Four candidates are seeking two positions on the Iola-Scandinavia School Board.
Steve Madson is challenging incumbent Charlie Wasrud to represent the town of Helvetia.
Kristen Hoyord is challenging incumbent Colleen Smith to represent the village of Iola.
The four candidates participated in a forum Tuesday, March 20, to answer preselected questions.
An article on the forum will appear in the March 29 issue of the County Post West, with complete prepared responses of each candidate to be posted at www.waupacanow.com.
Charlie Wasrud
Wasrud has served on the I-S School Board for the past nine years. He serves on the Building and Grounds Committee and the Transportation Committee. He has also served on the Finance Committee and Negotiations Committee.
“I believe my experience of past practices and connection to our community can contribute to preserving our successes as we make changes to address our future challenges,” he said.
Prior to serving on the school board, he was on the fundraising committee that solicited pledges of $2 million to provide community funding for the I-S Community Fitness & Aquatic Center, and also served on an ad-hoc committee to plan the 1994 middle school addition to the high school building.
Wasrud was born and raised in Iola and graduated from the I-S High School in 1972. He attended UW-Marathon County for one year and has since been an independent construction contractor.
From 1997- 2006 he served as Building and Grounds/Maintenance director for Krause Publications in Iola.
He has been married to Mona for 38 years and they have two children, Benjamin and Amanda. Ben graduated from I-S High School in 2002, and Amanda graduated in 2004.
Wasrud is a member of the Iola Lions Club and currently serves as congregation president for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola.
Steve Madson
Madson graduated from I-S High School in 1979 and has lived in the Iola community for most of his life.
He graduated from UW-Stevens Point and has been employed by F+W Media almost 24 years.
He is married to Marie and they have two children, Emily and Nick, who are both freshmen at the I-S schools
Madson was a member of the Iola & Rural Fire Department for 22 years.
He enjoys being active in his children’s sports activities and spending time with his family at home. He also enjoys traveling to Eagle River.
Colleen Smith
Smith has served on the I-S School Board for the past 18 years. She is currently board clerk.
She is chair of the Curriculum Committee a member of the Policy Committee. In addition, Smith is the board’s representative to CESA and Fox Valley Technical College.
She has been a homeowner in the village of Iola for the past 44 years and was a teacher in the I-S School District for 24 years. All three of her children – Kim, Kent and Jeff ¬- graduated from I-S High School.
“After working as a teacher, I stated that I would continue supporting the education of the students in the Iola-Scandinavia School District,” Smith said. “Having the knowledge and background as a teacher and now from the spectrum of a taxpayer, being on the school board has been very interesting.”
“I feel my teaching experience benefits the school district,” she added.
Smith is also very involved with the community.
She is a charter member of the Iola Lioness Club and currently serves as club president. She is past president of District 17-B2, and has served locally as secretary, vice president and extension director.
Smith is also an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola. She has been a choir member for the past 40 years and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for 20 years. She has held officer positions in the women’s ministry.
She has worked with several adults through the Waupaca County Adult Literacy program.
Her hobbies include traveling, stitchery, flower and vegetable gardening, and helping people in need.
Kristen Hoyord
Kristen Hoyord has been a registered nurse for almost 10 years and currently works in pulmonary medicine with Ministry HealthCare.
She is married to Jay Hoyord and together they have three children: Isaiah, Gavin and Addyson.
Six years ago, Jay and Kristen decided to move back to the Iola area to be closer to family. Raising their children in the Iola-Scandinavia community is very important to them.
Hoyord was born and raised in Iola and is a 1997 graduate of I-S High School. She would like nothing more than to see her children graduate from Iola-Scandinavia. She enjoys the small community and feels the smaller school system is very important for the growth and education of her children.
When Hoyord is not at work taking care of patients, she enjoys being a mother to her three children. Family time is very important to her. Together they love the outdoors, attending sporting events, and quality time at home.