By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Five candidates have filed for four open positions on the USD 428 Great Bend Board of Education that will be determined in the Nov. 7 general election. Four of those candidates took questions during a candidate forum at the Great Bend Senior Center last Thursday evening.
Each of the four candidates answered two questions. The second question pertained to private and home-schooled students participating in public school activities and sports and how those should be funded. Business owner Karen Lindberg has lived in Great Bend mostly for the past 22 years. Her twins, now sophomores at Great Bend High School, attended private schools for grades K-6. She appreciates new laws that allow private and homeschooled students to participate in public school activities, but hits the pause button on funding.
"With regard to funding, and anything that does involve funding," she said, "as a board member for USD 428, my focus would always be with our students at USD 428."
Sara Williams has taught in the private, public, and homeschool sectors. A mother of eight, she has lived in Great Bend for more than 20 years. She, too, values Senate Bill 113 which increases student participation, but is also cautious about how the participation is funded.
"We should have a say about our tax money," she said. "We should. But I want to make the Great Bend schools so exemplary that all would be proud to send their kids there."
Aaron Emerson and Randy Wetzel also attended Thursday's forum at the Senior Center. Marcus Herrera has filed to run in the election but was absent Thursday. Comments from Emerson and Wetzel were featured in a story earlier this week.