As the election filing period closed for School District 166 school board, there were no candidates for District 3, the West Grand Marais/Cascade area. At the last school board meeting on September 18, Superintendent Beth Schwarz announced that Chris Goettl was running as a write-in candidate. At press time, Jeff Kern has also announced that he will be running for the District 3 seat.
In a letter to the Cook County News-Herald, Kern said he was running, “Because education of our kids is at the heart of a successful community, I’m offering to represent people of Cook County District 3 on the ISD 166 School Board. Our community thrives only when it includes families with kids. Families with kids come and stay only if there is a strong school system.”
“Volunteering in classrooms has taught me what truly gifted teachers we have. I have a long history of volunteering—with kids in Sawtooth Elementary, ISD 166, and Great Expectations schools. I’ve served over the years on administrative committees such as the Curriculum Advisory, Finance, Academic Advisory, and Technology. I’m currently a member of Great Expectations’ school board.”
Kern’s son Andy attended Great Expectations and his son Sam attended Sawtooth Elementary School and Sawtooth Middle School. “Now they are together in high school at ISD 166. I’m very grateful for the existence of both those schools plus Birch Grove Community School and Oshki Ogimaag Charter School. Our county schools are all different from each other. I like that parents have choices and I like that all kids in the county can end up at the same high school. It serves us all to keep our public school strong. Plus, we can cooperate to serve all our kids better.”
The News-Herald contacted Chris Goettl by phone to confirm his write-in candidacy. Goettl said yes, he is running. He said, “I’m concerned about the future of ISD 166—for the students and the community. I’d like to become more involved with what happens in the future at ISD 166.”
Goettl said, “Basically I was raised up here and went through the whole school system, starting at Birch Grove, all the way through high school.
“I’ve been involved in school activities throughout my adult life, coaching youths and serving on a variety of committees. I’ve also been active with the Cook County Booster Club.
“I presently have two kids in the school system who went through Sawtooth Elementary. One is in middle school; one is in high school now,” said Goettl.
Goettl said he contemplated running for school board when the vacancy was first announced, but he had a previous commitment. He planned on coaching again. “But I decided I’d give that up and put my time and energy into serving on the school board instead,” said Goettl.
To cast a vote for one of these candidates you must write his name and put an X on the ballot.
Chris Goettl X
Jeff Kern X
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