The Daily News

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.

Several gathered in Abercrombie Sunday afternoon for the dedication of a brand new interpretive center for Ft. Abercrombie. Above, many dignitaries from the area and state held a ribbon cutting ceremony. From left, are Richland County Commissioner Bryan Flaa, NDDOT Grant Officer Ben Kubishta, State Historical Society Foundation Director Virginia Nelson, State Historical Society Board President Al Berger, District 25 Sen. Arden Anderson, District 25 Representative John Wall, Sen. Kent Conrad, N.D. Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple and North Dakota State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt. Also cutting the ribbon, but not pictured is Don Hestdalen from Friends of the Fort and Kevin Bernier, Abercrombie mayor. Daily News photo by Ken Harty. Advertisement

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."

Comments

Veronica A wrote on Jun 19, 2009 10:12 AM:

" I used to go this schoool and its a very good school and I really like and miss it but i have moved on and now and a better person but I really liked that school and I hope it lasts for ever!!!!!! Class of 05-06 "




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Marie wrote on Aug 6, 2008 12:27 PM:

" Mr Smith owes the Geffres an apology? How about the Geffres apologize to the community of Hankinson. In two short years that family has torn apart a school, a community, family and friends. They have showed no respect for Hankinson. Hankinson is not their community! It's time for the Geffres to move on. "




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MARY wrote on Aug 5, 2008 11:53 AM:

" AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, I THINK OUR SUPERINTENDENT JESS SMITH OWES THE GEFFRE FAMILY A PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR SOME OF HIS COMMENTS TO THE PRESS. AFTER ALL, HE VICTIMIZED THEM PUBLICLY. IT ISN'T LIKE HE'S TOO BUSY PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN! "




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Ben wrote on Jul 30, 2008 12:21 AM:

" I think he resigned because he knew that people would find out the truth if that meeting took place.....how come after all the media he hyped up to make the Geffres llok bad, did he change his mind and resign?....in my opinion he did it to save his own skin "




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Vern wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:37 PM:

" I agree with the previous poster that this was not about the girls getting playing time. He should probably not be allowed to teach at any age level ever again. "




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Kaye wrote on Jul 27, 2008 8:33 PM:

" There is more to this than just the Geffre's complaints and Jess Smith knows it, why doesn't he just come clean about everything and all complaints there has been on Gravalin in the past three years,he has been covering up and sweeping under the rug so to speak. This isn't just about parents that didn't think their girls got to play enough. Shouldn't the first duty of his position be to protect our children. "




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