Whitnall school board candidates focus on student achievement, $79.1 million referendum, teacher pay at League forum

Four candidates seeking two seats on the Whitnall School District school board emphasized student achievement, implementation of a recently approved $79,100,000 referendum, teacher compensation and school safety during a candidates forum moderated by Kay Vance of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.

The forum, organized by the Whitnall High School Student Council and the League of Women Voters, drew sustained questioning on issues voters are likely to weigh before the April 1 election, including how referendum construction will be managed while school is in session, how the district budgets for teacher pay and professional development, and how the district addresses bullying and student safety.

“Student achievement has been and will always be our number one thing,” said Jason Craig, incumbent Whitnall School Board member and board clerk, calling student outcomes the district’s “North Star.” Craig said the board is supporting steps to increase teacher compensation and to clarify professional-development goals for educators.

Alicia Shaw, a candidate and mother of three who works as a hospital performance-improvement coordinator, urged the board to be “honest, open, and transparent” in outreach and suggested additional listening sessions beyond existing channels such as the district newsletter known as the Whitnall Window. Shaw also said open enrollment has been a net fiscal plus for the district: “Open enrollment brought almost $4,000,000 into our school district,” she said, adding that the…