Category Archives: South Milwaukee

Jazz and More is almost here — and tickets are still available. Join us at this special event.

And our online auction is OPEN! Support our student musicians by bidding now on some terrific prize packages. Access the auction site here, register for free, and begin the bidding!

Four packages are available to start:

Sports Fan’s Dream

This is for the ultimate sports fan! Enjoy prime seats to see the Milwaukee Brewers (May 10: 4 tickets, section 122, row 5, with preferred parking), Green Bay Packers (2024 preseason game TBD: 4 tickets, club section 409, row 11), and Milwaukee Bucks (2024-25 game TBD: 2 tickets), as well as tickets to see the Admirals, Wave and Milkmen. And we’ll throw in a hat signed by Bucks rookie Andre Jackson.

Thanks: Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Admirals, Milwaukee Wave, Milwaukee Milkmen, and the Grebe family.

Vacation Get Away

Think warm thoughts and plan your next trip, with $300 gift certificates for Sunsational Beach Vacations, Delta Airlines and Hilton Hotels.

Thanks: Kathy Szeflinski and Tom Brussow-Sunsational Beach Vacations.

Celebrate the Arts

A special prize package for the performing arts fan! The package includes two tickets to your selection of current season performances of the Milwaukee Symphony, Florentine Opera, and Skylight Music Theatre; two tickets to Milwaukee Ballet’s MKE Mix show (May 16-19); four tickets to the South Milwaukee PAC’s two Summer Youth Theatre performances; AND $100 gift card to Saint Kate — The Arts Hotel.

Thanks: Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet, Florentine Opera, Skylight Music Theatre, South Milwaukee PAC and Jen & Kyle Samuelson.

Fine Dining at the Bucyrus Club

Enjoy a private five-course gourmet meal for 8 people, prepared by our team of culinary trained chefs. Together with your own private bartender and server, they will take you through an evening you will not soon forget! We will customize a menu that will suit your particular tastes, and you will get to enjoy the evening with wine and cocktails as well.

Thanks: Ernie Wunsch-Bucyrus Club

A big shoutout goes to Shelly Moore Krajacic, Aimee Swanson and Heather Hanson for recent recognition for the great work they are doing teaching our kids in South Milwaukee (including my own).

From the South Milwaukee School District …

Shelly Moore Krajacic Named to Class of 2024 for the National Teachers Hall of Fame

SOUTH MILWAUKEE – A South Milwaukee English teacher English language arts teacher at South Milwaukee High School is one of only five teachers across the United States to be named to the National Teachers Hall of fame as a member of the Class of 2024.

On March 21, Shelly Moore Krajacic was surprised with the honor in the High School Library, where she was met by current and former colleagues, students, and family members.

“I love all of my students, you know that. I just want to see you be happy and successful in how you choose to be,” Krajacic said. “Education really is the single greatest thing we can give to the next generation.”

“Each year we proudly recognize only five outstanding educators from across the country with an extremely rigorous selection process,” National Teacher Hall of Fame Acting Executive Director Maddie Fennell said.

“We’re gathering today to celebrate Shelly’s remarkable achievements, her unwavering dedication to our profession, and the profound impact she’s had as a third-generation Wisconsin public school teacher.”

Also speaking about her career was Superintendent Deidre Roemer, former South Milwaukee Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss, and SMHS Principal Bryan Terry.

“I am continuously impressed by Shelly’s endless ardency in regards to all things conducive to student growth and engagement,” said Katie Swanson, a fellow English teacher at South Milwaukee High School. “When the Student Senate needed an adviser, Shelly stepped in. When the drama department needed a set designer, Shelly constructed three-dimensional models. When the district needed mentors for new teachers, Shelly took on that role. She regularly demonstrates the degree to which her commitment to students goes beyond their academic growth and extends to their overall emotional and psychological wellbeing.”

The NTHF Class of 2024 will travel to Washington D.C., in early May for ceremonies there. They will travel to Emporia, Kansas, in June for four days of events before the formal induction ceremony on June 21 at Emporia State University.

About Moore Krajacic

She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English, political science and theatre from University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, her master of science degree in English education from University of Wisconsin at River Falls and began work toward a Ph.D. in urban education from University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee in 2019.

Krajacic began her teaching career in 1998 at Ellsworth Community High School where she taught English and theatre until 2018. In 2020 through 2021, she taught English education at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. She joined the South Milwaukee High School English department in 2021.

About the Hall of Fame

Krajacic is not the first Wisconsin teacher inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She joins Deborah Lynn Tackmann, who was inducted in 2012. Founded in 1989 on the campus of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, the National Teachers Hall of Fame has inducted five U.S. teachers each year since 1992. The qualifications for induction are:

• At least 20 years of full-time pre-K-12 teaching experience.
• May be retired or no longer teaching. 
• Must hold/have held a valid teaching certificate/license from the state in which
  they are teaching or taught.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
• Be living and able to attend the induction ceremonies in Washington D.C. in May and in Emporia, Kansas, in June. 
• No self-nominations are allowed.

“The selection process is inherently challenging,” shared Maddie Fennell, Acting Executive Director of NTHF. “Every year, we are astounded by the caliber of nominees we receive.”

Fennell continued, “Shelly’s nomination stood out due to her exceptional teaching prowess, unwavering advocacy efforts, and remarkable leadership skills. “To be chosen for induction into the Hall of Fame is a monumental career achievement, with only five educators selected each year from amongst millions.”

The NTHF Class of 2024 will travel to Washington D.C., in early May for ceremonies there. They will travel to Emporia, Kansas, in June for four days of events before the formal induction ceremony on June 21 at Emporia State University.

Check out coverage from WISN, Fox 6 and the Journal Sentinel.

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Hanson, Swanson Named Kohl Foundation Teacher Fellows

Also, congratulations to SMHS Social Studies teacher Heather Hanson and Choir and Music Educator Aimee Swanson for being named Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellows. Both were nominated “for their leadership and service in and outside the classroom and their ability to inspire a love of learning and to motivate their students.”

Both teachers will receive $6,000 for themselves and $6,000 each for SMHS.

Local highlights from Tuesday’s spring election …

• The South Milwaukee School District referendum passed, 57.5% to 42.4%.
• South Milwaukee School Board: Winners were incumbent Angie DeFord and Andy Simmons.
• South Milwaukee Alderman, District 2: Winners were incumbent Tim Backes and Michal Olechowski.
• South Milwaukee Alderman, District 4: Winners were incumbents David Bartoshevich and Peggy Clark.

