Erika Watkins gets another term to Valparaiso School Board, this time representing the city

Chicago Tribune

24-05-2025

The Valparaiso City Council selected childcare center director Erika Watkins to have a second term appointed to the Valparaiso School Board, along with Valparaiso attorney John Peluso as the new school board appointment by the Center Township Board.
Peluso, a speech and debate team coach at Valparaiso High School and his VHS English teacher wife Colleen have two children in the VCS schools. Peluso fills the four-year term vacated by Watkins, who joined the school board as the Center Township Board appointment in May 2021.
Peluso's appointment was announced following the May 19 meeting of the Center Township Advisory Board.
Democrat Watkins competed with finalists Brett Miller and Ron Donahue, both Republicans vying to fill the seat vacated by Robert Behrend, who did not seek another term. Behrend, a Valparaiso dentist, underwent questioning earlier this year about whether he had moved to Wisconsin and was therefore no longer eligible to serve on the school board. He had served two terms.
The fourth finalist was Democrat Curtiss Strietelmeier, who was also a finalist, but unsuccessful, for an open Valparaiso School Board seat in 2023.
All four faced questions from council members in the meeting chambers at Valparaiso City Hall on May 21 during the more than three-hour second-round interview session.
Candidates addressed questions about effectiveness as a community liaison, sharing examples of implicating new programs, and charter schools.
'I am passionate about every child having the necessary tools to succeed,' Watkins said.
'I want to continue being a voice for students, teachers and parents. I bring dedication, experience and I have a heart of service. I believe in creating strong partnerships between the community and the school.'
Peluso competed against fellow applicants Ruth Vance, Jerome 'Jerry' Ezell and Lisa Gonzales during the May 19 interviews held at the Porter County Administration Building in the commissioners' chambers.
Each applicant was asked up to eight questions, most submitted by the public, and not provided to the applicants before the interviews. Following the interviews and time for public comment, board discussion preceded the vote on the appointment.
Watkins, the previous appointment for the Center Township board seat, recalls the thorough interview process of Center Township Trustee Jesse Harper and his interview team.
'Attending school events and being an actively involved school board member is key,' Watkins said.
'Starting with the first week of the new school year, I'm there in person to greet teachers, staff and students to share the experience of the launch of the new academic year. All board members should be.'
The rest of the Valparaiso School Board consists of Kaye Frataccia-Seibert, selected by the school board in December 2023 to complete the term of Jon Costas after he was elected mayor. Costas was appointed by the city council in 2022. Karl Cender was appointed by the city council in 2023 and Ashley Kruse was appointed by the city council in 2024.
Valparaiso Community Schools is a K-12 public school district serving 6,500 students throughout Northwest Indiana and includes eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one alternative school and one high school.