Candidates differ on vouchers, library complaints and religious displays in schools

Oshkosh — Voters heard differing views on school vouchers, library‑material complaints and religious displays during a League of Women Voters forum for Oshkosh Area School Board candidates.

On vouchers, Jacob Wolf said he supports voucher programs, calling them a way to provide choice for families and a potential explanation for declining district enrollment. Michael Ford said he is generally a supporter of “educational freedom” but noted different voucher programs vary and said parents’ choices are part of the broader education infrastructure. Molly Smilnick said she is not a proponent of public funds for voucher schools and described vouchers as a threat to district funding; she added that any school receiving public funds should meet the same accountability standards as public schools.

Library material selection and complaint procedures drew discussion of a district policy governing age appropriateness and a complaint process. Ford said he prefers professional staff to determine age‑appropriate material and to use existing district complaint channels. Smilnick emphasized the board’s role is to ensure procedures are followed and to trust educators’ expertise, while allowing parents to make choices for their own children.

On whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in classrooms, Jacob Wolf said “Yes. I believe they should.” Both Michael Ford and Molly Smilnick said they do not support posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, citing separation of church and state and the need to keep public schools welcoming to students of diverse faiths or no faiths.

Candidates pointed voters to district policies for formal complaints and to follow established channels when concerns arise; the forum did not include an administrator to outline the specific complaint process or timelines.