Congratulations to all the winners — and to everyone who stepped up to run. I know it’s not easy, especially at this time in our history.

Thank you to everyone who voted. Turnout was 40% of registered voters, which I’d call strong given the non-competitive nature of the presidential primary race.

And thank you to everyone who administers our elections, from the clerk’s office to the rest of the city team to our poll workers. You continue to earn respect and will always have my support.

Check out the complete results here.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here is where you vote …

• District 1 (Wards 1 through 4): South Milwaukee Public Library, South Milwaukee Public Library, 1907 10th Avenue
• District 2 (Wards 5 through 8): Divine Mercy Gathering Room, 800 Marquette Avenue
• District 3 (Wards 9 through 12): City Administration Building, 2424 15th Avenue
• District 4 (Wards 13 through 16): Grobschmidt Senior Center, 2424 15th Avenue

Not sure of your district? Here is a map.

Check out a sample ballots and other election information here. The ballot features contested local races, and click the links below for candidate information and Q&A:

• South Milwaukee School Board
• Second District alderman
• Fourth District alderman
• There is also South Milwaukee School District referendum on the ballot, as well as two statewide referendum measures.

My recommendations? I am not endorsing in every race, but I support Genduso and DeFord for school board and Backes and Baitinger for Second District alderman. I will be voting no on the two statewide referenda.

Not registered? You can do so at the polling place on Election Day. Details here.

And look for local election results on the blog!

Excited to see this back for 2024! Details here.

Excited to see this program continue! We have a long way to go in replacing and enhancing our urban forest — but efforts like this are a great start.

From the city website …

The City of South Milwaukee is pleased to offer its Adopt-A-Tree program for 2024.    The Adopt-A-Tree program will help improve neighborhoods by replacing some of the many trees lost to the emerald ash borer, other diseases, storm damage and age.  The Common Council has agreed to fund this program for a fifth year with 25 trees available to residentially zoned owner occupied properties.  Trees will be planted at approved planting sites based on our tree inventory, and suitability.

For this year’s program, we will be focusing on planting new trees at addresses where trees have been removed and stumps ground. Trees will have between a 1.5” and 2” trunk diameter and be between 8-12 feet tall.  These are street trees and must be placed between the curb and sidewalk or within 4 feet of the curb where there is no sidewalk.  The cost of each installed tree plus the items listed below is estimated to be $450-$600 depending on the size, species and bid prices.  However, much of this cost will be funded by the City of South Milwaukee through the Adopt-a-Tree Program.

A certified arborist will review each planting site and pick the best tree for your site based on terrace width, other trees on the property and street, overhead wires utility placement and previous trees. Diversity of tree species is one of the goals of the City as we move forward to help improve neighborhoods in South Milwaukee and plan for the future growth of the urban forest.

There is still time to get early bird pricing for this really cool event featuring dozens of student musicians, great food and great fun on Tuesday, April 16, at the Bucyrus Club.

Details in the flyer. Purchase tickets through the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center here.

So happy to see this continue, and to see how popular it’s become. Stop by!

And here is the referendum website. Vote yes on April 2!

In-person absentee voting for the spring election is open now through March 29 at South Milwaukee City Hall.

• Check out sample ballots here, by district: First | Second | Third | Fourth
• Here is more information on the South Milwaukee School District referendum.
• And check out the local candidate profiles published on the blog the last few days: South Milwaukee School Board | Second District Alderman | Fourth District Alderman

More details on voting from the city website …

Anyone planning on being out of town or unable to make it to the polling place on election day can cast an absentee ballot in the Clerk’s office, or request a ballot in writing up until the Thursday before an election. Absentee voting will be conducted in the clerk’s office the two weeks prior to an election.

2024 Spring Election Important Dates

• March 28th – 5:00 PM – Last day for regular and overseas electors to request absentee ballots by mail. 
• March 29th – 5:00 PM – Last day to register to vote in the Clerk’s Office.
• March 29th – 5:00 PM – Last day for In-Person Absentee voting in the Clerk’s Office.
• March 29th – 5:00 PM – Last day for indefinitely confined electors and military electors to request an absentee ballot by mail and hospitalized voter. 

In Person Absentee Voting Schedule – 2024 Spring and Presidential Preference Election

• Tuesday, March 19 – Friday, March 22 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Monday, March 26 – Thursday, March 28 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Friday, March 29 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Note: There is no absentee voting or voter registration on the Monday prior to election day. 

I am excited to present the following information on candidates for South Milwaukee alderman, in the contested Fourth District.

Each candidate was asked to answer the same questions, and their responses are shared here verbatim. Thanks to each of the candidates for responding — and for stepping up to serve the community!

Please share this information far and wide … and use it to make informed choices at the ballot box.

In-person absentee voting starts Tuesday, March 19, and Election Day is Tuesday, April 2. Get more information, including voting locations and sample ballots, here. You can vote for up to two candidates in each aldermanic race.

Fourth District candidates listed in alphabetical order …

David Bartoshevich

• Name: David R. Bartoshevich
• Address: 1406 17^th Avenue
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? Lived in South Milwaukee since 1972
• Family: Married—to Vicki and have two boys Todd (four grandchildren and one great grandson) and Troy (three grandchildren).
• Occupation: Retired Project Engineer

Why are you running for office?

Over the years I have truly appreciated your confidence and trust in me to represent you in our district. My valuable experience and knowledge in understanding the inner workings of our city, has taught me the importance of asking questions and researching issues thoroughly before voting. Our community needs an alderperson who is experienced in doing this as well as someone who will listen to their constituents and be accessible to them.

What is the most important issue in your race?

In the 4^th district, it is the proposed redevelopment of the property at 100 15^th Avenue for 20 residential units. The Common Councill needs to make sure the project is executed responsibly and the neighbors are supported.

What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

To meet both the levy limit and expenditure restraint budget requirements imposed by the state.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

The redevelopment of the former Everbrite and Bucyrus manufacturing campuses as well as the city-owned vacant lot at 2318 10^th Avenue pose the biggest opportunities. New construction will allow the city to grow the operating budget and further invest in our important city services like police, fire, and emergency response. The new single-family housing development approved at 7^th and Monroe Avenues will create up to $2.5 million in new value. This success can spread throughout the city.

