Carol Craig and Adam Shiel Win School Board Election

From the LT on the morning after the election.

This is great news for the ECASD! The overwhelming support for Dr. Carol Craig and her integrity, ideas and intelligence is a clear indicator of public trust. I think that this has got to be the biggest margin of support in a school board election in 20 years. Also Adam Shiel's win gives us another thoughtful and reflective voice in the coming years.

Pres. O'Brien's grumpy and illogical comments in the article are indicative of his inability to even understand what the job of School Board member is all about. Mr O'Brien's comments about the job of a school board member is to: "understand that voters have entrusted them with the responsibility to become knowledgeable on issues and make decisions." And also O'Brien is hoping the board "understands its job is to develop and implement policy and oversee administration, not micromanage the day-to-day operations of the district." These comments do not even make sense in that many BOE members are simply NOT knowledgeable about many things (Mary Kneer, after serving on the Board for 8 years, asked at the last meeting for an explanation about Title ll funding. Few BOE members, including Mr. O'Brien understand the concept of Conflict of Interest or The Open Records/Meeting laws, etc...)

And how about the concept that elected officials are supposed to perform the functions of LEADERSHIP like Strategic Planning, Community Engagement, etc...

Anyway....one more step to turning this Titanic away from the iceberg! Maria


Shiel joins Craig on Eau Claire school board
Newcomer finishes second ahead of Janke, Mell
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077 or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.
Longtime Eau Claire school board member Carol Craig won a sixth term Tuesday.

With all wards reporting in Chippewa, Dunn and Eau Claire counties, Craig led her three opponents with 5,460 votes, according to unofficial returns.

Adam Shiel, an electrical engineer making his first bid for public office, had 3,409 votes, winning him the second of two board seats up for grabs. Robert G. Janke, a retired UW-Eau Claire geography professor and former school board member, had 3,184 votes; and Doug Mell, UW-Stout director of communications, had 3,042.

"I'm thrilled to have been elected to the school board," said Shiel, who has two children attending the Montessori Charter School. "I look forward to serving the students and the community and working for a well-run school (district).

Craig, who along with Shiel garnered the support from members of the local teachers union, couldn't be reached for comment.

"There's a real strong feeling among most members that Carol Craig probably has been as dedicated and thoughtful a board member as we've known," said Jo Burke, president of the Eau Claire Association of Educators. "Adam Shiel also showed he was a thoughtful ... decision maker."

Incumbent Mike O'Brien, serving his third term on the board, didn't seek re-election. However, he said he hoped board members elected Tuesday "understand that voters have entrusted them with the responsibility to become knowledgeable on issues and make decisions.

"The next board is facing a number of issues, with the budget and budget cuts being the primary ones coming up."

The projected deficit for the 2008-09 school year is $2.98 million, but that figure is subject to change because of employee contract negotiations.

The teachers' latest contract expired June 30, and negotiations have been ongoing for almost a year. Burke said Tuesday she hopes any new board member realizes teachers are "doing their best to deliver the best education possible."

"This district is at a turning point," Burke said. "If we can have some board members who will look at the broad and total picture, I think we'll be in better hands.

"It is an exciting time, and I think there is a potential of us moving forward with the right kind of leadership."

O'Brien is hoping the board understands its job is to develop and implement policy and oversee administration, not micromanage the day-to-day operations of the district.