Rupprecht seeks to continue service

WARDEN — Marilyn Rupprecht hopes to continue serving the community as a board member for the Warden School Board of Directors.

Rupprecht is running for a new term as incumbent for Pos. 5.

"I have been on the board for several years and feel that I have the time and the interest to continue serving my community. I have always been interested in public education and that will continue," Rupprecht said. "I am very able to represent the people of this district."

Qualifications Rupprecht has for the position include her past and present experience on the board, raising four children in the public-school system, paying taxes and caring about the schools. She said she is "not swayed by which direction the wind blows."

Rupprecht said she is well qualified to maintain the facilities, serve as a liaison between the district and taxpayers and ensure children in Warden's boundaries receive an education.

Rupprecht said her challenges running for the position are common challenges.

"I have an opponent," she said. "I have probably made some people unhappy by taking difficult stands. Some people feel that everyone on the board should have children in school."

None of her children are in school and her husband is not employed by the district, preventing a conflict of interest, she said. She said her opponent's spouse is an employee of the district and has children in the schools.

"I believe it is wise to have a cross-section of the community on the board, and there are many people in this community who do not have children in school," she said. "What is important is the time and interest of a board member."

The board, district staff and community must work together to improve the district, she said.

Facility needs are the biggest issues facing the district, she said. After a bonds proposal failed this year, the board is re-grouping and looking again at longtime needs.

The board is encouraging constituents to speak to the board early in the process, she said. Community support and interest is something the district is trying to build.

"In the meantime, we are looking at short-term fixes for some of our physical-plant problems," Rupprecht said. "Among other things, this summer we have done some paving and began replacing carpet in the elementary building. We have added soccer fields recently. We just forge on doing the best we can with what our state and our taxpayers provide for us."

A change Rupprecht wants to see in the district is more community support. The community has a great district, and joining together as a team can make the district even better, she said.

Improvements in Warden schools are apparent by the increasing test scores, she said.

"Reading has been a focus and math continues to be a focus and a challenge, but we are up to it," she said.