Three candidates are seeking to be elected to two open River Falls School Board seats, along with one write-in candidate. Their responses to a school district questionnaire are listed in alphabetical order. The incumbent is marked with an asterisk*. 

Cassie Erickson

Background: I am a lifelong resident of River Falls. I am a wife and dedicated mother of four children. Currently, I have been an office manager in the business sector for over 10 years. On my day off during the week you can find me subbing as a paraprofessional in the surrounding school districts. I have spent many hours volunteering my time in the community of River Falls and at our church.

Community/civic activities: My involvement in the River Falls School District spans over the last 40 years. I graduated in 1993. My four children attended school in the district starting in 2002. My last child graduated in 2023. I have spent many hours helping teachers at the elementary level in their classroom and being a parent chaperone on multiple field trips. Some highlights were Native American Day and mock job interviews. I participated and volunteered my time at Westside’s PTO fundraiser while my kids attended elementary school.

Over the last 10 years I have been involved in the River Falls girls’ tennis program as a JV coach and now the head coach. I continue to offer my time and talents wherever I can.

As a lifelong resident of River Falls, I have had the opportunity to be involved and coach many different youth sports through Parks and Rec and through other youth organizations.

One of my favorite committees I participated on and volunteered my time at was the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast held in our community.

Why are you running for school board? I am running for the River Falls School Board to bring a fresh voice for parents, teachers, students and the community. By fresh, I mean that my experience not only surpasses that of my opponents. I propose a unique perspective from both the inside as an employee and the “outside” as a parent.

What are the current strengths of the district? I have always been proud of our district and hope to assist the team in our efforts to move forward. The strengths are the people. The teachers, administrators, staff and community all care deeply about the well-being of all students.

What are the current challenges of the district? The biggest challenge facing the River Falls School District is the budget as enrollment is decreasing for the first time in years. As a community we should be asking why we have declining enrollment.

Another concern is how the River Falls School District hires and retains qualified administrators, teachers and support staff.

Alison H. Page

Background: My professional career has been in healthcare, first as a clinician and for the past 27 years as an administrator and CEO. I recently retired from Western Wisconsin Health, where I served as CEO. Currently, I am a faculty member at the University of Minnesota where I teach leadership in the Master of Healthcare Administration program.

My mission in life is to make the world a better place for children and the families they live in, starting in western Wisconsin. The work I’ve done in healthcare, as well as y community service, has all been aimed at achieving this goal.

Community/civic activities: I am a life-long resident of River Falls; attended St. Bridget’s and RF public schools, graduating from RFHS. My husband David and I raised our five children in RF, all of whom graduated from RFHS. We now have grandchildren in the RF school system. I served as a member of the RF Board of Education for several years between 1985 and 2002.

I have engaged in our community in many ways over the years, serving on the boards of directors of the YMCA, the Restorative Justice Program, the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, the United Way Success by Six Program, the Family Resource Center of St. Croix Valley, and the Work Force Development Board of Western Wisconsin. In addition, my husband and I provided foster care for children in Pierce County when our children were young.

Why are you running for school board? I am running for school board for two reasons: First, to ensure all children receive an excellent education; an education that prepares the to pursue their dreams and become contributing members of our society, in a manner commensurate with their abilities. Second, to oversee the use of community resources and tax dollars to ensure those resources are used in a manner that optimizes the educational experience of the children in our community. We all want the children of our community to get a good education, and we want our tax dollars used wisely.

What are the current district strengths?

• The quality of the staff: We have been fortunate to continue to attract excellent people to join the staff at RFSD.
• Community support: Historically, the people of this community have been very supportive of the schools.
• A growing population/tax base: RF is a growing area (not in decline) which helps to provide continued financial support for the district.

What are the current district challenges?

• Employee compensation: The growing disparity in compensation for teachers in Wisconsin versus neighboring states may lead to a talent drain for our schools.
• Decreasing community interest: As fewer households include school-age children it becomes more challenging to maintain strong community interest and support.
• Political divisiveness: The growing political divide has put public education in a challenging position. This has created undue tension in our schools. It’s important to have general consensus around educational priorities for the children of our community.

Stacy Johnson Myers*

Background: I grew up in Minneapolis and have lived in River Falls for 20 years. I have a B.A. in political science and sociology from Macalester College in St. Paul and a Ph.D. from the School of Education and Human Development at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

My husband Chris and I have three children who attended school in River Falls from kindergarten through grade 12. I am passionate about children’s literature (I have a wall of children’s books in my office) and have recently published two books for children.

I have proudly served on the River Falls School Board since I was first elected in 2008. During my tenure on the board, I have gained significant experience navigating school board policy, working with superintendents and administrators, supporting teachers and staff, relating to the community, advocating for the district with legislators, and above all, keeping the best interests of students as my top priority.

Community/civic activities: While not a River Falls native, my family and I were welcomed to River Falls. At the time of our move, we chose between making St. Paul or River Falls our new home. The quality and reputation of the school district was a significant component in our decision to move to River Falls. It was a great choice.

I began volunteering at school when my oldest child started kindergarten. I enjoyed observing the teachers’ wonderful work and was eager to support them. I served on an ad hoc committee exploring the future of the Academy building, and was a parent representative in a superintendent search. I was elected to the board in 2008 and have served as both a board member and board president.

I am an active member of First Congregational Church where I work directly with education for learners of all ages.

Why are you running for school board? School boards are a critically important component of the public school system. Accordingly, it is essential for board members to understand the scope and responsibilities of school board service. I am not running for school board to focus on a narrow set of issues. Rather, I understand the board’s role in setting and monitoring policy, supporting administrators, and discerning and articulating community values related to public education. I am eager to work hard and contribute to a well-run school district.

On a personal level, I am running for the school board to be able to  serve the community, use my expertise and relationships to support the district, and satisfy my desire to contribute to excellence in public education. Above all, I am running for school board to support teachers and staff and ensure students’ best interests are at the heart of district decision-making.

What are the district’s current strengths? The district’s strengths include:

• Having strong, caring, passionate teachers, staff and administrators.
• Enjoying community support for education and the school forest.
• Being committed to the academic, social and emotional needs of all students.
• Valuing the character education program.
• Demonstrating fiscal responsibility and a commitment to strategic planning.
• Striving to be a supportive, family-friendly workplace that trusts employees.
• Offering a wide range of academic and co-curricular opportunities (including the RFPME and the Renaissance Academy).

What are the districts current challenges? The district’s challenges include:

• Facing the so-called “fiscal cliff” projected for the 2024-25 school year.
• Navigating a difficult financial outlook impacting the district’s ability to attract and retain high quality employees.
• Changing enrollment patterns that could negatively impact district revenue.
• Maintaining district facilities to ensure they support current and future learning demands.
• Increasing political polarization and suspicion of diverse perspectives in the community.