Courtney Tegeler, Kari (Probst) Thompson, Erin Ordner and Jessy J. Draves are competing in the April 1 election for three open seats on the Teutopolis Unit 50 school board.
Tegeler is Director-Implementations for Cornerstone Advisors. She earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting at Eastern Illinois University.
Thompson, 46, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. He has a master’s degree.
Ordner, 47, is manager of Clinical Services for Q-Centrix, a company which partners with hospitals across the country to provide medical data to a number of healthcare registries. A graduate of Cisne High School, he earned an associate in applied science degree in Radiological Technology from Olney Central College and a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Draves, 44, is self-employed. He a high school graduate.
The Effingham Daily News asked the candidates to answer the following questions.
List any public service or other experience that would help you serve on the school board:
Tegeler: I’ve been on the Unit 50 Board of Education for eight years.
Thompson: I served on the CASA of Effingham County board for six years. I also served on the Teutopolis Sportsbacker’s board for three years and served as president my last year.
Ordner: I currently serve on the Teutopolis Unit 50 school board and have since June 2019.
Draves: As a self-employed business owner, I’ve learned a lot about budgeting, problem-solving, and planning. Running my own business takes good communication and leadership skills. As a parent, I stay actively involved in my kids’ education and understand what families in our community are concerned about.
Why are you running?
Tegeler: To continue helping the schools in my community, that my children attend the best that we can make them.
Thompson: I am currently serving on the board and I enjoy my time helping make Teutopolis schools successful. I was also in education for 18 years and want to use that experience to help serve the Teutopolis community.
Ordner: I am running to help make decisions for the district where my children attend.
Draves: I’m running for the Teutopolis School Board to make sure our kids get the best education possible in a safe and supportive environment. As a parent, I care deeply about our schools and want to help make decisions that benefit our students, families, and teachers.
What is the most pressing issue facing Teutopolis Unit 50 and how would you address it?
Tegeler: The topic that immediately comes to mind is the need to expand/update/upgrade facilities. Over the past few years Unit 50 has made good progress at the high school, but now is time to turn attention to the other district buildings. The board has been reviewing needs for several months and is beginning to try to lay out more specific plans to move forward. However, facility projects require much funding which will also need to be figured out in order to properly address the current facility needs. The Unit 50 board has historically been good fiscal stewards and has some district reserves that can be used for some of these needs, but that will not cover all the upcoming near-term needs.
Thompson: With the addition of the new subdivision we are seeing a steady enrollment of students and, in some areas, an increase in enrollment. Making sure our facilities can handle these numbers and also support all areas of services for students and staff.
Ordner: While there are several pressing issues facing Unit 50, the most significant is the overcrowding and aging facilities at the grade school. To effectively address this, we need to involve the right stakeholders to plan necessary upgrades and ensure the best use of district and taxpayer funds. Collaboration and careful planning will be key to finding a solution that supports both our students and the community.
Draves: The biggest issue facing Teutopolis Unit 50, that I know of, is staff turnover. Improving retention means making sure staff feel supported, well-compensated, and have the resources they need to do their jobs well.
What’s more important for Teutopolis Unit 50 right now: New construction and upgrading facilities or hiring more teachers? Explain.
Tegeler: Although there are a few vacancies, which is normal, I feel Unit 50 has a strong, competent group of staff. Therefore, I would say upgrading facilities is more important for Unit 50 right now. We are essentially at maximum capacity at our grade school as well as needing many updates at that facility.
Thompson: I believe both are important, we want to retain and hire quality teachers but also make sure our facilities can support all services for our students.
Ordner: These are both challenging issues, and there is no single correct answer to this question. As a district, we must hire more teachers to ensure quality education for our students. The need arises both from increasing enrollment in lower grades (K-3) and from natural attrition, including several upcoming retirements. Hiring qualified, dynamic educators is one of the most important responsibilities of a school board. At the same time, to attract and retain these teachers and provide our students with a suitable learning environment, we need to consider necessary upgrades to our current grade school. This may include moving 6th grade to the junior high and expanding the facilities there to accommodate them. Balancing these priorities – staffing and infrastructure – will require careful planning and collaboration to ensure the best outcomes for both our students and educators.
Draves: Focusing on the staff is the priority, especially keeping the quality teachers we have and making sure they feel supported. Good teachers are the backbone of our schools. While facilities are important, we need to make sure we have great teachers in place before we worry about construction, all while staying within budget.
How do you plan to involve residents in decision-making within the Teutopolis Unit 50 district?
Tegeler: I will push for continuing to hold listening sessions, public tours, etc. when we are faced with major projects or challenges. This is something the Unit 50 Board has done in the past and have discussed as we look at upcoming needs around facilities.
Thompson: Residents are welcome to come to any monthly meeting and they can also email the board at any time. If there are big decisions, special meetings and/or listening sessions will be offered for community input.
Ordner: As always, the board encourages residents to attend not only our monthly school board meetings (either in person or online), but will also host a variety of community engagement events leading up to any potential renovations, as we have several times in the past, including when the high school renovation was completed and this prior fall when we invited the community out to tour our three campuses during evening Parent Teacher Conference times. These may again include open houses, facility tours, listening sessions and more to ensure transparency and gather valuable input from the community in which we serve. We are also committed to keeping residents informed and involved through social media and local media outlets. I personally invite any residents within the Unit 50 district to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns. Your input is important to us as we work toward the best solutions for our students and community.
Draves: I want to encourage residents to attend board meetings, ask questions, and stay involved. Networking and being active citizens will help us make better decisions together.
If you received a $1 million grant to use in Teutopolis Unit 50 any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
Tegeler: With a one-time grant of this size I would definitely use it for facility upgrades at the grade school as there are many needs in that building.
Thompson: I think we would continue to look at our timeline for facility improvements to support students and staff.
Ordner: If Unit 50 received a $1 million grant with no restrictions on its use, I would personally prioritize expanding our current preschool program. As a parent of four children, I understand firsthand how difficult it can be to find an available and trustworthy preschool program. Unit 50 is fortunate to have an excellent preschool – one my own son attended for two years – but it fills up quickly every year. With additional funding, we could expand the program to serve more children and potentially offer additional class times, providing greater opportunities for families in our community.
Draves: Not knowing all the current needs, I would first assess the district’s weakest areas and prioritize funding where it would have the most impact.
Why should residents vote for you?
Tegeler: I have now been serving on the board for eight years and feel that we have had some positive accomplishments during that time. I would like to continue serving my community in this way with my experience on the board. I feel that I have a strong sense of fiscal responsibility and approach challenges or decisions with logic and reason to come to a solution that best meets the needs of the district as a whole.
Thompson: I want to support the community and students in Teutopolis. I also want to continue the Wooden Shoe tradition of having a top notch school in Illinois.
Ordner: Even though I did not grow up here, T-Town is my home. I married someone who was born and raised here and chose to raise my four children in this community. I love Teutopolis and the beliefs which it holds, which include making family a priority. I feel that my prior six years of experience on the school board have served the school district well, and I hope to continue to serve for another four-year term.
Draves: I care about our community and want to help give our kids the best foundation for their future. I appreciate the time and effort school board members put in, and if the community chooses me to represent them, I will consider it a civic duty and a privilege to serve.