Eight candidates running for four school board seats

Eight candidates are running for four available seats on the Hot Springs County School District Board of Trustees, a four year term, four votes. Justin Budd, Appointed Marshall Keller, Beth Lewis, Jessica Lippencott, Ben Postma, Jean Skelton, and Incumbents Clay VanAntwerp and Nichole Weyer.

The information included here is what each candidate presented during the Chamber of Commerce/Farm Bureau candidate forum held in early October.

Justin Budd:

Thank you, all of you, for coming out this evening. I feel like I’m a little bit in the hot seat again because I started first on Monday night as well, but it’s alright. My name is Justin Budd. I am running for a position on the board of trustees for Hot Springs County School District No. 1. I came to Wyoming when I was seven years old with my family. Went to most of my elementary school years here, all of middle school. And I graduated from high school here in Hot Springs County. After graduating from high school, I went on to the University of Wyoming and, then commissioned in the U.S. Army and then embarked on a 22 year commissioned military career and retired in 2018. My wife, who is also from Wyoming, Laura, she works for the hospital. And, we have always said we’d return to Wyoming someday to raise our family. So in 2018, we came back with our four children. Two of my kids, my younger boys, are in the high school. The reason I’m running for the school board is because I want to prepare students for whatever it is that they choose to do in their lives, in their professional lives. Thermopolis has a great history of academic success, but not everyone is cut out to go to higher education, the university. I want to make sure that we also provide opportunities to prepare those kids that are looking at other things, like the military or the trades. I also want to support staff. I’ve worked in districts before, and there’s quite a divide between certified staff, educators and support staff. Anyone who has the opportunity to touch the life of a child has an impact in that child’s life. So that’s another priority. Finally, I want to empower parents. I want to balance that relationship between the school and parents. And finally, I’d also like to bring back some professionalism and civility to the school board. I appreciate your support. Thank you.

Marshall Keller:

My name is Marshall Keller, and I’m running for the school district as trustee. I moved here with my wonderful wife, Natalya. This was about four and a half, five years ago, and we have two children. One of them graduated and is now going to college, but I still have one other teenage daughter going to high school here… Let me back up. History about myself. I’m an attorney here in town. I had 20 plus years in active duty and reserves in the military. The Naval Special Operations community. And as well as that, I was an engineer. Worked in mining, exploration, geology. And then ended up going to law school. I moved here to Thermopolis. We love this town. We love this area and call home this great place. The reason why I’m running for school board trustee is I really believe that the school in a small community like this plays a huge role. It’s the center and it really holds the community together. All our events are here. Most of the people, if they don’t have kids, they have grandkids. You’ll see them at sporting events, you’ll see them at speech and debate. You’ll see them at the theater. As a trustee, what I plan on doing as Justin Budd said is to bring some civility to the board as well as my main goal is support for our teachers, our staff, and to continue the good efforts that have been going on in the school board and supporting our teachers. 

Beth Lewis:

Hello. My name is Beth Lewis, and I am running for school board.… I really think that everybody here wants what’s best for our kids. They all want them to receive the best education that they possibly can. I have not met one person that does not wish that for our kids. I think the current board wants what’s best for our kids. The community wants what’s best for our kids. We all come from different perspectives, however, and that’s okay. I think what I would like to do as a school board member is bring those perspectives together and listen to learn what each other’s perspectives are, and not just to respond to what I think is right, but try and listen to what the community is saying, what other board members are saying and what the issues are. One of the things that I feel is an issue that I would like to address more is the teacher turnover rate. I have two kids currently in school and, there’s only two years apart between the two of them, and it’s been, with the exception of maybe a year or two, different teaching staff throughout their career. So those are the things that I would like to do as a school board member.

Ben Postma:

I’m Ben Postma. I’m running for school board. One of the things that I’m going for is really [as a] next generation parent. I have three kids that are currently in the school system here. I have a sixth grader, fourth grader and first grader. I think our education is the foundation to our life, and we need to ensure that we’re able to do the best we can, enabling our staff and teachers to provide that best education. And we’re setting a foundation for these kids. So that’s where I want to be at. I have experience with policy writing, policy implementation and physical law management. And so I think a lot of those are attributes that really help out, serving on the board. That’s pretty much where I’m at. I just want to move forward and see what we can do to do the best we can for our kids as they are our tomorrow.

