The Pierce County Journal composed and sent out election questionnaires to all candidates running in local races, including Pierce County Board, village boards, school boards, city councils, one …
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The Pierce County Journal composed and sent out election questionnaires to all candidates running in local races, including Pierce County Board, village boards, school boards, city councils, one municipal judge race and three town board races. We tried to craft the questions in order to allow for citizens to get to know candidates and how they feel about local issues, which affect residents in their everyday lives.
The questionnaires were sent by email to candidates almost three weeks ago. For those who did not respond, they were sent two reminder emails. If they did not respond, that is noted below.
Incumbents are marked with an asterisk *. These are the people you will see on your April 7, 2026 ballot.
To find your local polling place, which will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Whats-On-My-Ballot or contact the municipality directly.
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Three incumbents (Gary Kressin*, Kurt Buckner* and Jay Acker*) are hoping to retain their seats on the Ellsworth School Board, while challenger Dave Beck is hoping to usurp one of them.
Residence: Bay City
Occupation/profession: Self-employed farmer
Prior elected offices: Ellsworth School Board (current), Ag Partners Coop Board (2002-2015), President Ag Partners Board (two years), Vice President Ag Partners Board (two years)
Do you have children who attend or have attended the school district? Yes, three in fifth, eighth, and 10th.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved? Ellsworth Youth Basketball, representative on Ellsworth Fire Association Board, Past Advisory Panel for Compeer Financial
Why are you running for school board? What are your priorities? Schools are one of the most important things in a community and I would like to be there to help in future plans. Also to keep the school moving forward and continue the best education it can provide for students.
What are the three biggest challenges facing the school district? What solutions do you propose? Operational expenses. Not an easy solution. Have to balance what is best for the taxpayers, students, and faculty. Staff. Keeping the great teachers we have and trying to get high quality employees when a position is open. This is not just teachers but everyone who works for the district. Funding. Funding has not increased compared to the rising operational costs. When our dollars need to be spread further, we need to take a deeper look at ways that may not be conventional compared to the normal to try to save dollars. Also, we need more people to reach out to our State Representatives and ask to support and increase funding.
What skills/experiences have prepared you for this role? I believe I am a good listener, problem solver and open minded. I try to see both sides of the story and come up with the best outcome for all involved. My past experience on boards and leadership along with my career have helped me learn how to handle many different things.
School districts across the state are facing budget challenges and declining enrollment, resulting in going to taxpayers for referendums. Why is this happening? What's your solution? Enrollment is declining, That makes it even more important for our school to keep providing the exceptional education and opportunities for kids. The better the school the more opportunity we have to get people moving into our community. As for the referendums, yes we will need them at certain points. This is because the State has not increased funding and is pushing it on local taxpayers. I do not agree with this, but it is something we have to adapt to and deal with until we can make changes and funding increases.
What do you think a parent's role should be in their child's education and how should that be balanced with respecting teachers' expertise and training? Support and be involved with them. Help them understand their work and support the teachers’ process. Not all kids learn the same way so if there is an issue, please communicate with them to figure out what is best for the student.
Elected officials often faces strong public opinions on social media and at meetings. How would you approach decisions when the community is divided on an issue? With an open mind. Look at both sides and do your best to try to find a balance or compromise that would possibly have the most neutral outcome all while making sure you have the best interest in mind for the students.
What makes your school district special? Students, families, employees, staff, and our community. The school is just an extension of our community and our community is great.
How can people contact you? ackerj@ellsworth.k12.wi.us
Buckner filled out the questionnaire, but the Journal did not receive it due to a technical difficulty.
Residence: Ellsworth
Occupation/profession: Retired/Outdoor Writer
Prior elected offices: None
Do you have children who attend or have attended the school district? Yes, my daughter graduated in 2020.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved? Volunteer Youth Coach.
