Photo by Deborah McCaslin
    Five of the eight candidates for Broken Bow Board of Education met for a public forum and answered questions from the audience. The event was April 30 at the Broken Bow Middle School Auditorium. 

By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Managing Editor    

    It has often been said that one should never mix politics and religion. Yet, on April 30, both were themes of events taking place at the Broken Bow High School.
    While author Don Piper addressed a large crowd in the high school gym speaking about his book “90 Minutes in Heaven,” some of the candidates running for the Broken Bow Board of Education addressed the public with their opinions on local issues and reasons why they think they deserve to be elected.   
   

    Present at the candidates’ forum were incumbents Brian Deakin and Michelle Zlomke, along with John Evans, Keith McCaslin and Ken Myers. Candidates Matthew Haumont, Pamela Fisher and Gary Lawrence did not attend the forum, which was hosted by the Broken Bow Education Association.
    The format for the event provided audience members the opportunity to pose questions to the candidates by writing them on note cards and submitting them to the host, Mike Garner. Each of the candidates was given the chance to respond to each question, with the same amount of time given to each.
    A total of seven questions were asked of the five; and though their answers varied on most of the issues, they are all in favor of the proposed tax levy override for the district. The seven questions, and summaries of the answers of each candidate, were as follows:
    Q #1: What is your vision for education in Broken Bow? What keeps our students and school competitive with larger cities and takes them into the next decade?
    Deakin: “As Human Resources manager, I am a consumer of talent. I have learned we no longer compete just locally, we compete in a world wide market.
    Our students need to be prepared for that. My vision is global and very business oriented - but that’s the world we live in.”
    Evans: “We are at a great advantage here. Students who graduate from schools in the Midwest can go anywhere and get good jobs because of the values that are developed here.”
    McCaslin: “Education here is better, just because you know everybody. It’s great to get people involved. Let’s just keep communicating and let the big cities figure out how to compete with us.”
    Myers: “My vision is to keep our students competing well in the work force. Kids will learn a lot more by example, and a lot of success they have in this world will depend on how they see us act. Through example we can guide our kids in to a successful future.”
    Zlomke: “We cannot offer the same programs that the bigger schools can. But we can teach our children to learn - to give them the tools they need to equip them for the future.”
    Q #2: What do you find to be the strengths of the Broken Bow schools, strengths you want to see continued?
    Zlomke: “I love the way our school is a focal point in the community. We set high standards for our administration. We are student focused - our students are our number one priority.”
    Myers: “The success of so many people that have come through this school system is a strength. I hope we can continue that with our kids. We have got a good staff and kids that do well. I feel like people are heard here, and I hope that continues.”
    McCaslin: “We have a very good school system here. Some people feel like they can’t come up here and talk to the administration and board, like there’s a wall here. I don’t think that’s true.”
    Evans: “It’s our people that make this school system. That’s our strength. I think as long as we keep trying to keep the lines of communication open, the community will support us.”
    Deakin: “There’s a great sense of pride and heritage here. WE have great teachers that enforce that. There is a sense that we can make things better, now and for those who will come after us. We have a strong reputation in this state - because we have a great school system.”
    Q #3: How big a part do you feel the Fine Arts plays in a student’s education?
    Evans: “I feel it has a great deal of importance. it develops self-confidence and makes students more marketable.”
    McCaslin: “There are certain people who take it (Fine Arts), and those that don’t. That’s what makes it a tough question; trying to decide how much money you put toward that. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices.”
    Myers: “I think it is very important. I don’t see us being able to afford a new Fine Arts center anytime soon.”
    Zlomke: “I think Fine Arts is critical in our school. We don’t talk about math or science in terms of financing, and we shouldn’t Fine Arts either.”
    Deakin: “The products we enjoy day in and day out come from someone’s creativity - the kind of creativity that comes from involvement in Fine Arts. We need to teach our children life skills, and the arts play a critical role in making that happen.”
