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Mayoral Candidate Event March 12th

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​School Board Candidates

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Melissa Hammann

What is your vision for the future of teachers, staff, and students at ECSD?
I had the privilege of serving on the board from 2007 to 2010, 2014 to 2023, and 2025 to the present. I am a radically persistent person who is passionate about public education as the great equalizer. I have a particular skill set regarding school finance that I believe has been of benefit to our district even when I haven’t been on the Board. The goals and vision of the district floundered between 2014 and 2020. In that time we worked diligently to establish several tools to bring to fruition the mission and vision of the district in 2022. Some of these tools were 4K, JEDI virtual learning program, top of the line technical education program with dual learning partners, an incredible youth apprenticeship program, enhanced AP options, additional sport opportunities, and many more. This has positioned the district to appeal to a wide cross-section of student and family needs. During this time, the board studied and set into motion a process to regain a net 100 enrollment loss largely through meeting the needs of all students.
     I have included a copy of the Mission and Vision for the Evansville Community School District below:
Mission: All learners thriving, contributing, and belonging. Vision: Be recognized as a leader of excellence in education.
     I believe these have remained relevant goals for our district since they were adopted in 2022. It would behoove us to reconvene a citizens’ committee to verify that the community still embraces these goals. To be most effective, such planning needs to be concurrent with a review of our strategic plan. That work will commence in the near future in tandem with referendum planning.

Name two challenges you currently see specific to our district and ideas to work towards a solution:
Until the legislature concludes that high-quality public education in Wisconsin requires serious investment that reflects cost of living increases, money to accomplish the bare minimum unfunded mandates will remain challenging to our district and all others. We must remain competitive in our salary schedules as well as be mindful of staff morale. These costs alone account for 70-80% of the budget. Raises are limited to cost of living allowance but are two years behind in timing based on how state statute defines base wage. This paltry amount does not include money to fund keeping salary schedules competitive or to fund benefits. A vibrant relationship with our state representatives is critical to solving this problem, Our district has a dynamic Special Education program that people seek out. Last year, we have had to stop open-enrolling special education students into the district to enable us to properly serve our resident students. That is also a statewide issue, which is complicated by the Parental Choice programs. They accept these students with no resources or state mandates to provide for an IEP. After the 3rd Friday count, they tell families they cannot provide for an IEP and keep the funding until January. Families must then find a spot for their children, most often in their home district now, or in virtual programs. None of the back-up schools have received funding to provide properly for that student.
     A Solution to this problem lies in convincing the legislature that parental choice programs must be equally accountable and make the practice of holding onto $14,000 per student for four months illegal in this state. That also requires a strong legislative connection. Two of our current board members actively engage in legislative work. I attend most of the legislative meetings in town to give the school’s perspective when possible. All citizens are urged to contact their representatives to give feedback about this issue as well.

Please share a story about a teacher or coach who had an impact in your life.
I transferred from a large public university to my small hometown college in the middle of my sophomore year. While I was ahead in the course content, I was behind in the lab content. My professor created a separate course for me and allowed me to take both lab sections at once. It is something that has stuck with me my entire life. This really brilliant man made a course specifically to meet my educational needs. It’s probably why I believe so passionately in individualized education, meeting the student where they are. Also, his WWII stories were amazing! He was on the enigma team and it was really pertinent to learning a certain part of organic chemistry that was much like coding.

What is one area you believe sets Evansville apart from other communities and districts?
Evansville sits alone as both a community and a school district in the caring, collaboration, and synergy that can be reached when we all work toward the same goals. Community leaders working with the district to inform us of their needs in our graduates has been so heartwarming. Sometimes they even provide youth apprenticeships that give kids a true sense for that job they’ve been thinking about for a while. Our district leadership working with staff to pull toward the same achievement level has helped as well. All of these efforts have been evident in our student achievement scores and I look forward to seeing us surge in this area in the future.
     You need look no further than this group to see it in action in our community all the time. The cultural celebrations for all cultures become a learning experience for most of us. The ability to attract 100 people to the MLK celebration on the coldest day of the year is astonishing. The kindness celebrations that Ms. Sarah reminds us of every day on FB kinda make me cry sometimes, because I momentarily forgot the potential for good in our world. Sure, Evansville has its drawbacks like any small community. But all in all, the inclination of those in our community to reach out and make the connections needed to get things accomplished is superlative here.

