As Election Day draws closer the public wants to learn more about who is running for school board of the Whitewater Unified School District. To help citizens out in their decision making, the Whitewater Area League of Women Voters held a second forum with the six remaining candidates Saturday, March 11 at the Whitewater Municipal Building.

The candidates include Joseph Kromholz, Stephanie Hicks, Christy Linse, Thayer Coburn, Chuck Mills and Lisa Huempfner. The forum was moderated by Lynn Binnie. 

The questions that were asked at the forum were submitted by the in-person audience. Questions were submitted throughout the forum and were sorted by topic. Questions asked had to be related to all candidates and not directed at a specific candidate. The league did not try to direct candidates to any answer to questions.

The first question that was submitted by the public audience was, “Are you committed to a yearly survey of families, students, graduates, community residents, faculty and staff about what they see as major strengths or shortcomings of the district and its schools, and are you committed to publicly sharing the results?” The general consensus of these questions was that every candidate was in favor of having yearly surveys, however, each candidate had different takes on how they would like to do the surveys.

Two similar questions that were asked in the forum were about student support – especially for those who speak English as their second language, minorities, and students a part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

“It is the current policy of the district that no person should be denied permission to any school of this district or be denied the right to participate in, be denied the benefits of or be discriminated against in any co-curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational, or other programs or activities because of the person’s sex, gender identity, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or mental, emotional or learning disability or any other learning,” said candidate Kromholz.

Attendees were grateful for the opportunity to get answers to questions, as well as have their voices heard about issues important to them. The recording of the forum is posted on the Whitewater Area League of Women Voters website. 

“In service to our mission to encourage informed participation in government, the league sponsors candidate forums, a public venue for candidates to express their views and positions on issues that matter to you, the voter,” read Binnie. 

General elections will be held April 4, where voters can choose three of the six candidates to be elected to the Whitewater Unified School District School Board.