Jean Skelton:

Most of you know who I am. My name is Jean Skelton. I grew up here in the Hamilton Dome when I started school. And then came into town at fourth grade and graduated here from Hot Springs County. When I graduated, you could ask my dad and mom, I wanted to get as far away from Hot Springs County as I could possibly go. So I went to South Africa, which is pretty far away. I lived there for a year, it was a great experience, it was through Rotary and I learned how different cultures operate. That really started my life beyond just ranching here in Thermopolis, which I thought was quite boring. Little did I know how good it was for me growing up. But from there I went onto the University of Wyoming, graduated with a degree in accounting, because it’s a very practical degree. And, went to Phelps Dodd, which is a copper mining company. And there I learned different accounting systems, different auditing systems, different cultures. I traveled all over the world auditing different entities at Phelps Dodds. This diversity that I was able to acquire really gives me a broad perspective coming back to Hot Springs County. I think one of the things that would make me a good trustee is bringing a variety of experience. I think having a variety on a board is really important for people from different professions and people from different walks of life. All that being said, that background can help prepare our kids to go and do different things. Their education, like it’s been said, is the foundation for their growth. I think it’s really important that we focus on that.

Clay VanAntwerp:

My name is Clay VanAntwerp. I’m running for school board. I have to quickly set the record straight. On Monday night, it was pointed out that we give a stipend at the teacherage, and I said that we do not do that. And as it turns out, we do. There’s a couple things I want to point out about that. Number one is I supported it then and I support it now. It’s a one year stipend for first year teachers only, and we do that because we want to attract the best and brightest. When those first year teachers come to us, they don’t have a lot of money. We’re just trying to do everything we can to bring the best and brightest to Thermopolis. But having said that…I want to be clear that number one, I supported it then and I support it now. And the second thing I want to make clear is that Jean was correct and I was wrong. I knew I had to beg for mercy and they’re not going to do it. My name is Clay VanAntwerp and like I said, I’m on the school board. I’ve been here 16 years. For those that know me, I’m adamant when I’m right and and so when I’m wrong, I have to be just as adamant about that too. I try to do my best. We’re the first Blue Letter school in the history of Hot Springs County. I believe that, don’t quote me on that for sure. I’m pretty sure that’s right. It’s because the kids that come here from that did that are from elementary, they’re killing it. And when they come here, we’re doing a great job. So it’s no surprise that when our kids go to the high school, we have the top ACT scores in the state. We have been there for now, I believe, four years. And I’m telling you, it’s been something to get there. I appreciate your support, but whatever the community decides, I’m good with it. I’m Clay VanAntwerp and I’m running for school board. Thank you.

Nichole Weyer:

Hi there. I’m Nichole Weyer, and I am an incumbent. I have been on the board for ten years. I’ve loved every second that I’ve been on the board, even the contentious board meetings. I know that every single person that sits on that board, we’re all very passionate about the most precious things we have in this town. I’m incredibly passionate about children. My entire adult life I have done nothing but worry about children. I have an education degree. I taught for a number of years while my husband was going through medical school and residency. Since being here in Thermopolis, I have taught church school. We’ve had nine additional humans live in our house, through foster care and just a few of them moved in and wanted to stay. We’ve always tried really hard to protect them and offer a safe home for children. I have five children of my own. All of them have gone through this school system. Three of them graduated, and two of them are still attending school here. I am incredibly proud of the education they received here. I feel like my biggest strength on the board is my undying love for educators. We have the best staff. Not just our teaching staff, our entire staff. We have the best staff in the state. I work on a state school board association, I’m an officer on that board, as well as on the National School Board Association.  And I can say the education that we have here, other places don’t have that type of education. We’re incredibly lucky. And a lot of that goes to the staff that we have. Just even looking at Joe, for example, over the administration building and the love and care and certainty he takes, making sure that building is amazing. So anyway, that’s all I have to say.

Jessica Lippincott was not in attendance but responded online with this statement after the forum:

Since I was unable to attend the “Meet the Candidates Forum” on Monday evening, I wanted to address the public with what I feel is important for our students and teachers. As a candidate for the school board, I am committed to maintaining an environment where every student can succeed academically and feel safe while doing so. I firmly believe that every student deserves to be treated fairly and equally regardless of their background, circumstances, or last name. I also recognize the importance of accountability both on students and teachers, and would like to uphold these values in the district.

I have a very extensive background in education from being an Education Director of a non-profit and museum, to substitute teaching in school districts in the state of Wyoming, and in Utah. I have also been an active volunteer/coordinator for the Make A Wish Foundation for Hot Springs and Washakie Counties for almost ten years. Designing programs and activities for all ages and neurodiversities while I was an Education Director, plus having children actively in the school district, I can ensure our community that I will embrace diversity in all its forms, plus cultivate a rich learning atmosphere that empowers everyone to thrive. As an open-minded and unbiased candidate for the school board, I aim to create a supportive framework that empowers every student to achieve their fullest potential. Many people have asked if I am going to have yard signs. I believe that instead of wasting money to create yard signs, and then contributing to landfill waste, I am asking the public to help pay down the unpaid lunch debt at the Hot Springs County School District. The lunch debt currently sits at approximately $4,200.00. If we can get donations to pay off half of that amount, the Wyoming Hunger Initiative through the Office of the First Lady Jennie Gordon, will match it in order to pay off the total amount.