Favorite inspirational quote:
My favorite is not really family-friendly. But my next favorite is from Michelle Obama. It seems especially poignant in our current times.
“You may live in the world as it is, but you can still work to create the world as it should be.”

Elliott Day

What is your vision for the future of teachers, staff, and students at ECSD?
My vision is for the students, educators & faculty members to have a safe, productive environment that is conducive to learning and growth. I want every student to feel valued and able to meet their full potential. I want to see staff members working collaboratively toward one goal while feeling respected and supported by the community and administration.  

Name two challenges you currently see specific to our district and ideas to work towards a solution:
Funding & Security
Not only specific to our district but all school districts in the state, we face a budget crisis. With the cost of living on the rise, aging infrastructure, and a rising number of students who require additional services, it is more important than ever to prioritize our students and their needs. . This puts a strain on our budget. Complex challenges call for dynamic and strategic solutions. Only together can we solve this.  
Security in our educational institutions is a nationwide issue. Keeping our students, educators, and faculty safe is my number one priority. This requires collective solutions to ensure that we are able to provide a safe learning environment at all facilities within our district. Procedures, training, education & awareness will assist in accomplishing a safe, productive environment.

Please share a story about a teacher or coach who had an impact in your life.
Throughout my 25-year career in the military, I attended many professional military education courses. I had many coaches, counselors, and mentors along the way. Learning and enveloping the principles of servant leadership in my military career has had a profound impact on not only my professional career, but on me as a husband and a father of three. I strongly believe in these principles and live by them daily.
Listening
Empathy
Healing
Awareness
Persuasion
Conceptualization
Foresight
Stewardship
commitment to the growth of people
and building community
 
What is one area you believe sets Evansville apart from other communities and districts?
Evansville is an amazing local community with small businesses and a unique population. As a city with a smaller population, yet in close proximity to Madison, we have been able to make a distinguish ourselves from other districts in our region by offering exceptional facilities, high quality education, and unique opportunities for our students.
Evansville is a close-knit community where people graduate from, return to raise their own families, and watch their children grow. Evansville is a student focused community that allows students of all abilities to succeed.

4. Favorite inspirational quote:
“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
​– Vince Lombardi

Elliott Samuel-Lamm

What is your vision for the future of teachers, staff, and students at ECSD?
I would love for our district to be a safe and nourishing environment for all teachers, staff, and students. I would like it to a place where they all look forward to spending time. I would like our students to develop both academic and social emotional skills that will enable them to thrive and I'd like to provide our staff with a work environment, a comfortable living wage, and healthcare plan for them to do the same. 

Name two challenges you currently see specific to our district and ideas to work towards a solution:
We are underfunded by the state, especially our special education program. Properly funding our schools shouldn't be reliant on our community members paying more in taxes through the referendum process, and more funding from the state doesn't have to be a matter of raising our taxes either. Our legislators have more than enough to properly fund our schools, they just need to start prioritizing them, prioritizing the well-being of our children. What is more important? This is not just one challenge, or two challenges, this presents a multitude of challenges for our district. We need to continue and increase our state level advocacy for better funding for our schools. 

Please share a story about a teacher or coach who had an impact in your life.
Between the time my mom dropped me off and when I sat down in class on September 11th, 2001, the second plane had hit the towers. Our teacher was clearly upset, but he sat with us, and with tears in his eyes facilitated a conversation that helped us to feel safe and cared for, that helped us process what was happening and what it meant. I emailed him a few years ago to thank him for that presence, and for modeling a kind of strength I was unaccustomed to. 