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Ryan Breaker

• Name: Ryan Breaker
• Age: 29
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): I do not at this time have a social media or website set up for the campaign but would encourage anyone who would like to reach out to please send an email to: ryan-southmke@breaker.rocks. I will also be out and about throughout District 4 knocking on doors over the coming weeks until election day.
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee?: I have lived in the suburbs south of Milwaukee for most of my life but officially moved to South Milwaukee in October 2021.
• Family: Engaged, getting married the week after election day!
• Occupation: Software Engineer

Why are you running for office?

I believe South Milwaukee has some of the most potential in the Milwaukee metro area as an up-and-coming livable and walkable small city. I was personally inspired by organizations such as Strong Towns when I learned more about the topics of urban planning and safe streets and decided to start taking action after experiencing first-hand how poor street design negatively affects our residents, especially those who are unable to drive or want alternative options to transport themselves besides driving, whether it’s due to finances, disability, age, etc.

Why should voters vote for you?

I’ve heard from quite a few other residents some amount of disdain about the local government or that it isn’t worth going to the city over an issue because “they won’t do anything about it.” I want to try to change that perception and act as a reliable point of contact to residents and quickly address struggles in the community. I believe we need to remain humble in observing our own community and if we can ask ourselves what the next smallest thing is we can do to address a struggle, it makes it much easier to actually do that thing and do it right away, then rinse and repeat as needed.

What is the most important issue in your race?

It seems everyone agrees that speeding and dangerous driving habits are a real problem around here, particularly along Chicago Ave and Milwaukee Ave but no one seems to have any new ideas on what to do about it or have accepted that that’s just how life is. I want to work with the city’s engineering department to ensure we strive for safe street designs that will make a difference and maintain that as a policy decision. Given our limited land, our zoning codes are also incredibly inefficient which makes building new housing or opening new businesses unnecessarily restrictive. Fortunately our codes are currently going through a modernization effort and I want to make sure we address those points as well as see the city take a more active role in making our community a safer and more livable place such that anyone who wants to be here can live here. I believe those ideas would help make South Milwaukee stronger as a community and what I would like to initially focus on as an Alderperson.

What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

South Milwaukee is a small landlocked city of roughly 4.8 square miles and we are very limited on what land we still have available for development or redevelopment. One of our biggest upcoming challenges I believe is deciding how to best or most efficiently use this limited resource, as well as how can the city invest in itself while keeping within its means and avoid increasing taxpayer burden or taking on additional debt?

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

We have some incredible upcoming redevelopment opportunities with a beautiful downtown and lakefront. If we play our cards right with the right infrastructure and policy decisions, South Milwaukee could benefit immensely from these resources in many ways.

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Peggy Clark

• Name: Peggy Clark
• Address: 1004 18 th Ave. South Milwaukee
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? 27 years this summer 
• Family: I have been married for 39 years to Steve. I have 2 amazing children, Bryan: 33 and Jordin: 28. I have the most AMAZING son-in-law on the planet – Joe: 29, a beautiful grandson Theo and another one expected in May.
• Occupation: I own a small business in South Milwaukee. Littlest Flowers Center for Achievement Childcare Center opened in 2015. We are located on College Ave. 

Why are you running for office?

My love for this community has fueled my desire to become a part of the governing body of South Milwaukee. South Milwaukee is an amazing place to live and work and I want to ensure that the things that we have put in place to keep taxes low, keep services that effect our citizens current, and to build business, continue to move forward.

Why should voters vote for you?

I am extremely dedicated to the citizens I serve. I invest in them and the city as a whole to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and well represented. I have invested over 20 years serving the city and feel my job is just beginning. We are at a unique time in our country and I feel that it is our job at the city level to make our voices heard by the State and Federal Politicians. It was through this hard work that our city received $745,000 additional dollars from the state which allowed us to further prioritize public safety and improve city services.

What is the most important issue in your race?

The most important part of our city is our CITIZENS! It is very important to me, to make things easier for them, keep them informed and ensure that they have the opportunity to engage in their city government and that their voice is heard. In the past few years, we have:

• Launched a new website: smwi.org,
• Created a citizen complaint app: smworks in the app store.
• Created a new city newsletter emailed monthly. You can register for the newsletter on the city’s website listed above.
• Added online payment options and expanded our payment options to make things more convenient for our residents.

What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

I think the safety of our residents is my biggest priority. This is something we need to assess on an on-going basis and meet challenges and issues as they arise with creative solutions. This past year an issue that needed to be addressed was lead pipes delivering water to many households within the city. We knew this would be a very big financial burden for our residents so we dedicated $500,000 in ARPA funds to offset the costs and ensure safe drinking water for our citizens.

From 2018 – 2022 the city achieved a drop of 35% in violent and property crimes. The Police Department deserves our continued investment and support to ensure the safety of our residents.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

The biggest opportunity facing the city is redevelopment of our downtown and city as a whole. The Bucyrus Campus, the Everbrite Campus and our downtown are opportunities for the city in the next few years.

We have done some amazing things in the last few years:

• The city received a $2 Million dollar grant from the Bucyrus Foundation which allowed us to create The Bucyrus Commons, and the Bucyrus Club. Due to the success of these projects the Bucyrus Foundation has committed $10 Million additional dollars to the city.
• Our downtown has added many businesses that proudly serve our community.
• Voices were heard in the desire for single family development and the 7th and Monroe project will create $2.5 Million dollars in new valuation for the city.
• Last year, Steele Solutions moved their World Headquarters to South Milwaukee and is the 5th largest employer in the city. It is crucial that momentum is maintained.

As President of Crusherfest and a small business owner myself I see the need to build traditions, bring our community together and continue to advocate for our city and its future! PLEASE vote Peggy Clark to allow me to continue to serve this AMAZING community!

I am excited to present the following information on candidates for South Milwaukee alderman, in the contested Second District.

Each candidate was asked to answer the same questions, and their responses are shared here verbatim. Thanks to each of the candidates for responding — and for stepping up to serve the community!

Please share this information far and wide … and use it to make informed choices at the ballot box.

In-person absentee voting starts Tuesday, March 19, and Election Day is Tuesday, April 2. Get more information, including voting locations and sample ballots, here. You can vote for up to two candidates in each aldermanic race.

