Meet Your Greenfield School Board Candidates

Seven people have declared candidacy for the three seats on the Greenfield School Board that are up for election this year.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, voters will trim the field of seven candidates down to six during a primary election. The six top vote-getters will advance to the April general election.

Board members Audrey Ellison and Julie Rome have decided not to run for re-election, meaning the board will have at least two new members this spring. Incumbent Rick Moze is running again. 

So, Greenfield, meet your School Board hopefuls and be sure to cast a vote in our poll at the bottom of the story.

Name: Len Cich

Age: 71

Occupation/employer: retired, Consolidated Freightways; former Operations Manager, Waste Management; former small business owner (Residential and Commercial Remodeling)

Personal: Married, 48 years

Has lived in the district for 41 years

Previous experiences that would come in handy: Communications Security Specialist, US Army; experience as a manager and business owner; involvement in the community.

Why are you running? I will be an advocate for both our students and taxpayers by assuring that our students are prepared to be productive citizens after graduation and by holding the line on taxes and spending. We must pursue more involvement with parents, the community and local businesses and organizations; collaborate and share services with the city, county, and other school districts; and work smarter to operate efficiently while providing quality, relevant educational opportunities for all our students. We must also work with our state legislators on matters related to mandates and school funding.

One thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: I would like to see more community involvement including frequent listening sessions (in addition to regular school board meetings) to keep our citizens informed and solicit their ideas. Closely related, I would like to use the wealth of valuable experience in the community by expanding volunteer and mentorship opportunities for our students — especially those in our elementary schools. I would like to see additional involvement with local business and organizations which would result in educational and current and future employment opportunities for our students as well benefit the aforementioned businesses and organizations.

Name:  Mike Gierl

Age: 57

Occupation/employer: Audit team at Sam's Club West Allis

Personal: Single (divorced since January 1998); two children, both Greenfield High School graduates

Has lived in the district since 1993, and from 1975-1980

Previous experiences that would come in handy: Bachelor of Business Administration - Marketing from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1977; Masters of Business Administration from UWM in 1982; served 4 years on the Greenfield School Board from 2004-08; presently on City of Greenfield’s Zoning Board of Appeals; formerly served on Greenfield Public Celebration Committee (past president).

Why are you running? I believe in community involvement. The schools/education are our future.

One thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: I would like to see the administration, board of education and teachers association work more closely together as partners instead of adversaries.

Name: Rick Moze

Age: 58

Occupation/employer: Brewing Technician at Miller Brewing Company for 36 1/2 years

Personal: widowed 12 1/2 years; three children, Ryan 27, Jonathan 24, Megan 21

Has lived in the district for 31 years

Previous experiences that would come in handy: During my time on the Greenfield School Board (2009-present), I have attended numerous Wisconsin Association of School Boards' conventions and educational seminars. In addition, I've served on the Greenfield School District's Business Administration Committee for 2 years before becoming a member of the School Board.

Why are you running? My three children received a quality education from the Greenfield schools and I want to ensure all present and future students receive that same high-quality education.

One thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: I propose that we create a strategic plan that will provide for the future success of the district while keeping control of costs. The strategic plan, created through a collaboration between administrators, board members, teachers, parents, and the citizens of Greenfield, will be a guiding light for the district.

Name: Paul S. Palama

Age: 49

Occupation/employer: Maintenance Manager at St. Charles Borromeo School & Church

Personal: Married to Jill, a GHS graduate, for 23 1/2 years; daughter, Jamie-Lyn is a GHS graduate; son, Brett is a sophomore at GHS

Has lived in the district for 24 years

Previous experiences that would come in handy: Work experience has provided familiarity with budgets, day-to-day workings of schools to include building operations; prior military experience training non-commissioned officer, and Senior Drill Sergeant.

Why are you running? I will look at both sides of every issue and make the best decision that will benefit the education system and the taxpayers of the district. I feel that I would bring an open-minded approach, one which has no predetermined agenda of cutting or raising taxes, adding/removing programs.

One thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: One thing I would like to see is more detailed information provided to the public before and after school board meetings and votes. I feel this would help the districts residents understand how and why decisions where made.

Name: Russell R. Spahn

Age: 58

Employment/occupation: Retired June 1, 2011, as Fire Chief of the City of Greenfield Fire Department after 30 years of service; also worked 9 years with the Greenfield Department of Public Works

Personal: Married 37 years to Donna; both Donna and I, along with our two sons, are graduates of Greenfield High School. We also welcome into our family a daughter-in-law, also a GHS graduate, and two granddaughters.

Has lived in the district for 45 years.

