Candidates for the Fond du Lac School Board squared off this week for a final time before next Tuesday’s election. Three of the four candidates gathered at the Fond du Lac Public Library for a forum hosted by the Retired Fond du lac Educators. Challenger Richard Gedemer was the only candidate who said he has not yet decided whether he will vote in favor of the school building referendum, and questioned why some of the projects haven’t been done in the past. “I believe in safety and security and upgrades. I also believe that maintenance should be done timely. I question why some of these things haven’t been done by past school boards in the operating budget. I question some of these improvements as I talk to people in this community,” Gedemer told the audience. Board member Peggy Breister says what Gedemer doesn’t understand is that the district is limited by the state on how much it can spend and like other districts is forced to go to referendum to maintain buildings. “We are limited by the state on what we can levy in any given year and so we can no longer levy what we need to maintain things the way that we need to,” Breister said. “This is why we are going to referendum, its why you see districts all over the state going to referendum time and time again. They are going to referendum to levy for money that they need.” Breister says she supports both referendum questions and says they are necessary to maintain school buildings and provide a good education environment for students and teachers. Challenger Nick Tiekfe says he also supports both referendum questions. He says the referendum addresses building security and says the air conditioning referendum is needed for both student learning and for the high-tech equipment in the building that can be damaged by high humidity. Board member Mark Jurgella is also running for re-election. He did not attend the forum.
