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High interest in Cedarburg School Board, as eight candidates seek just three seats on the board

The Cedarburg School Board race has shown considerable interest this year, as eight candidates will face off for three seats on the board. Incumbents Elizabeth Charland and Laura Stroebel will face six challengers: Matt Bord, Paul Demczak, Brooke Justinger, Jeff Larson, Heidi Laurila and Gina Tozer. Incumbent David Krier is not running for re-election. Due to the large number of candidates running, a primary will be held Feb. 18. The top six vote-getters will advance to the spring election April 1, while the bottom two vote-getters will be eliminated. The Journal Sentinel asked each of the candidates the same two questions. Their responses were limited to 100 words per question. Bord: The Cedarburg School District's biggest strength is the staff. I have experienced first-hand the impact the teachers have on students in the district. They work tirelessly to meet the needs of each student. I believe the administrative leadership has an impact on the success of the district's high state report card scores. I would like the school board to demonstrate more trust in our educators. The teachers should be empowered to make classroom decisions based on their direct knowledge of the needs of their students. The teachers' impact on the success of the district has earned them this responsibility. Charland: Since joining the Cedarburg School Board in 2022, I've focused on enhancing academic achievement — our district's greatest strength. Forward Exam English-language arts proficiency rates rose from 68.9% to 83.4%, and average ACT scores improved from 22.7 to 24.1. Ranked the No. 2 K-12 district in the state, Cedarburg excels in student success. However, growth is needed in curriculum alignment and rigor. I've supported implementing a new K-8 science of reading ELA curriculum and piloting stronger high school English and math programs. I remain committed to advancing excellence and ensuring every student benefits from high-quality education. Demczak: The Cedarburg School District's biggest strength is high academic performance. In the 2025 US News school rankings, Cedarburg schools were consistently in the top 3% of the state or better. Our high school was impressively ranked first in the state for college readiness, and had a 99% graduation rate. I do not see any big weaknesses; however, there is always room for improvement. I would build on our academic success by addressing test score differences between schools and incorporating classes in the curriculum to help students learn critical thinking and reasoning skills. Justinger: CSD's biggest strengths are our highly dedicated and educated teachers. I understand universal and inclusive practices that benefit all children. Every day our teaching staff, support staff, pupil services staff go above and beyond to make our students feel safe, welcomed at school and supported when times might get tough for them. Our staff has amazing communication skills and always keeps conversation with families/students confidential and professional. The staff members genuinely care about our community. They show up prepared, ready to go, go the extra mile every single day. Laurila: Our district's biggest strength is our human capital - namely, the caliber and dedication of our teachers and school leaders. Our biggest challenge is moving beyond the divisiveness that has influenced our district's governance and impeded our ability to root our educational offerings in global best practices. I will address this by elevating theperspectives of the educators who serve our students, working to build relationships with board members with different views than my own, and making decisions that are informed by current research in the field of education. Larson: We have great teachers, administrators and personnel. The Cedarburg School District has state-of-the-art facilities, a strong curriculum and great extracurricular programs, but our people are our biggest strength. I think the greatest challenge facing our school district is one that faces every forum in our country — how to better enable ourselves and our students to engage in discourse and decision-making in a mutually respectful manner, assuming the best of one another in the process, particularly of those who see things differently than we do. I hope to be a thoughtful participant on the Cedarburg School Board in that regard. Stroebel: The Cedarburg School District is ranked No. 2 out of 367 K-12 public schools in Wisconsin. This is a result of our dedicated teachers, staff, family and entire community prioritizing both academic success and growth for our students. The district's greatest challenge, a challenge shared with any school district, is that each year is critical to a student's overall learning as their knowledge is continuously building. We are working to maximize each student's learning potential every school day. All of Cedarburg's schools have received DPI's highest rating, 'significantly exceeds expectations,' for the last four school years. Tozer: The Cedarburg School District's greatest strength is its ability to consistently deliver superior academic achievement across all our schools. Deservedly, the CSD receives annual recognition for being among the best in the state. The biggest weakness in recent years has been the board's prizing achievement metrics as the primary indicator of success. As a parent, I care far less about how well my child takes a standardized test than the type of friend he is to others on the playground or in class. Life is so much bigger and more complex than what grade you earned in organic chemistry. Bord: It's a serious concern when a district's best investment — its teachers — don't remain with the district. With Cedarburg's investment in teacher training, it's crucial to find ways to both acknowledge their value and address the challenges they're facing. I believe the school board needs to create an environment of support for these teachers. Increased recognition, more professional growth opportunities and fostering more collaboration would be great ways to work towards this goal. Charland: The district has made progress in improving literacy and writing skills, but there's more work ahead. This year, we introduced new evidence-based ELA curriculums: Amplify (K-5) and Into Literature (6-8), grounded in the 'science of reading.' As chair of the curriculum committee, I'm committed to monitoring their impact on student achievement. At the high school, a consistent experience across classes and stronger writing skills remain priorities. My focus will be guiding discussions on the pilots and recommending the best option to the board for approval, helping students build the skills they need to succeed. Demczak: The district needs funding for long-term capital improvement plans for things like building repairs and