What is one area you believe sets Evansville apart from other communities and districts?
I think the Evansville school district is the perfect size. It's large enough to have a lot of opportunities for our students but small enough that no child is a number. Our district administrator was the "secret reader" at our elementary school one day and a lot of children recognized his voice and knew who he was. There's a personal connection you get here that I think you miss out on in a lot of larger districts. 

Favorite inspirational quote:
Work is love made visible.

Kody Trawicki

My name is Kody Trawicki I am sorry I am unable to make it to the school board forum tonight. My wife and I are taking a much-needed vacation out of the country this week as we have not done so since our honeymoon I hope you all understand and I am truly committed to this position if I am elected in. A little about me I have lived in Evansville my entire life. I graduated from Evansville High School in 2013. I continued my education at Blackhawk Technical College for welding and graduated in 2014. Right after I graduated, I started working at my current employer VNE Corporation in Janesville. I married my wife Stacy in 2019, and we have two kids, Eli and Lilly. The first of this year I received a promotion to Plant Manager I have been training for this the past year. In my free time I enjoy going camping with my family and friends, hunting and doing work around our home. I believe I would be a good fit for this position because I have real world experience hiring our youth to put into the work force and I have been a part of the community for my entire life.

What is your vision for the future of teachers, staff, and students at ECSD?
All teachers, staff, and students deserve a safe environment where they feel comfortable being themselves. Students should receive the highest quality education possible through experienced teachers, supportive staff, and all necessary resources. To make this possible, we must ensure we are retaining high-quality educators by offering competitive pay, strong benefits, and taking meaningful steps to reduce burnout.

Two challenges I currently see specific to our district and ideas to work toward a solution
One major challenge the district currently has is funding as I am sure we are all aware of. As we had a referendum just recently that did not pass and many cuts were made. Our state detached funding from inflation many years ago and it is hurting public schools. If we had kept up with inflation we would roughly have an additional $3,000 per student, we would never have had to go to referendum if this was the case. I do not believe that this is going to go away anytime soon but we need to make sure that we are using all resources to their fullest potential and not waste our local taxpayers’ money.
Another issue is student behavior, kids have changed since the pandemic. The school district is seeing an increase in bad behavior. As a district we need to find a middle ground of supporting students and families that struggle with behavior and making sure that other kids in the class do not miss out on learning opportunities because of disruptions.

Please share a story about a teacher or coach who impacted your life
I took a personal finance class in high school that had a major impact on my life. While money isn’t everything, nearly everything in our lives revolves around it. The class taught essential skills such as taking out loans, investing in the stock market, and understanding basic tax information. Every student should be taught these fundamental skills, so they aren’t forced to rely on others for something so basic and necessary.

What area do you believe sets Evansville apart from other communities and districts
Evansville stands apart from other districts by offering multiple pathways for students as they prepare to graduate. Some students plan to attend a four-year college or university, others pursue technical education, and some enter the workforce directly. Each of these paths is equally important and deserves the same level of attention and support. One program I especially value is Evansville’s youth apprenticeship program at the high school. It gives students hands-on experience and allows them to explore potential career paths, whether that means continuing their education in a specific field, realizing a career isn’t the right fit, or entering the workforce right after graduation.

Favorite Quote
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. -Dr. Seuss

Mitch Larson

What is your vision for the future of teachers, staff, and students at ECSD?My vision for ECSD is a supportive and collaborative district where teachers and staff feel valued, trusted, and empowered to do their best work. When educators are supported and given meaningful opportunities to grow, they can better serve students.
For students, I envision a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where every student feels seen, challenged, and supported. ECSD should focus on both academic success and social-emotional growth, preparing students for future opportunities.

Name two challenges you currently see specific to our district and ideas to work towards a solution:
Passing another operational referendum will be a significant challenge due to limited state funding, as voter “referendum fatigue” is increasing. Clear communication, transparency, and community engagement will be essential to building understanding and support.
Continuous improvement of the districtwide academic achievement requires equipping staff with the right tools, resources, and training to deliver high-quality instruction and consistent assessment practices that prepare young adults to be productive citizens. Creating a culture where employees feel heard, supported, and empowered will boost morale, instructional effectiveness, and long-term retention.