Second District candidates listed in alphabetical order …

Tim Backes

• Name: Tim Backes
• Age: 35
• Address: 627 Marquette Ave 
• URLs: www.facebook.com/backesforsm, @aldermanbackes on instagram
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? I grew up in South Milwaukee and graduated from the high school in 2006. I went away for college and lived elsewhere around Milwaukee in most of my 20s. My wife and I purchased our house here in 2016 and have lived here since. 
• Family: I’m married and have three kids: a five year old at Lakeview, and three-year-old twin boys!
• Occupation: I’m an English teacher at South Milwaukee High School, and have a variety of other gigs, including directing the SMHS theatre program, serving as Artistic Director for Greendale Community Theatre, and writing freelance for a popular Green Bay Packers website.

Why are you running?

In 2020 I decided to run for alderperson because I felt compelled to put myself out there as a younger person putting down roots in my community. The national and international events of that year inspired me to get more involved and try to make an impact at whatever level I could. Now that I’ve had one term serving district two, I have a good feel for what local government is all about and some of the biggest issues facing our community. I feel like I’m just hitting my stride, and I want to continue the momentum and serve my community for a little while longer before I pass the baton on to another new energetic person who is excited about the possibilities of our city.

Why should voters vote for you?

I think I contribute a lot to our common council!

During the last election cycle I heard over and over again how people felt like they were not heard, or that they knew nothing about the people representing them. As such, I have made it a point over the last several years to be proactive in connecting with people in my district to help them with their questions and issues. I’ve maintained public social profiles, the only person on the council to do so, and have frequently shared via these platforms where I stand on issues affecting our city. It hasn’t always been overwhelmingly popular, but I have always been completely transparent and open with everything I believe in and care about. I have written regular updates for this South Milwaukee Blog website as a way to give people an inside look at what happens within our city council meetings, as the meeting minutes only tell you so much, and the internet telephone game can otherwise produce some inaccurate information.

I have helped a large number of my District Two neighbors with their issues, whether it be noise complaints, traffic issues, dog ordinances, signage, ordinance changes to allow for new fence and patio construction, the list goes on. I respond to every email and phone call, and I actively get out into the community when I know a potential issue is arising. For example, on multiple occasions I’ve gone and provided updates (complete with printouts) to neighbors in the Everbrite neighborhood to share the latest news about that property and to collect feedback from the property owners bordering it. While it’s currently quiet on that front, I intend to get back at that as soon as we get wind of any potential buyer. 

Finally, I provide an entirely different perspective that I think is valuable for our city. I’m easily the youngest person on the council, the only one with young children, and the only one who is a newbie to elected office. As such, I am able to see issues affecting our city from a fresh, outside perspective, as well as from the perspective of a quickly growing demographic in our city: young families. I’m here in SM for the long haul and have a lot of skin in the game, so to speak. I am motivated and excited to be a part of this city’s evolution in a variety of methods of serving the community (as an elected official, as a school teacher, as a volunteer) and have been grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve in this capacity.

What is the most important issue in your race?

For district two, easily the biggest issue is the future of the former Everbrite campus. Whether something happens there next year, in five years, or in 10, whatever does happen is going to represent a pretty fundamental transformation of our neighborhood. It will likely be residential development, and it must be done right, because that property represents a massive opportunity for development that will likely never come around again for our city. We’re talking about a pretty large piece of lakefront property. I’ve talked to many residents about their concerns regarding traffic, about density, and about home values, and it’s going to be critical that we keep the public informed and involved in the process of attracting and approving projects in that spot. District Two residents often report feeling like they’re in the “forgotten” part of the city. This project would change that in a hurry.

From a broader perspective, this question overlaps a bit with the next couple (challenges and opportunities). But I will say that from my experience so far, people just want to know that the people they’re putting into these roles are actually going to help them out. Who is going to put in the effort that goes beyond sitting in meetings on a Tuesday night and be an active part of continuing to push this city forward? The best alderperson is an engaged alderperson. There are going to be disagreements on policy, but ultimately, I know people care most about having people represent them who genuinely care about helping people out.

What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

Is it cheating to pick more than one?

Number one has to be funding challenges. Right now, local communities and school districts are cash strapped. Inflation combined with decreased or plateaued state funding is going to result in the city needing to make some very difficult and unpleasant decisions in the next few years. We have been very fortunate to have city administration, staff, and officials that have been generally very responsible financially and creative with finding funding sources for needed projects and services. Unfortunately, as our former city administrator Tami Mayzik liked to say, there are no more magic tricks. Basically all the fat has been trimmed, and unless something changes significantly at levels of government above ours, it’s going to fall on our council to make some very difficult choices regarding city services in the not too distant future. 

There are some more specific big issues on the horizon as well. The lead pipe replacement process is going to be kicking off in earnest soon, and we are very fortunate that it’s being led by an incredibly capable Water/Wastewater Superintendent in Ben Huffman. It’s going to continue to be important that we navigate through this process in such a way that we are able to get as much outside funding as possible, including the remaining ARPA money, DNR grants and more. 

It’s also going to continue to be critical that we keep on the path we’re on with rebuilding and reenergizing our downtown. We have fewer vacancies downtown than I can remember in my adult years, and several anchor projects have had great responses (Bucyrus Commons, Bucyrus Club). I love the public art that’s popping up in various places along Milwaukee Avenue, and we’re seeing more new businesses come here and stay here, thanks in large part to incredible work by our city staff. The grant money received from the Bucyrus Foundation will continue to spur on new developments and investments, and the council must properly manage that money to get the absolute most out of that incredible gift. And the old Bucyrus campus still has some vacancies left. With the proposal to repurpose several of those buildings into apartments now off the table, the council’s role in determining the future of that property (should it be redeveloped) will be yet another crucial task and an important hurdle to overcome in our downtown revitalization endeavors.

There are a whole lot of challenges — I could keep going, but those are a few that come to mind immediately.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

Well, some of what I already mentioned are big opportunities. The Everbrite campus. The Bucyrus campus. More things happening downtown. There are a lot of challenges that pose great opportunities for our city.

On a more abstract level, I think the thing that stands out to me the most is that it really feels like we’re building a community of people who are invested fully in what we’re doing as a city. There are new faces becoming leaders in our business community, in local organizations, in our schools, you name it. We’ve got more new people running for elected offices than I can remember in a while (three in my district, one in district four, some new faces in the school board elections). People CARE. You can’t understate how huge that is. Despite some of the very significant challenges facing us, the vibes are still so positive. I can go have a drink at, like, Moran’s or something and run into several people who are actually excited about things happening within the city. 

