At a forum last week, the five local candidates for the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees shared their ideas on both the present and future of Green River Schools.
Christy Magagna, Christine Montgomery, Ann Rudoff, John Malone and Robin Steiss talked briefly about their backgrounds and qualifications and the well-qualified candidates all seemed to be in unison when discussing what’s best for the future of the district.
The top three will win a seat on the board.
MAGAGNA
Born and raised in Sweetwater County, Christy Magagna will be seeking her third term on the board.
In her career as a teacher, on the board and in other duties, she said she has spent a lot of time working with both kids and teachers.
Magagna said during her first term on the board, she felt like a rookie, and during the second and current term she feels she finally has this down and a third term would be well appreciated. Magagna said she doesn’t see why the district can’t be one of the leaders in the state, but also nationally.
In preparing students for college and the workforce she said the district cannot wait until students are in high school.
Magagna said that a growing district is a better problem to have than closing schools, but they must always ensure that students get the best education possible.
As a way to help increase graduation rates, she said the district could look to see what other schools are doing well.
CHRISTINE
MONTGOMERY
Montgomery was also born and raised in Wyoming and has spent the last 37 years in Green River where she and her husband own three businesses.
She said all three of her children graduated from Green River High School. Montgomery said she chose to run to give back to to the community they enjoy so much and would like to retire in.
Unlike her four opponents, she said she has not worked with the district in anyway and would have a lot to learn, but she could bring a different point of view.
Montgomery said that she has had a few people with her discuss the current school calendar and many of them want to go back to what they had when they went to school and don’t take change well. She said the district is never going to please everybody, but maybe they could educate the public better about the calendar process.
Montgomery added the district is doing a great job with growth, however they must ensure they continue to get quality teachers and support staff.
ANN RUDOFF
A current member of the board, Rudoff will be seeking her fourth term.
She said part of the reason why she is running is to make the transition from high school to college and the workforce smoother.
Rudoff said she is an educator at heart, and while being on the board takes a lot of time, members get paid when they see students walk across the stage during graduation.
Rudoff said the district needs to make sure students are at the level they need to be at when they graduate to enter the workforce and college. She added the school board needs to adjust and do what they need to to to make the students successful when they graduate.
When discussing improving graduation rates, she said a key component is getting parents engaged and that starts and kindergarten. She said the parents need to support the environment of education the kids are getting at school.
At this point, Rudoff does not foresee a need to change the school calendar.
JOHN MALONE
A teacher and coach for 37-years, Malone will be seeking his second term on the board.
He enjoys being on the board for one reason -- it keeps him close to the schools and said after 37 years it was hard to turn off the switch.
Malone said he does not want to be an administrator, doesn’t want to micromanage, doesn’t give helpful hints, his business is on Tuesday nights when he works with policy, the budget, and sometimes personnel.
When discussing students being prepared for the workforce and or college, he said that the schools can give them good work, reading, and personal habits and the best education possible. Malone said if they they do this, they have a great shot at making them successful.
If the district continues to grow, Malone said they will make space for students, they just need to continue to find good teachers, because they just don’t hire what’s available, they hire good folks.
He said he sees so much positive in the community and district and wants to continue to be a part of it.
ROBIN STEISS
Robin Steiss recently retired after having worked 34 years for Sweetwater County School District No. 2.
Steiss said she truly misses the kids, wants to be involved and her past job as a speech pathologist gave her a chance to see all levels of students and the inner workings of most of the schools in the district.
Steiss added she has a lot of respect for the district and Green River is one heck of a place to live, the community sticks together. She said the district is also its own community where staff members take care of each other.
Steiss said to improve graduation rates, it’s so important to keep kids engaged and this can be done with a wide variety of curriculum that includes the arts. She also said the sports and extracurricular activities make a difference.
She said the district has done a good job adjusting to growth, they just need to make sure beginning salaries are good because the prices of homes here are expensive.
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