Wausau School Board

The top three vote-getters out of four candidates will take seats.

• Lance Trollop, 35, an attorney from Wausau, wants to join the Wausau School Board because of the problems the district faces. “I just think it makes it all that much more important, and much more rewarding to take on something that will be challenging,” Trollop said. “I wouldn’t want to take part on a board where there wasn’t anything to do.”

He said he would listen and learn before making any wholesale suggestions in cutting the budget, but he believes his education and training as an attorney would be an asset.

“We’re trained to really look at things at many different sides, then make a decision,” Trollop said. “I think that’s a good attribute for a school board member.”

Read more at Wausau Daily Herald.

Name: Lance Trollop

Age: 35

Family: wife, Heather; daughter, Ayla, son, Tye

Residence: Wausau

Education: Graduated with honors from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, double major in political science/pre-law and psychology; graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School

Career: Attorney at Bremer & Trollop Law Offices

Question 1: If budget cuts are necessary, how would you go about determining what they should be?

During the last several months, administrative teams developed dozens of possible budget reductions and those ideas were discussed with all administrators and the board in a public forum (although without input from the public at that meeting). The costs/savings associated with each idea were made available, and the board will soon vote on the proposals.

This process should be used again, but it should be improved by including more input from employees other than just administration (including teachers, who are often in the best position to advise the board on the impact proposed changes will have on education) and the public (which the board is meant to represent). This improved process should begin now to address more significant changes that will result in long-term budget savings.

Question 2: What is the best way to evaluate a teacher?

There is no single way to adequately evaluate a teacher. Standardized tests that do not consider the student’s prior performance, for example, are essentially useless as teacher evaluators. Value-added testing, meant to measure the improvement of students, is more useful for teacher evaluation, but should only be used as one tool of many. Additionally, standardized testing should not be directly tied to teacher compensation.

Teacher evaluation should utilize multiple tools, with probably the most important tool being classroom observation. The evaluation system should use yearly classroom observations with post-observation conferences to discuss the results. Other tools should also be used, such as feedback from parents (and students, especially older students) and other teachers. Value-added standardized testing, as noted above, can also be included as one of the many evaluation tools.

Question 3: Will budget cuts affect education quality? How can the district minimize this effect?

Yes. Educational materials, course offerings, building budgets, etc. all impact education quality in some way. Class sizes (especially for younger students), teacher quality and the availability of support staff are examples of things that likely have the greatest impact.

We must develop a strategy to reduce the budget long term in a way that has the smallest amount of negative impact on student learning. This is a question that the board must answer after receiving input from the teachers, the administration and the public.

A related question that should also be addressed any time budget cuts are considered is: How can revenue be increased without raising taxes? For example, enrollment equals funding and the reality is that attracting students is now competitive, with other public and private schools and even with virtual schools. What can we do to attract more students? What other things can be done to increase revenue?

Read More at Wausau Daily Herald.

Of four candidates, voters in the Wausau School District will elect three board members. Because only two incumbents are running, there will be at least one new face on the board.

Newcomer Lance Trollop, a local attorney, is plainly committed to serving the community by serving on the School Board, and his intelligence and legal expertise would be a benefit there. At 35, he would also be among the youngest board members, which might make for a fresh perspective on some matters. We especially appreciated Trollop’s focus on looking for ways the district can work to attract more students, including through initiatives like charter schools and online enrollment. That’s a positive way for the district to move to increase revenues while not raising taxes.

Read More at Wausau Daily Herarald.