist Church, hopes to bring different ideas to the table involving the district's curriculum.

"Being in higher education myself, I'd like to see a foreign language taught at an earlier age," Wolfgram said. She suggested it be taught before students reach the senior high level.

Kleven, 47, who sought to be on the ballot past deadline, is now a write-in candidate for the city of Wahpeton seat.

"I just always had an interest in it," he said. "I want to do my part in the community."

As a parent of three, in which two are currently in the school district, Kleven is seeking election because he wants to help make decisions that in the students' best interest.

Kleven is also part of Wahpeton Rotary Club and All Sports Booster Club in the district.

Each candidate stated funding to be a problem the district is currently facing, but commended the board for handling it well and working efficiently with the funding that's available.

"This school board I believe is very efficient," Christensen said.

Kleven said in the 10 years he's been a resident of Wahpeton he hasn't seen the board spend money unwisely, or on unneeded elements. Kleven commended their cooperative with NDSCS and the development of the track and football field.

"I think the challenge is to use the money wisely so it doesn't effect on children's education in a negative way," Kleven said.

Wolfgram commended the efforts of so many who have gotten together to get new playground equipment for Zimmerman and Central elementary schools.

"We do awesome things here," she said.

Christensen, Kleven and Wolfgram all said the school board runs great now but offered their suggestions on what they would like to see happen or continue to happen in the future.

Wolfgram said she would like to see some advancement in the curriculum, while Christensen hopes the district continues to get qualified leaders as recently the district has lost some teachers due to retirement. Making sure the district stays competitive with the salaries of teachers and administrative staff is important, Christensen said.

Kleven said he doesn't have too much of an agenda in running for school board.

"I think we've got a well-oiled machine right now," he said. "I just feel an obligation to do my part and to help where I can."

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