Why are you running for school board? What are your priorities? I have been pretty fortunate in life and this is one way to give back. My spouse Susan was a school board member for 12 years and although it could be trying at times, I also witnessed firsthand some really good things. I don’t have an agenda. Making informed and quality decisions that benefit the District to the fullest will be a focus.
What are the three biggest challenges facing the school district? What solutions do you propose? I can narrow this to down to one and that is passing the operational referendum. Pass or fail, there is still a lot of work to be done.
What skills/experiences have prepared you for this role? In my working career I was the plant manager of a manufacturing facility. The skillset required to run a successful organization is the same, no matter where the desk is located.
School districts across the state are facing budget challenges and declining enrollment, resulting in going to taxpayers for referendums. Why is this happening? What's your solution? The problems that we have are not unique to Ellsworth. Our budget shortfall is a direct result of an archaic model that the state uses to assign aid. School districts are taking the fight to Madison to challenge this system. We need to increase our role in this fight.
What do you think a parent's role should be in their child's education and how should that be balanced with respecting teachers' expertise and training? A teacher and a parent share the responsibility. Both play crucial roles from different angles. The more vested both are the better the results.
Elected officials often faces strong public opinions on social media and at meetings. How would you approach decisions when the community is divided on an issue? Social media can be a terrific way to stay connected with friends and family, but it can also be a negative slippery slope. I place a much greater value on face-to-face conversation.
What makes your school district special? We have a terrific school district. If you listed both the great things and the bad things about it, which list would be longer? From amazing class trips, state qualifiers in all sports, Forensics, STEM programs and musicals, the list goes on and on. Our community has a lot be proud of.
How can people contact you? If elected, I will have a district email address. I think everyone who knows me will attest that I am very approachable and welcome any chance meeting.
Residence: town of Hartland
Occupation/profession: High School Principal
Prior elected offices: School Board Clerk Secretary/Treasurer, Road Association
Do you have children who attend or have attended the school district? Yes, three children who attended school in Ellsworth. Two who graduated and one senior.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved? Ellsworth Community School Board
Why are you running for school board? What are your priorities? I am running for school board to help ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. My priority is to support strong academic programs and opportunities for every student, while making thoughtful, fiscally responsible decisions that keep the district operating effectively within its budget.
What are the three biggest challenges facing the school district? What solutions do you propose? The district’s biggest challenge is the lack of adequate state and federal funding, which impacts programs and long-term financial stability. To address this, we must continue advocating by regularly contacting legislators for fair funding, while making responsible budget decisions that prioritize student learning.
What skills/experiences have prepared you for this role? I bring a unique perspective to this role as both a parent of current and former students and as an experienced educator. My previous service as a school board member, along with nearly 30 years working in public education as a teacher and administrator, has given me a strong understanding of how schools operate, including staffing needs and budget challenges, and how to support student success.
School districts across the state are facing budget challenges and declining enrollment, resulting in going to taxpayers for referendums. Why is this happening? What's your solution? School districts are facing budget challenges and declining enrollment largely due to insufficient state and federal funding, combined with rising costs for transportation, staffing, and ongoing maintenance of aging facilities. These pressures often leave districts with no choice but to go to taxpayers for referendums. To address this, we must continue advocating for fair and sustainable funding by regularly contacting and working with state and federal legislators. At the same time, we need to carefully evaluate the district’s current needs, manage resources responsibly, and prioritize spending to ensure we are meeting student needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
What do you think a parent's role should be in their child's education and how should that be balanced with respecting teachers' expertise and training? A parent’s role is to support their child and the school, while respecting teachers’ expertise and advocating for their child.
Elected officials often faces strong public opinions on social media and at meetings. How would you approach decisions when the community is divided on an issue? When the community is divided, I would approach decisions with honesty and open communication, carefully considering all perspectives while focusing on what best supports students and the district as a whole.
What makes your school district special? The Ellsworth Community School District is special because it provides a warm, welcoming environment where students can thrive, supported by low class sizes that allow for personalized attention and stronger connections between teachers and students.
How can people contact you? At kressing@ellsworth.k12.wi.us