There have been so many great steps forward in recent years, and it feels like the momentum continues to grow. Even if we’ve got major challenges to overcome, there’s a palpable energy around here right now that makes me think we can take anything coming our way. Whether I’m re-elected or not, it excites me to know that I am going to continue to have some sort of part to play in shaping the future of our city simply by virtue of living and working here at the time I do.

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Scott Baitinger

• Name: Scott Baitinger
• Age: 50
• Address: 3604 3 rd Avenue
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): scott-baitinger.com
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? 12 years
• Family: Long time girlfriend.
• Occupation: Innovation Lead at Disrupt Idea Company, an ad agency in Milwaukee and Founder and Partner at Street-Za, a popular pizza food truck.

Why are you running for office? 

I hope to bring fresh perspectives to the role, unburdened by the politics and precedents that can sometimes stifle innovation in local government. My background would allow me to approach problems with a creative and results-oriented mindset. This could invigorate council discussions with new ideas and approaches, particularly in areas needing digital transformation or community engagement improvements.

Why should voters vote for you?

My experience in entrepreneurship and community projects like showcase my strong ability to connect with people and build networks. These skills will be crucial in navigating the complexities of local government and advocating for effective policies. I hope to increase community involvement in decision-making, and strengthen the bond between the South Milwaukee government and its citizens.

What is the most important issue in your race? What is the biggest challenge facing the city? What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

Change is needed to further the development in our district. Influencing economic development for specific properties like the Everbrite property and Sunrise Shopping Center requires a multi-faceted approach that leverages local strengths, addresses community needs, and capitalizes on market opportunities. Here’s how I will approach it:

• Community Engagement and Market Research: First, conducting thorough market research and community engagement initiatives to understand the needs, desires, and concerns of the local population and business community. This could involve surveys, town hall meetings, and workshops to gather input on what types of businesses and services residents and neighboring areas would support.
• Vision and Strategic Planning: Developing a clear vision and strategic plan for each property that aligns with broader community goals. This might involve envisioning the Everbrite property as a mixed-use development with housing, green spaces, and retail, while the Sunrise Shopping Center could be reimagined as a lifestyle center with a mix of local retailers, entertainment options, and dining experiences.
• Partnerships and Investment: Seeking partnerships with developers, investors, and local businesses interested in contributing to the revitalization of these areas. This includes leveraging any available local, state, or federal grants or incentives designed to stimulate economic development and encourage investment in underutilized properties.
• Infrastructure and Accessibility Improvements: Investing in infrastructure improvements to make the areas more accessible and attractive to both businesses and consumers. This could include enhancements to parking, public transportation access, pedestrian walkways, and landscaping.
• Marketing and Promotion: Implementing a strong marketing and promotion strategy to attract businesses and shoppers. This could involve creating a brand identity for each location, digital marketing campaigns, and hosting special events to draw attention to the developments.
• Sustainable Practices and Innovations: Incorporating sustainable practices and technological innovations that not only appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and businesses but also contribute to the long-term viability and resilience of the developments.
• Flexible Zoning and Regulations: Working with local government to ensure zoning regulations and permitting processes are flexible and supportive of the envisioned redevelopment efforts. This might include streamlining processes for new businesses, offering incentives for sustainable development, or allowing for a mix of uses that might not have been previously permitted.
• Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly monitoring the progress of redevelopment efforts and being prepared to adjust strategies in response to market changes, community feedback, or unforeseen challenges. This ensures that the development remains relevant and beneficial to the community.

By addressing these areas thoughtfully and strategically, it’s possible to transform the Everbrite property and Sunrise Shopping Center into thriving hubs of economic activity.

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Michal Olechowski

• Name: Michal Olechowski
• Age: 44
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): michalolechowski.com
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? Nearly 15 years.
• Family: My wife and I have been happily married for over 16 years. She’s an outstanding high school teacher, and we share a common hobby of visiting national parks. We’ve been fortunate enough to explore around 50 of them and can’t wait to discover more.
• Occupation: I am a Senior Design Engineer with 16 years of experience, including over a decade of working at Bucyrus/Caterpillar locally. I have led and successfully completed projects of various scopes and budgets. I graduated from MSOE and had previously held jobs assembling bicycles and handling airplane baggage.

Why are you running for office? 

My goal is to bring a fresh perspective to the council and represent the residents’ voices while keeping the city’s best interests in mind. I have observed that the current council may sometimes show deference towards large developers while small business owners face challenges. I strongly believe in treating all parties equitably.

To promote greater transparency, the government should go beyond the bare minimum, especially in areas lacking local news coverage. I will prioritize expanding transparency and communication with the community.

Why should voters vote for you?

I have been actively introducing myself to as many people as possible in the district by knocking on doors. I will continue to walk the blocks until the day of the election. My commitment to connecting with the district will continue even after I am elected. Only a handful of voices are often heard in council meetings.

As a council member, I believe it is the board’s responsibility to reach out to the community and not wait for someone else to do so. I am fully committed to being an independent voice for District 2, and I am confident that my professional background makes me the ideal candidate to serve as their council member. The district’s residents can count on me to be a strong and effective advocate for their needs and concerns.

What is the most important issue in your race?

Choice. Residents of District 2 are fortunate to have the freedom to choose who will represent them for the next three years. At least one new alderperson will be elected, and voters can replace both current alderpeople. Two other districts in South Milwaukee have no options for candidates to vote for. Without anyone running in those districts, residents in those areas will not have a real voice in the government. I hope to earn the vote of every District 2 resident, as I intend to represent every resident.

What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

Although progress has been made to enhance the appearance of vacant storefronts, an excessive number still exist. The efforts of the current economic development team must continue, but all stakeholders must work together proactively to bring development and vitality to South Milwaukee.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

The Everbrite site is an exceptional 29-acre property with 1000ft of frontage on Lake Michigan. Very few properties in Milwaukee County can match its unique features. The city must seize this opportunity to transform the property into a true gem that will benefit the community for future generations.