    Q #4: Are any of you interested in an expansion of curriculum, like programs for higher learning students, AP courses or consumer science? Is there any way to fund these programs in the near future?
    Myers: “When kids here excel, we need to cultivate that. But not to the expense of other children. There needs to be balance.”
    Zlomke: “Yes! We may not be able to bring some programs back in to the system, but we can look at ways to integrate them into the classrooms we have now.”
    Deakin: “We want our students to achieve the highest level of success they can. We need to be creative in giving our children every opportunity we can.”
    Evans: “I absolutely support that. That’s how we can develop the best students. These types of programs are much more important than a new facility.”
    McCaslin: “I agree with John. We need to worry first about how we’re going to pay for what we have.”
    Q #5: If the bond and levy don’t pass, what is Plan B?
    McCaslin: “I don’t have any answer for that. It’s in the hands of the voters now. I think it’s time to get some new eyes on the project.”
    Myers: “I’m glad we live in a country where we get to vote on things like this. If they both fail, things will get tough for the board. I believe the levy override is necessary, and without it there will have to be some programs cut.”
    Zlomke: “Plan B is where we are right now. Two years ago the community asked us to look at a levy override - they wanted more that what we were giving them. Now the question is, do we want more bad enough to pay for it?”
    Evans: “We just keep moving forward. We get information from the public, reformulate the plan, and do it again. Look at the numbers, look at the budget, and make some tough choices.”
    Deakin: “With choice comes responsibility. Our schools will continue to deteriorate - we will have to face this issue some day. The schools we’re in won’t last forever.”
    Q #6: If budget woes continue to mount, which alternative would you support to finance education in Broken Bow; cut staff and increase class size, cut programs, or increase taxes through a levy override?
    Deakin: “I voted for the levy override. I don’t like taxes, but I believe this is critical for us. It’s not popular, but it’s necessary. We must couple that with containing our costs.”
    Evans: “I support the levy override, but I agree with Brian. We must be very fiscally responsible. It doesn’t give us a license to spend.”
    McCaslin: “I am for the levy override, with the goal that we don’t get in this problem again. i am not in favor of cutting programs either, but I’m afraid we may have to.”
    Myers: “I think we have to look at all three options. The levy override is very necessary. I think we also need to look at what we can cut to balance the budget.”
    Zlomke: “Let me clarify something - we’re in a budget situation that was not created by overspending, it was created by under funding. Over the past five years we have cut and cut. There are no more places to cut. But there are great places for this school system to go - and we can’t go there without a levy override.”
    Q#7: If the bond and levy are voted down, what are you going to do with North Park and Custer Schools?
    Zlomke: “I don’t believe in throwing pearls to swine. We will make the buildings viable, but I do not advocate doing anything more than that.”
    Myers: “We will have to fix them and use them.”
    McCaslin: “We have to fix them up. I believe a building will last forever if it is taken care of.”
    Evans: “We would need to fix them and try to build our funds back up.”
    Deakin: “I hope we’re not faced with that alternative. If we start doing repairs, we have limitations on what we can do before we have to start asking for more money.”
    Q #8: Whether your children are presently going to school or have gone in the past to Broken Bow Schools, what educational opportunities would you like or have liked to been or be made available to your children?
    McCaslin: “I think the education I am looking for for my daughter is being provided. Anything can be improved, but we have a lot of good people up here. I admit, I’m a fair weather fan - I am involved because I have a daughter in this school.”   
    Evans: “I’m supportive of any program that is going to further their education. I can’t think of any programs that they are missing out on.”
    Deakin: “I have a lot to be grateful for - for the opportunities my children have been given at Broken Bow. Fine Arts has been a blessing to my children. I would like to see more applied science, and I think we need to give our kids a great start. That’s why I support the opportunities a new elementary school would bring.”
    Zlomke: “This school has provided a superb foundation for my kids. A component I think we are missing is teaching our children life skills. No matter what your grades are, or your aptitudes are, you need those skills.”
    Myers: “I think if we could implement more work ethic programs. I would support a program that encourages students to test the water and see what they like and don’t like.”