Should the book Charlotte’s Web be banned? Why or why not?

Clay VanAntwerp:

I don’t think so. I wouldn’t know. I’m not sure what this could possibly tell you about the school board. But I think we should hold the course of what we’re doing. We’re doing a good job as a district, and we’re supporting our teachers, and I think that’s what we need to continue to do. We’ve worked hard to compensate them to the best of our ability. It’s unbelievable. I’ve done my best to support the community by doing the best for kids. And I think that’s what I appreciate the most about our team is that we have a genuine student focus. I’m not sure what to say about Charlotte’s Web. I love kids, and that’s why I’m doing this. I have beautiful grandkids. I appreciate your support. Thank you.

Nichole Weyer:

Well, we actually have a process for books and whether books should be in the school classrooms or not. We have an entire committee that looks at the books. They put them through a system that shows you any red flags that would be in that book. And then it goes to a coalition called the DGC. They will ultimately decide if the book is appropriate in the classroom or not. I don’t know Charlotte’s Web well enough to make a decision on that. That would be a school board decision that would go through the proper channels where teachers and other people look through that and make sure that it’s good information. But I will, however, say is that we have a very conservative school district. I can put my foot down and say that no one is trying to teach your children things that you would not want taught. We have a very conservative community and when books go through that process that is kept in mind.

Justin Budd:

I think it’s a slippery slope if you start talking about banned books. Now, it’s obviously a complex issue. It’s something that I think we need to consider as far as the age appropriateness for particular books. But at the end of the day, I think that we not only need to balance that procedure that is in place with the parents’ desires and I think we need to accommodate parents. f they don’t believe that the book is appropriate for their child, then they should be able to say so. We should accommodate them. Those are my thoughts. Thank you. 

Marshall Keller:

As it was noted earlier, there is a process and policy placed on how these books are viewed and vetted. Every single one goes through and is looked at to determine if it is an age appropriate book. Secondly, a lot of this stuff that is pushed down, I shouldn’t say pushed down… that is taught in school comes down from our state and our requirements and those are our priorities to make sure that our students are getting the best education they can get. With that said, you take the opinions and comments from our parents and the community as to what should be taught and try to put that in if you can, if it’s in the budget and if it’s appropriate. As far as Charlotte’s Web, I would agree with Clay. I’m not so sure what it has to do, but I don’t believe that we’re banning Charlotte’s Web from what I can see. Thank you.

Ben Postma:

On Monday we had a question that talked about CRT and the implementation of that and what we thought. What this actually comes off of is, a lot of the answers from that was, identifying the little pieces that it’s a slippery slope that starts us down that route. That is what this question represents, as far as it’s associated with the CRT theory. One of the primary things that CRT is, is teaching that the institutions and way of life is inherently racist.  That is not taught at any K-12 institutions, it’s all secondary schools and higher education that this theory is taught from. But that is what is going from, that’s what’s driving that, is that slippery slope of how we start the process. How do we open the door? And that’s one of the things with Charlotte’s Web is associated with that, right there as far as what we can and cannot teach. And for that reason, I mean we can all agree it’s just a kid’s book. It’s a story. Like we all said, there’s a great process or a presentation of what we do, and what is taught and what isn’t. And going back to that, my big question is, we have to be aware of what’s going on with each of our educators on where these different religions start to slip in. Thank you. 

Jean Skelton:

All my kids got to read Charlotte’s Web. It’s a great book. It is a fabulous book. I think ensuring that our kids have age appropriate material is really important. I will give kudos to Clay since he gave kudos to me. I’ve sent a list of books that somebody had forwarded to me, that were clearly not appropriate. And somehow they had suggested for our school to buy and put in the library. I looked at the first couple of titles and I was like, these are horrible. There’s no way it should be in our school. And I sent it to Clay and he ran it through the process, and it came back that these books were never even considered. We do have a process in place. Again, we have to teach our kids the important historical literature and from our historical perspective. And even some of those older books that are racist or considered racist now, our kids can learn from that. They’re fabulous stories. Those of you who read Charlotte’s Web know it teaches kids empathy. It’s a beautiful book. That’s my take on Charlotte’s Web.

Beth Lewis:

I remember reading Charlotte’s Web growing up, and from what I remember is that it’s a story about a girl, a pig, and a spider. … It’s very interesting what Ben shared. I trust the board in knowing that there’s a process in place for getting books that might not be appropriate. I don’t see how Charlotte’s Web falls into that, but I welcome you to educate me on how that might fall into that category. Thank you.