Mequon-Thiensville School Board Candidates
Forward Ozaukee asked each candidate for the School Board to answer five questions. YOU MAY VOTE FOR 2 CANDIDATES. Candidate biographies and answers are listed alphabetically. Wendy Francour submitted biographical information but declined to answer any of our questions.
Sergey V. Babakhanov
Address: 7080 W. Creekside Court, Mequon, WI 53092
Previous Public Office: N/A
Community Involvement: N/A
Contact Information: 414-745-8250
Kate Barikmo
Age- 26 years old
Address- 311 E Freistadt Rd, Thiensville, WI 53092
Previous Public Office- None
Community Involvement- Emergency Medical Technician
Contact Information- katebarikmo@gmail.com, 262-674-4197
Wendy Francour
Age: 67
Address: 2615 W. Ranch Rd., Mequon, WI. 53092
Previous Public Office: 9 years of service on the Mequon-Thiensville School District Board of Education as Vice-President, Clerk and Treasurer
Community Involvement: 32 year Mequon resident, mom of a K-12 Mequon-Thiensville School District (MTSD) graduate, decades of volunteerism in MTSD: PTO Co-President, chair of multiple committees and events, served on several community-wide task forces, member of Principal and Superintendent Advisory Boards, co-chair of a fundraiser that raised $97,000 to support MTSD programs when state funding threatened cuts, volunteer for Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation fundraisers for 25 years.
Contact Information: 262-242-4647, wfrancour@yahoo.com
Megan K Heinzelman
Age: 45
Address: 7821 W Highlander Drive, Mequon 53097
Previous Public Office: None.
Community Involvement:
I support local organizations with fundraising efforts.
Given my education, I can help local families with pro bono legal services, including preparing income tax returns.
Support local families that need basic and essential items through our existing charitable organizations.
Support local youth sports and extracurricular activities.
Served as tax counsel on the Mequon Spur 16 development project to bring rental real estate and family friendly restaurants.
Contact Information: www.heinzelmanformtsd.com; 414-467-5306; megan@heinzelmanformtsd.com
1. Looking back, do you think our District handled COVID appropriately? Please explain your reasoning.
Sergey Babakhanov: Our district didn’t handle COVID appropriately!
Emergency and Preparedness procedures were not appropriate for this type of event. Schools didn’t have enough of technical and technological resources to establish proper virtual learning.
Kate Barikmo: MTSD leaders followed guidelines from health experts during the pandemic. That was the appropriate response to limit the effects of Covid in our community. Masking, social distancing, vaccinations, contact tracing, and increased sanitary measures all help to reduce the spread of disease, including COVID. I'm a teacher and EMT so I am acutely aware of the effects of COVID-19 as well as the struggles of educating young people during a pandemic.
Megan Heinzelman: The virus surfaced in March 2020 with very little medical guidance on it. M-T was virtual only learning until the end of the academic year, June 2020. M-T remained virtual only for a bit in September 2020, and then commenced in-person learning with masks. In hindsight, I think the District was trying to do the best it could with the information available, but I would never support a mask mandate. Masks should always be optional for students. Our children’s academic, mental and emotional health following the pandemic should be paramount and monitored closely by the District.
2. Statistics show educational achievement is on the decline in our country. What do you think should be done to reverse this trend?
Sergey Babakhanov: The Board must re-evaluate current curriculum and collaborate with the Superintendent what is causing the decline. Review the years where our district has had a high academic achievement and apply the same standards and principles to reverse the decline.
Kate Barikmo: First, I think it's important that we define what "educational achievement" means. So many people throw words like this and "academic rigor" without having concrete examples or even an idea of what that looks like. Reversing this trend is simple. Fund our schools properly. We have the dedicated staff we need but our schools simply do not have the money to accomplish everything. We need to be able to hire and retain high quality staff. I'm sure there are other things we can do but none of those matter until our schools are out of survival mode.
Megan Heinzelman: In many areas, M-T students excel in their studies. With that, however, clear statistical data shows a decline in certain achievements. We must look at the root of this decline and take appropriate action steps to remedy the declines. I strongly believe in roundtable discussions to tackle issues, and I will dedicate time for these discussions as a board member. These action steps will not happen overnight, but it is time to tackle them now.
3. Human Growth and Development curriculums are not required in Wisconsin. Do you think our District should have one and if so, what topics should it cover?
Sergey Babakhanov: If this curriculum is not required - no need to have it. However, if a district adopted this curriculum, it must be approved by the parent or legal guardian to avoid any religious or cultural biases.
Kate Barikmo: Yes. Our students deserve to get basic information about how their body works and how to take care of themselves. Having comprehensive Human Growth and Development curriculums lowers rates of STIs, pregnancies, and domestic abuse.
Megan Heinzelman: Public schools should have a very limited role in sexual education. I have witnessed children under age 18 prosecuted for sex acts because kids do not understand that this conduct is unlawful regardless of “consensual contact.” Kids do end up in handcuffs and in our juvenile court system. This is very serious, and the law should be taught when age appropriate. Parents or guardians need to have these sensitive discussions with their children.
4. Do you think our District should inform and seek permission from parents to use names and/or pronouns contrary to a student's biological sex?
Sergey Babakhanov: The district should address each child by their biological birth gender. This is addressed in the Section 2000 Program; Title - Equity in Education; Code 2018
The Board recognizes that as a public school system the District has responsibility for the future success of each student, regardless of background, home situation, or family resources. The District must embrace a culture of equity and inclusion, and actively work to serve each student according to HIS or HER needs. The Board believes that each student must be valued, will learn, and will experience success and with that, education must address every facet of a child’s being.
Kate Barikmo: No. We should honor our students as whole individuals who are allowed to explore their own identity.
Megan Heinzelman: Yes.
5. Do you support a paid position for a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our school district? Please explain your reasoning.
Sergey Babakhanov: Mequon-Thiensville School District should not have such a position. All children and staff are Mequon-Thiensville School District should not have such a position. All children and staff are treated equally in our diverse and inclusive district. This can be found at https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/mtsd/Board.nsf/Public# under “Policies,” “2000 Program,” “2260 Nondiscrimination policy.” The Board believes that each student must be valued, will learn, and will experience success and with that, education must address every facet of a child’s being.
Kate Barikmo: In theory, yes- that's an important position, especially as Mequon-Thiensville becomes more diverse. In practice, I'm not sure what our financial situation allows for in the coming years.
Megan Heinzelman: No. Our District is focused on its budget, and it is tight. I believe resources need to fund competitive salaries to retain our current staff and any additional staffing needs in our schools.