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Erin Seel

I am a near life-long resident of South Milwaukee Growing up in district 3 close to Blakewood Elementary. I graduated from SMHS and am currently a homeowner in South Milwaukee. Over the years my husband and I have been active members in various areas of our community. I have spent years volunteering on the Divine Mercy School board and Athletic board where my son attended grade school and middle school. As well as volunteering with the Lions Club where my husband and Father are members. My son has had the pleasure of growing up in South Milwaukee and is currently attending South Milwaukee High School. As a homeowner and resident, I am interested in the future of the community, the viability of the area, and the costs associated with such interests. I hope to help keep moving SM forward.Feel free to look at my face-book page Erin for Alderperson.

I am excited to present the following information on candidates for South Milwaukee School Board.

Each candidate was asked to answer the same questions, and their responses are shared here verbatim. Thanks to each of the candidates for responding — and for stepping up to serve the community!

Please share this information far and wide … and use it to make informed choices at the ballot box. And look for profiles on the Second and Fourth District aldermanic candidates on Monday.

In-person absentee voting starts Tuesday, March 19, and Election Day is Tuesday, April 2. Get more information, including voting locations and sample ballots, here. You can vote for up to two school board candidates.

Candidates listed in alphabetical order …

Angie DeFord

• Name: Angie DeFord
• Age: 44
• Address: 3409 Blakewood Ave  
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): https://www.defordforsdsm.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AngieDeFordforSchoolBoard/
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? I grew up on the southside of Milwaukee and my husband and I moved to South Milwaukee in 2004. We quickly fell in love with the close community and couldn’t be happier with our decision to live here.
• Family: I am married and have 2 children that have attended SM public schools since 4k at Blakewood. They are now in their senior and freshman years at the high school.
• Occupation: I am a user experience researcher and have a master’s degree in business administration. Leveraging my educational and professional background, I bring a unique lens to the board and strive to comprehend the experiences of our students and educators to support them.

Why are you running for office? 

I originally ran for a school board seat because during my children’s time in the district I started to see some shifts that made me concerned. I noticed changes like a reduction in science lessons at the elementary level and teachers held to strict schedules for teaching lessons. We weren’t allowing our teachers to use their expertise to ensure all students understood the material before moving on. Knowing that the transition to middle school is difficult enough, I worried that these changes would increase their struggle. As a concerned parent, and PTO president at the time, I discussed this concern with teachers, the former Principal of Blakewood, and the former Director of Curriculum to no avail. At that point I decided that if I wanted to really help make a change I would have to get on the board.

After the election I sat down with the current Director of Curriculum to advocate for increased educator autonomy. Our teachers know what our students need and are best suited to develop the lessons that will resonate with them. I was happy to learn that our current Director of Curriculum agrees and collaborates with many of our teachers to ensure that we are utilizing their expertise to select curriculum.

In addition to this, our district has also established professional learning communities that allow our teachers to work together to share ideas and create detailed plans to help all students grow.

While I am so glad that these shifts have been made, I am seeking re-election because I know there are still opportunities to improve experiences for our students within the district and I want to continue to advocate for them.

Why should voters vote for you?

Helping and collaborating with others brings me joy. Before running for school board, I spent 10 years volunteering for the Blakewood PTO. During that time, I helped to facilitate the book fairs, organized 3 color runs, and served as President for 2 of those years. Additionally, I have also contributed to the community by co-leading a cub scout den for 2 years, serving as a member of the Middle School Parent Advisory Council, and being on the city Beautification Committee for 2 years.   

Since my election in 2021, in addition to attending and contributing to the actual school board meetings, I was one of two members to attend the 2023 Wisconsin School Board Association Convention. This was a three-day event and provided a chance to engage with fellow board members and educational experts statewide, fostering collaboration and exchanging best practices.

Another significant contribution that I have made has been being the only school board member to join the Strategic Planning committee. This committee has been working for several months to develop SMART goals for our district to guide the next 5 years. This group is made up of approximately 40 contributors including teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, students, parents, business owners, and district admins. 

These are just a couple of examples of how I have gone above and beyond, and if re-elected I would continue to look for ways to contribute significantly to the board.

What is the most important issue in your race?

The moral imperative for our district is “The School District of South Milwaukee acts with a relentless commitment to remove barriers and care for all students so they feel accepted and will learn without exception.” This is something that I strongly believe in, and helped to craft, to guide the work of our district. To me, the most important issue in this race is student achievement and ties directly to this imperative. Our school district is composed of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities and it is our responsibility to make sure that we are providing the tools and opportunities for them to all succeed.

This imperative was also a fundamental component for the development of the Strategic Plan for this district which will guide our district for the next 5 years to improve the student and staff experience.

What is the biggest challenge facing the school district?

The biggest challenge I see for our district is declining student enrollment. As our student population declines, so does our state funding. While it seems obvious that fewer students should mean fewer teachers, we don’t often see groups of students leaving from the same grade or even school, so our staffing needs aren’t greatly affected. To solve this problem, we need to work to retain our students by continuing our robust programming and increase open enrollment.

To expand opportunities to serve children during my time on the board I backed bringing the Acelero head start learning program to Blakewood. This is a great way for students as young as 3 years old to get prepared for kindergarten. This program is also a way for families to become familiar with our district that might not otherwise know about us.

Another way that I have supported mitigation of declining enrollment as a current school board member is approving the creation of a Communications Coordinator position. This position is used to help draw families to our district by celebrating our amazing staff and students. As a parent I know that we have wonderful schools with caring staff and tremendous opportunities for children like six certified career education pathways. We didn’t always do a great job showcasing that broadly because we didn’t have the resources in place to do so before this.

This person has expanded our social media presence, revamped our website, started a podcast to give additional insight into our district, and launched targeted marketing campaigns. So far, since the creation of this position we have increased our enrollment at 4K when we compare 2023 to 2024.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the district?

A significant opportunity for our district is external collaboration. As a smaller district we may not always be able to offer all desired programming for our students and staff due to financial constraints, but when we partner with others great things are possible. For example, we currently partner with Cudahy to provide a health clinic that is available to employees of both districts. We also were able to put together the SM United boy’s volleyball team by joining with Thomas More and Reagan high schools. By continuing to look for ways to join with neighboring districts we can spread out costs and improve everyone’s experiences.

Do you support the upcoming operational referendum? Why or why not?

I fully support the referendum. The funding that our district, and many others, has received from the state has not kept pace with inflation. To expand our career pathways, improve staff retention, and security we have no choice but to ask for the support of our community on this referendum. To help spread awareness of this need I have been a guest on the SMWAY podcast https://rss.com/podcasts/smway/1258404/,  recorded a video https://www.facebook.com/SoMilwSchools/videos/896262542232855, spoken to many community members at several information tables throughout the city, and helped to start a Vote Yes group.  

