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Oshkosh candidate forum: where five board hopefuls stand on phones, inclusion, staff retention and next steps
Summary
At a League of Women Voters forum, candidates for the Oshkosh Area School District addressed cell‑phone bans, gender inclusivity, teacher retention and their closing pitches; the forum reiterated election dates and reminded voters to check MyVoteWI.gov.
At a League of Women Voters forum in Oshkosh, five candidates for two school board seats outlined their positions on several school‑policy issues and made closing appeals to voters.
On cell phones, positions varied. Jacob Wolf said he would support removing phones from classrooms to reduce distraction and cyberbullying, observing that alternatives exist for emergency contact. “Putting the cell phones away and letting our kids actually learn...would be awesome,” he said. Mallory Schneider Burschbach favored limiting screen time and suggested practical solutions such as phone compartments in classrooms rather than a total ban. Barb Herzog described existing classroom practices where students store phones in slots and reported she sees healthy social interaction when phones are restricted. Paul Molitor supported strict limits and noted school offices can facilitate parent contact; Jeffrey Watts opposed a complete ban because phones can help in emergencies and recommended controlled policies.
On gender inclusivity and activities, Mallory and Herzog emphasized accepting all students and consulting student groups. Herzog said she met with LGBTQ and Black Student Union members to hear student experiences. Paul Molitor and Jeffrey Watts emphasized protecting girls’ sports and raised practical concerns about competitive fairness; candidates also noted some eligibility questions fall under the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
On retaining teachers and staff, candidates cited respect, competitive compensation, safe working conditions, adequate resources and avoiding micromanagement as key strategies. In one‑minute closings, candidates reiterated core themes—nonpartisan governance, transparency, fiscal prudence and student focus—and urged votes in the Feb. 17 primary and April 7 spring election. Moderator Margie Davie closed with reminders about polling hours (7 a.m.–8 p.m.), photo ID requirements and checking MyVoteWI.gov for polling‑place information.
The forum provided voters with comparison points on policy and tone but did not result in binding board decisions.