Previous experiences that would come in handy: I have worked with local, state, and federal politicians the past 39 years to accomplish the goals that were necessary to operate a professional fire department. I have had many years of experience operating a multi-million dollar budget and providing the citizens of Greenfield a class one fire department while reducing operational costs and increasing revenue by initiating creative and progressive programs. I have been an adjunct instructor with MATC for the past 20 years. For the past 10 years I have served on the Greenfield Education Foundation. In addition, I have served as the Citizen Representative on the Greenfield School Board Business Administration Committee for the past year, which has provided me with a strong understanding of the district’s financial operations.

Why are you running? I believe that with my work experience and education, I can offer sound, realistic input into the future of the Greenfield School District as a Board Member. My Masters Degree in Education provides me with a strong background with curriculum development, learning and teaching behaviors and styles. My 20 years of teaching has given me the background necessary that will relate to the challenges that our teachers and students face. The 10 years that I have served on the Greenfield Education Foundation has provided me with the district’s educational needs. This education and work experience, combined with over 18 years of managerial and administrative responsibilities, will give me the tools to represent our community to provide the most cost effective educational programs possible.

One thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: As a board member, I plan to work as a team to organize and lead new programs for both education and budgetary challenges. The Board must focus on all critical issues for the long term and not just short-term resolutions. The district’s property tax levy and the quality of our student’s education will be affected negatively for decades if we do not plan new progressive programs today. The areas to be addressed should include an aggressive plan to improve our student’s academic achievement, improve teacher and School Board relations through a transparent administration, and a stronger involvement with the planning and management of the budget.

Name: Brad Sponholz

Age: 47

Occupation/employer: Registered Nurse at Medical College of Wisconsin

Personal: married with three adopted children

Has lived in the district for 13 years

Previous experiences that would come in handy: member of the Greenfield Planning Commission, former Army sergeant

Why are you running? I feel that having three school-age children makes me in touch with what is going on in schools right now. I think Greenfield is doing a wonderful job balancing education and the needs of our students against the need to tax and spend responsibly. Some people in the race have either voted for or voiced their support for an 11.2 percent levy increase instead of doing the adult thing and making the difficult decisions. These same people have voted for or voiced their support for a pool for the high school which the taxpayers had voted down. Now taxpayers are stuck with the costs of maintaining it. Getting free money does not always mean you need to spend it.

Tell us one thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: I am a big proponent of bringing the trades back into our high schools. Why should someone who is leaning towards being an electrician, plumber or IT person have to wait until they are 25 or older to be done with their apprenticeship and able to support themselves and a family? Education is not only about ABCs and math; it is about preparing our kids for the world and a job after high school. Not all kids are going to college, even if it is free. Trade workers are needed and respectable professions and should be encouraged and promoted in our high school. I hope to bring this to our high school.

Name: Cathy J. Walsh

Age: 59

Employment/occupation: Retired Disclosure Specialist/Tax Auditor

Personal: Married 37 years to Michael; has two daughters who graduated from GHS: Megan Walsh and Maura Keane

Has lived in the district for … 59 years

Previous experiences that would come in handy: Greenfield School Board member from 1992-2010; Cooperative Educational Services Agency #1 Board for 5 years; Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance member for 5 years; Greenfield Park & Rec Board member for 11 years; current volunteer for Greenfield Partners of Parks & Rec and Volunteer for GHS Varsity Football Boosters; Kohl’s Fellowship Review Committee in fall 2011; BA in Accounting Lakeland College in 2001; BS in Elementary Education at UW-La Crosse in 1974; GHS Graduate in 1970.

Why are you running? We are facing serious financial and educational challenges. The Board must work harder than ever to ensure that we can offer a quality education for our students at an affordable cost. I believe recent revisions to policies that diminish the Board’s power to provide input and oversight regarding crucial educational and financial matters and limit meetings to once a month are not in the best interest of our community. The Board must spend more time focusing on school improvement plans and have more oversight of the budget after it is approved. They must set clear educational and financial goals for the District and must be held accountable to meet those goals, proving to our community that the annual school tax levy is justified and well spent.  

One thing you’d like to see the district or School Board do differently: Many of us would like to see Greenfield students perform better on high-stakes tests or go on to higher education after high school. Most would be happy to see an improvement in student behavior.  For some, the issue is property taxes. The Board must represent these and other community concerns by establishing a long-range plan for educational and financial improvement. They must invite the community, staff members, students and other interested parties to help plot the course for the future of the District. Once a plan for improvement is established, the Board must regularly report on its progress to the Greenfield community. In addition, the Board’s annual evaluation of the Superintendent must include meeting benchmarks related to the goals established by the plan.

For more on the seven candidates, click here.