Please share a story about a teacher or coach who had an impact in your life.
I have had many people in my life who have made a meaningful impact, but one who stands out is Richard Schwartz. He provided me with knowledge and life lessons that went beyond the classroom and helped prepare me for the real world. His no-nonsense teaching style pushed me to take responsibility, work hard, and hold myself to high standards. At the time, it was exactly what I needed, and those lessons have stayed with me and continue to influence how I approach challenges today.

What is one area you believe sets Evansville apart from other communities and districts?
One area that sets Evansville apart from other communities and districts is its strong small-town feel. Evansville maintains a close-knit, supportive community where relationships matter, families are engaged, and schools are a central part of the community. This sense of connection allows staff, students, and families to know and support one another, creating a welcoming environment that strengthens both learning and community pride.

Favorite inspirational quote:
​“If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.”  - Henry Ford

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Mayoral Candidates

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Abbey Barnes

I’ve lived in the Midwest most of my life. I was born in Michigan and at 3, moved to northern Minnesota when my dad got a job as a college professor. I grew up and attended college there, where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. After finishing my student teaching and first year of teaching on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, I moved to Florida with my fiancé. We got married and worked there for two years before moving back here to be closer to family. We chose the Madison area because all of my family is from Wisconsin and I grew up spending holidays and summers here, so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s also a lot less cold here than Northern Minnesota!
In 2009 my husband and I adopted our daughter. She’s now a junior at Evansville High School and time seems to be moving faster than ever. In addition to her, I also have two stepsons, two daughters-in-law and two granddaughters.
I taught a total of 10 years before deciding to make a total career shift. In 2014 I opened The Vintage Roost here in Evansville. I had zero business and very little retail experience. Somehow I made it work, learning as I went, and growing my business including purchasing and remodeling my own location downtown.
Since opening my business I started getting involved in all the things. I’m what you call a “joiner.” One of those people who can’t seem to say no when asked to volunteer.
My husband is also self-employed and owns a local small business. Between our businesses, my work with the city, my daughter’s volleyball schedule, and spending time with family, we stay fairly busy. In our spare time we like to travel, spend time outdoors camping and trying new restaurants and going antiquing.
Local Experience or Government ExperienceCurrent:

• Evansville Common Council since 2023
• Tourism Commission
• Planning Commission
• Finance and Labor since 2024
• Planning of several downtown events including Ladies Night Out, Evansville Art Crawl, Olde Fashioned Christmas, and Fall Fest

Past:

• Evansville Chamber of Commerce and Tourism board member and president – 10 years
• Economic Development Committee

I started getting involved because I wanted to stay informed. I take pride in knowing what’s going on in our community and being able to help, where I can. I enjoy trying to keep others informed, as well. I think it’s important for both our elected officials and area businesses to have an active presence in our community. It’s my way of giving back to the community that not only supports me as a business owner, but welcomed my family when we decided to make Evansville our home.

information provided by:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574777940267
https://www.barnesformayor.com

Jeff Stevems

I have a proven record of people and business management. I served 25 years in private industry with a global manufacturing firm as a Mechanical Designer, Production Project Manager, Production Manager overseeing 50 employees over three shifts providing materials and schedules to over 600 manufacturing positions and Sr. Engineer in Global Technology Management and Acquisitions where we created groundbreaking solutions in Computer Aided Design and Computer controlled machines tools.
My second career has been a business owner for the past 20 years designing, selling and installing Security, Surveillance and Fire Alarm Systems. My customer base included companies such as Gander Mountain, CVS Pharmacies, Big Lots, several Local Ace Hardware stores, Subway and convenience store franchises, bars and restaurants. My service territory was from Joliet IL to the South, to Minocqua WI in the North, Milwaukee WI to the East and Monroe WI in the West.​

information provided by:
​​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586151497888
Website: https://jeffstevensformayor.com