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Brian Genduso

• Name: Brian Genduso
• Age: 42
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): genduso4sdsm.org and facebook.com/genduso4sdsm
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? 16+ years
• Family: Married with two kids
• Occupation: Structural Engineer

Why are you running for office?

I have two children in the district (one at Lakeview and one at SMMS), and over the past few years I have seen how school has become such a vital part of their social network and identity. I made a personal commitment to support them in their education and extracurricular activities as much as I could. At the encouragement of several teachers and friends, and after “doing my homework” on what the job takes, I determined that my background and skills are well-suited for this position.

I see the drive and dedication of the current school board and many talented, caring, SDSM staff, and I want to be part of the leadership group that works hard to ensure the District’s commitment to “remove barriers and care for all students so they feel accepted and will learn without exception.” There are no specific ideologies or causes that I am running on. My goal as a board member will to make balanced, thoughtful decisions based on diligent research into each issue and what is best for students and/or staff… that’s it.

Ultimately, I want to make a positive difference in the education of my kids and all students in South Milwaukee, and feel I have the knowledge, ability, and desire to do a great job.

Why should voters vote for you?

I am passionate about public education… I firmly believe in the value of a high quality school system to our kids, parents and community, and will advocate strongly for students.

I am experienced… I have held a variety of leadership/mentorship roles both within and outside of our schools, and feel I have what it takes to serve SDSM with perspective, wisdom, integrity, and humility.

I am invested… My entire family learns at, works for, plays in, or volunteers for our schools nearly every day, and we love the people and places of South Milwaukee.

What is the most important issue in your race?

Based on the many conversations I’ve had with fellow residents while knocking on doors for my campaign, it is clear that the upcoming referendum is an important issue in most people’s minds. Folks want to know why it is being proposed, what the funding will be used for, and how it impacts their taxes. There is a mixture of support, uncertainty, and opposition.

What is the biggest challenge facing the school district?

Balancing the budget while remaining competitive with neighboring school districts for academic achievement, student support, and teacher retention. Recent school funding levels, paired with declining enrollment and high inflation, has resulted in SDSM facing a significant budget deficit in the coming year, like many systems across the state. The district must make hard decisions to keep itself financially stable while providing students with an excellent education and opportunities for personal enrichment and growth.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the district?

The opportunity to confidently embrace change and become a leader in public education.

Though the fabric of our community is strong, it is changing. South Milwaukee’s industrial heritage is shifting, along with its demographics. American society as a whole continues to evolve rapidly in light of new technology and in the wake of a life-altering global pandemic. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and foresight to successfully navigate these changes for a large, complex, imperfect social structure like a school district.

I do see fertile soil and seeds being planted within SDSM to address the changes. It has a school board which, for the most part, functions well and has a clear vision statement. There are new administrative leaders who are forward-looking and not afraid to address tough issues. There are so many talented, energetic, committed teachers. Recently, a large, diverse group of students, parents, staff, and community leaders developed a 5-year strategic plan to guide the district’s actions… and hold it
accountable.

There are certainly headwinds, and let’s not sugarcoat it, there are serious issues currently within our schools like subpar academic scores, student anger/violence, and teacher turnover that need to be addressed. However, I am hopeful that the district can harness student, staff, parent, and community engagement to meet the changes and challenges head on. If we do that, SDSM can provide a top-notch education and be a beacon for others.

Do you support the upcoming operational referendum? Why or why not?

Yes. I think it is a reasonable, temporary request for additional funding that primarily addresses a key issue facing our schools, teacher retention. As a parent of two students not yet in high school, this is one of my main concerns. Having excellent staff who stick around for more than a couple years is important. The landscape of educational employment seems to be much different than even a decade ago, and I’ve witnessed how difficult it is for SDSM to attract and then keep teachers because its salaries just aren’t competitive. The problem is real, and it’s happening right now.

The majority of the referendum funds will go toward addressing this vital issue, which will ultimately benefit students because it will prevent the district from having to make deep cuts that directly impact student academics and experiences.

The referendum also provides funding to improve school safety by addressing traffic issues on 15 th Avenue (a top complaint of other parents I know) and also installing more electronic (key fob) locks on doors, which I support. I must admit I am not convinced that the third component of the referendum, which is to provide “educational pathways” for younger students, is necessary or will be effective.

However, this part is much smaller than the other two and I don’t think it is worth holding up the whole package. The referendum definitely impacts taxes. Without it our taxes will decrease, not insignificantly. However, the referendum is also fortunately timed to coincide with a reduction in the tax levy due to other well-managed debt falling off. Therefore, if it passes there will be a minimal change to the current tax rate. I strongly believe that the benefits of passing the referendum will be significant and will set our children up for future success.

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Matthew Scales

• Name: Matthew Scales
• Age: 33
• Address: 1710 Marion Avenue 
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): scalesforschoolboard.com
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? My family moved to Cudahy in 2016 and then moved to South Milwaukee in 2020.
• Family: My wife is Maddie Scales and we have two daughters, Nora and Ophelia.
• Occupation: Classroom Tech Support Specialist for Mount Mary University

Why are you running for office? 

I come from a family of teachers that put a heavy emphasis on education and the arts. With my daughters entering the school system soon, I want to do my all to improve school policies to better align with community needs.

Why should voters vote for you? 

Because I’m a down-to-earth dad that wants what is best for his children and for the community as a whole. I believe that kids should be allowed to be kids and that parents are their shepherds. Parents should be able to have a significant say in their children’s education and I welcome that conversation with open arms.

What is the most important issue in your race? 

I believe we need to do a better job of paying and retaining our town’s educators. All too often, we have teachers and paraprofessionals leaving during the school year for better paying positions in neighboring communities. These changes take the biggest toll on the children, who continuously lose stability and structure throughout the year.

What is the biggest challenge facing the school district? 

Similar to the previous question, I think one of the biggest challenges is retaining quality teachers. Class sizes are getting too large and our current educators are being stretched too thin, much to the detriment of the students. When educators bring these issues up, they are essentially told to just deal with it, even though federal mandates may not be met because of it. This is ridiculous, borderline illegal, and wrong and it needs to change.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the district? 