technology upgrades. The school board has addressed this need by utilizing Fund 46 to set aside $500K per year. This approach shows great foresight and planning, but may not fully resolve the funding need for all future improvements. This is a complex issue that I need to get more information on. I would resolve it by using my business and project management experience to analyze it in greater detail and work with the board to develop a fiscally responsible solution. Justinger: As a parent of two daughters in the Cedarburg School District, I know that I am sending them into school buildings with teachers that truly care. As strong as our schools are, there are definitely room to grow. I believe in the importance of SEL (social emotional learning) and would like to see it back in our classroom. Academic achievement is valuable, but soft skills are necessary in today's world. Advocating for this view, and putting trust in educators is important. I believe that school board members provide leadership not micro-management. Laurila: The district has yet to reach consensus on a social-emotional learning curriculum for the elementary grades and is planning to embark on a potential overhaul of the middle school social-emotional learning curriculum as well. With bullying and mental health problems in youth on the rise, it is essential that this issue be resolved. If elected, I will work with fellow board members to select social-emotional learning resources recommended by trusted professionals in our district prior to the 2025-2026 school year. Larson: The Cedarburg School District has done well at navigating difficult issues, particularly over the past few years through and after the pandemic and during a difficult economy. To continue to make the experience in the district for students and staff an overwhelmingly positive one, issues like student safety and personnel compensation and retention require continuous evaluation and improvement. I hope to participate effectively in the decision-making process to address and balance the multiple factors that affect the decisions made around significant issues like these. Stroebel: As educational standards are being lowered, the Cedarburg School District cannot settle for the status quo. The district is actively working on maintaining and improving the high standards it's known for. Providing challenges for all students while celebrating their unique strengths and talents is imperative. From an academic side, building a strong foundation in reading, writing and math is essential. In a complementary manner, the district is currently developing lifelong learning skills that incorporate growth, resilience, integrity and tenacity in all courses. We must prepare students for the future so they are well equipped for the path they may choose. Tozer: One of the most critically unresolved issues within our district is several incumbent board members' inability to see beyond this year's balanced budget and strategically plan for what comes next. Cedarburg students and the wider community need and deserve a board that effectively works together to intentionally advocate for state dollars to be released for public education. Yes, this year's budget is balanced, but there is nothing left to cut. Matt Bord Age: 49 Past political experience: None Family: Wife, two teen children Community involvement: Strawberry/Wine & Harvest Festival volunteer; youth baseball and basketball coach Occupation: Finance/banking Contact info: cedarburgbord@ Elizabeth Charland (inc.) Age: 40 Past political experience: Cedarburg School District Board member since 2022 Family: Husband of 13 years, David; mother to three daughters, ages 7, 9 and 11. Community involvement: Ozaukee 4H Cloverleaf Club volunteer, family involved in Girl Scouts, town of Cedarburg Soccer and Cedarburg Crush softball Occupation: Healthcare IT senior consultant and project manager Contact info: CharlandForCedarburg@ Paul Demczak Age: 61 Past political experience: First time running for office Family: Married for 32 years with three children Community involvement: Student mentoring through Acacia Academics Occupation: Business professional Contact info: DemczakForCedarburg@ Brooke Justinger Age: 42 Past political experience: N/A Family: Husband, James (46), daughter, Lilah (11), daughter, Cienna "Cici" (8); both daughters attend Cedarburg School District and my husband owns his own property management company in our surrounding communities. Community involvement: North Shore Academy of Gymnastics competition team, Grafton Cheer competition team, volunteer employee at Lillies last summer (store in Cedarburg), assist with Mel's Charity, former school psychologist for the Cedarburg School District Occupation: Educational consultant, academic support specialist with the Medical Psychology Associates and school psychologist for the Mayville Public School District Contact info: brooklynjoycejustinger@ 414-687-0266 Justine Laurila Age: 39 Past political experience: None Family: Jay Laurila (husband); Claire Laurila (8); Amelia Laurila(7); Hannah Laurila (4) Community involvement: Administrative Vice President, Mom's Club of Cedarburg (2017-2018); Cedarburg Friends of the Library Board (2019-2020); Content Coordinator of the Cedarburg Bridge (2019-2021); Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop 8516 (2022-present) and Troop 8545 (2023-present) Occupation: Stay-at-home parent currently; previously, educator, nonprofit professional, philanthropy professional, and writer/editor Contact info: heidi4csd@ 262-228-6155 Jeff Larson Age: 49 Past political experience: None Family: Married 22 years to my wife Chandra, three kids: Anders (15, sophomore), Adeline (14, eighth grade), AJ (11, sixth grade) Community involvement: Ozaukee Youth Hockey Association coach, Cedarburg Police Department & Cedarburg Fire Department chaplain, Cedarburg Dawgs Youth Football announcer Occupation: Senior minister of Ozaukee Congregational Church Contact info: larsonjkl@ 469-236-4222 Laura Stroebel (inc.) Age: 63 Past political experience: Current Cedarburg School District board member since July 2021, Current vice president Family: Husband - Duey; children - Spencer, Maggie (Keegan), Trevor, Stewart, Mitchell, Lewis, Wesley, Mary; grandchild - Jack Community involvement: Past member and president of Cedarburg High School PTO, past board member and treasurer of Cedarburg Booster Club, active member of First Immanuel Lutheran Church Occupation: Small business owner and accountant Contact info: laurastroebelforcedarburg@ Gina Tozer Age: 38 Past political experience: None Family: Partner Tim; son Harrison (7), daughter Arlo (15 months) Community involvement: Parkview Elementary School PTO member (four years), committee co-chair (one year) Occupation: Global treasury analyst Contact info: friendsofginatozer53012@ Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Eight candidates running for three seats on the Cedarburg School Board