ZM School Board – Meet the Candidates

Meet the Candidates for the 2022 Zumbrota - Mazeppa School district School Board

The elections will be here before you know it, and it’s time to learn more about the candidates.

DERREK CHAPIN

I am a father of two (4th grade and 5th grade.)

I have been a resident of Zumbrota for a few years and I love the community here.

QUALIFICATIONS

I’ve been attending School Board meetings as a community member for a couple years now.

I volunteered for both the referendum community group and the district advisory council.

I am anti bullying and truly want to see everyone in the community thrive.

GOALS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

If elected, I will work with my peers to recommend solutions or policies that are a good compromise while prioritizing the safety of our students and staff. I would like to work towards recording School Board meetings and publishing them for those who are unable to attend. While there is already a way to speak to the School Board via email or attending the meetings. I want to look into other ways to get community feedback on issues or questions they have. I believe that listening to the students, teachers, staff, and community is the best way to help everyone out. I do not believe that bipartisan politics should be a determining factor in any decision made by the board. I truly believe that the School Board is here for the safety and education of our children first. I also recognize that with any committee formed by community members in a public institution that there are limits on the decision making power of the School Board. I want to work with the district’s education leaders to provide a great inclusive learning experience.

How to Contact
email: Askderrekchapin@gmail.com

TRAVIS LIFFRIG

I was born and raised in the Zumbrota-Mazeppa area and graduated from Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School. I live outside of Mazeppa with my wife Kaci, our 2 year old son Reuter, and we have another baby on the way. Kaci and I raise beef cattle and goats on our family farm and we own two small businesses in Mazeppa. I’m active in both Zumbrota and Mazeppa communities as a member of the Mazeppa Lions Club and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Zumbrota.

QUALIFICATIONS

As a small business owner, I am practiced in being financially responsible and I’m not afraid of the hard work and tough questions that it will take to be a successful school board member.

WHY HE’S RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD

GOALS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

I am hoping to make it easier for parents to learn about the curriculum being taught to their children as well as creating better communication among the teachers, administration, school board, and parents. I hope to offer a role in improving the quality of the K-12 education our children are receiving by providing our teachers with more support and advocate for equal education to all students.

How to Contact: Facebook Group

BRETTA NEITZ

I’m a graduate of ZM (the first class of Zumbrota and Mazeppa combined). Ooops! Now you can do the math on my age. After moving away from Zumbrota for 15 years, I moved back in part because of the good school district.

I am a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in Organizational Management (Business Management). And have worked in the corporate world, for both family owned businesses and large corporations in the roles of Management, Sales, Marketing, and HR. I have created and adhered to multi-million dollar budgets, a skill that would come in useful on the Board. And my HR and Management skills will be an asset to the different Board committees, especially personnel committees.

QUALIFICATIONS

I have a unique perspective to offer: Over the past 3 years, I have been a substitute teacher in the SE Minnesota area – ZM, Pine Island, Goodhue, and KW. I have seen what is happening in other school districts compared to ours – both negative and positive. At ZM, I have subbed in all grades, K-12, and have seen first-hand the amazing things that are happening in our schools and issues that need attention. My husband and I are invested in the Zumbrota-Mazeppa area. We own a business in Zumbrota and have 3 kids still in ZM schools.

WHY SHE’S RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD

GOALS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

I want to help ensure their educations (and those of all the ZM students) are top-notch and their extra-curricular activities are positive experiences that they can look back on fondly.

JEAN ROTH

QUALIFICATIONS

Has served on the School Board for the last 8 years and has over 30 years in education.

WHY SHE’S RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD

GOALS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

How to Contact
Phone: 507-732-4203
Email: jeanr@zmsch.k12.mn.us

JAKE RUDE

A life-long Zumbrota resident and class of ‘95 ZM graduate, Jake is a local business owner and farms with his wife Christine just south of town. This fall, Jake will have a preschooler, a kindergartner, and a second grader enrolled in the district along with five nieces and nephews.

QUALIFICATIONS

As a Zumbrota area business owner and farmer, Jake has experience in accounting, time management, and prioritizing of tasks. As a businessman, it’s necessary to view problems from many different angles before making decisions, as well as setting a schedule and sticking to it. He has a well rounded understanding of workman’s comp, insurance, and building maintenance. What does that have to do with the school board? This is just one quick example of things that were discussed at the last 3 meetings.

WHY HE’S RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD

Kids that need a little extra support to reach their full potential or kids on the fringe? That was Jake growing up. Things weren’t easy for him and he persevered which in turn helps him relate with those kids who are like him. The school board sets the tone, decides where money should be allocated, and when enacting policies – should keep in mind how those decisions would effect ALL of the students. The school supported him all those years ago, and now it’s his turn to continue the legacy of a district he is so thankful for.

GOALS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

If you know Jake, you know healthy discussion, attempting to see things from various perspectives, and critical thinking are who he is. Devil’s advocate? Check. He is passionate about encouraging respectful questioning and discussion because listening, engaging, and responding will lead to greater transparency and further community trust. Ultimately, like Aaron and Travis – he hopes to provide a fresh perspective.

How to Contact: Facebook Group

AARON STAHOSKY

Aaron is 38 years old and is married to Anna Stahosky. They have four children (9th grade, 7th grade, 2nd grade, and a 2021 graduate) who have all attended Zumbrota-Mazeppa since kindergarten. They have lived in Zumbrota for 15 years and love the community deeply.

Aaron grew up in and graduated from Farmington, MN. He pursued an education at Dakota County Technical College, earned his degree as a heavy equipment mechanic, and now works for Ziegler CAT as a field service technician. He operates a mobile field service truck around our local area doing work for many of our community businesses. Aaron is an active member at his church where he volunteers and mentors in the youth program, and assists with other ministries as well.

WHY HE’S RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD

Aaron values the education that the children in our community receive and he wishes to see academic success and excellence within our schools. He has been active in attending board meetings and work sessions for the last year and believes our school board needs strong leaders willing to invest the time, effort, and skills of collaboration to make our district one of distinction and merit.

QUALIFICATIONS

Aaron is dedicated, honest, hard working, and ready to stand up for children, parents, and teachers. As a board member, he would not just be a “yes man” but would make decisions and only vote after careful consideration, deliberation, and research.

GOALS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

To strive to have a supportive administration for faculty and staff and be someone who will listen and support the needs of students and teachers to help promote success for all. Aaron hopes to be a direct conduit for parental voice and concerns where they will not be brushed aside. As an elected board member, Aaron pledges to provide excellence in all aspects of the position.

Academic performance in the U.S. has been on a steady decline, even pre-COVID. In 2019, only 35% of 4th graders and 34% of 8th graders performed at or above NAEP Proficient in reading; this is even lower than in 2017.(https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/). These are saddening percentages, and children deserve better than this. With 40% of state budgeting being used for E-12 education, it is time to fill in the gaps and give children the education they need to not just be successful in school, but life as well!

How to Contact: Facebook Group