With this election, there is a chance for new blood to come in and shake things up. This is a chance for the community to finally have more of a say. To give power back to parents and educators and not just the administration. And that starts with holding those who have let these problems grow over the last few years accountable. Why give larger salaries to admins and political leaders when that can instead be spent on the students and those who are interacting with them daily? It is time for a change and that starts now.

Do you support the upcoming operational referendum? Why or why not? 

To be completely honest, I do support the referendum, but I do so reluctantly. I feel the same as most throughout the city; taxes are too high, groceries are costing more, inflation is hitting everyone’s wallets. One of the last things I want is to see my taxes go up even more. And from things I have seen, the school system seems to like giving larger salaries to administrators than they like spending time and money on students or art programs. However, I believe that this referendum has the potential to be very beneficial to the students of the community. It is an opportunity to help teachers, to get courses in the high school that can set students up for the future, for better security at our schools. And if elected, I will do everything in my power to make sure these funds are used correctly and responsibly. To make sure that our students can have a brighter future from it, that our teachers stay longer and are happier with class sizes and work loads, to guarantee that nobody is lining their pockets with our taxpayer dollars. If this referendum passes, every cent of it needs to be seen by the community, to know that myself and the school system have the best for their children in mind and are doing everything within our power to gain the trust of every parent and community member.

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Andy Simmons

• Name: Andy Simmons
• Age: 37
• Address:  1502 Fairview Ave., So. Milw., WI 53172 
• Campaign website/social media URL(s): https://www.simmonsforschoolboard.com/ and Andy Simmons for School Board on Facebook
• How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? I’ve lived in South Milwaukee almost my whole life. I attended Blakewood, SMMS, and graduated from SMHS in 2005. The only exception is when I lived in Bay View for a few years when I was teaching in MPS.
• Family: I have been married to my wife, Allison, for 12 years. We have two boys, ages four and seven, and two dogs, a golden retriever and a bernedoodle.
• Occupation: I am the Director of Sales Enablement for Omnigo Software, which means I provide our sales teams and clients with anything they need to be successful with our products. Mainly this involves video training courses for security and police. I am a former SMHS and Ronald Reagan High School math teacher, and I also coach Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kids wrestling.

Why are you running for office?

I am running for school board because I love South Milwaukee, firmly believe in our school district, but know that we can always do better. We have a problem with staff retention.  Our family has had a student enrolled in the district for three years, and in that time his former 4k co-teachers and his first grade teacher left. We do not give kids adequate time to move and play in an unstructured environment, and then we wonder why they are restless. We lack consistent policies around simple things such as homework, and are behind on preparing students for what comes after high school. I see the district attempting to make strides on some of these issues through the referendum, and I believe I can be a part of the solution.

Why should voters vote for you? 

I bring a unique perspective to the role. As a former South Milwaukee teacher, I understand first-hand how schools operate and why teachers may leave. I also know many of the great things happening in the district that fly under the radar. As a parent, I absolutely want experienced and effective educators to stay. I am all about giving young teachers a chance (someone once took the chance on a 22-year old me), but experience in education is invaluable, both in the classroom and through mentorship. Lastly, as an employee of a SAAS (software as a service) company, I have seen numerous good jobs created in the last decade that students and teachers likely don’t know exist, many of which can be obtained through nontraditional means. I want to bring awareness to these career paths for students in the district.

What is the most important issue in your race?

You may have gathered this from my last couple answers, but the most important issue in this race is teacher retention. Not long ago South Milwaukee was known as a place where, once you got the job, you stayed for your whole career. You can still catch glimpses of this recent past when you look at each year’s retirees; teachers that are often spoken of as having taught multiple generations in a family. For better or worse, the incentive to stay with the same district or even the same profession no longer exists. The district can still do its best to maintain effective educators by providing support via things like ongoing mentorship, listening sessions with staff, and callouts for educators that go above and beyond for their students.

What is the biggest challenge facing the school district?

The biggest challenge facing the school district is still fallout from Covid. Adults made critical decisions that affected attendance and learning, and it is up to us to pick up the slack. Our proficiency scores in both math and reading have never been lower, and this seems to coincide with our above-average rate of chronic absenteeism. I appreciate the emphasis the district has made the last two years to try and combat absenteeism through emails and flyers sent home, but I believe we can still do more. Students are more likely to attend, and parents are more likely to get their kids to school, when they feel like they are truly an integral part of a community. I know the teacher workday is already incredibly busy, but making students and parents feel seen may begin with small changes such as periodically making positive phone calls home to just say hello and give some updates. I plan to be just as communicative with SM residents by making myself regularly available through open forums at a coffee shop or the library.

What is the biggest opportunity in front of the district?

Our biggest opportunity is to expand upon our strong base of activities and course offerings already available. SDSM is not a large school district. With about 2,800 students we are barely even considered a medium-sized district. However, students in SM still have an incredible amount of opportunities to stay involved. We have been able to maintain nearly every common high school sport without co-oping, provide music, art, robotics, theater, dances, a state-of-the-art PAC, a community fitness center, etc. Students who stay involved keep out of trouble, and they see the value in and feel pride in their work. We need to maintain such a high level of options for our students and keep finding ways to get more students as well as community members involved. I’ve seen a shift over the years from the district viewing athletics and activities as a reward (or sometimes even an afterthought) to now being viewed as an extension of the classroom. I would love to see us continue to pick up steam here.

Do you support the upcoming operational referendum? Why or why not?

I do support the referendum. It is important for us to be financially responsible, and excessive spending sometimes exists in school districts, but the referendum does not appear to be that. I really cannot think of much I’d rather see extra money spent on than school safety measures, technology upgrades, and teacher retention. The financial impact per family is also so minor that this seems like a no-brainer to me. My family will spend more on popsicles at Chill on the Hill than we will on this referendum. I will be voting yes.

Check out my Events page for a more complete listing of what’s happening around town this weekend and beyond …

• Friday, March 15-Sunday, March 17: “Legally Blonde,” presented by the South Milwaukee High School Theatre Company. Details
• Saturday, March 16: 10th Annual South Milwaukee Breakfast With the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt, 8:30 a.m., Grobschmidt Senior Center. Details
• Saturday, March 16: South Milwaukee Historical Society Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Details
• Saturday, March 16: Moran’s Pub St. Patrick’s Day Block Party, 2-9 p.m., 900 block of Milwaukee Avenue. Details here. For more St. Patrick’s activities by local businesses, visit the Shop Local South Milwaukee Facebook page.