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On November 5, Northland School District residents will be voting to fill four board member positions. Citizens who are running for these terms are incumbents Linda Knox, Terri Nystrom and Marc Ruyak and challengers James Dahl, Jeremiah Fenning, David Kitchenhoff, Sherri Logan, Jason Perkins and Jeremy Schwarz. At press time, responses had not been received from Dahl, Logan or Schwarz.

   Recently, the Press-Citizen submitted the following questions to the candidates. What motivates you to want to continue/become a board member? What life or professional experiences led you to seek this position? What are your top issues and why?

   The following candidates have responded as of Oct. 10. Any responses received after this date will be published in the following issue of the Pine Cone Press-Citizen.

Linda Knox

   I enjoy  the challenges that come before the district. Enrollment is a big concern facing the district, Student head count is  important to keep the district financially stable. This allows us to get the best possible professional help available to enrich our students education.

   My experience as a school board member in the 90’s, then my 13 years as an employee as a district office para, special ed secretary, and payroll I learned a lot about school finances and trying to keep the budget balanced.  After my retirement I sought another term on the board to work hard to get our district a new updated facility.  This finally became a dream of the district. 

   To incorporate more classes that our students need to become well rounded and productive students that graduate and have the skills they need to become stable adults.

Terri Nystrom

   If re-elected, this will be my second term. I feel like it takes a while to really grasp everything that there is to know about being a board member. I have learned a lot so far and would like to continue learning more, so I can do the best job for our students and staff.

   I had previously worked at Northland as a SPED para.  I felt a need to get further involved because I could see issues that I felt needed to be addressed.  I am also a parent of a student at Northland and believe it is important to try to do the best for all of our students.

   My top issue is too much government involvement in our schools.  I have learned that many things I thought needed to change are impossible to change because it is government mandated. These things will continue and will get worse until people start voting for our children instead of the money.

Marc Ruyak

   As an existing board member, I thoroughly enjoy working with other community members and the administration and staff at District 118 to make our school the absolute best it can be. We have an incredibly strong team that has the quality education of our students as a top priority.  Our mission “Educate and inspire all learners to reach their full potential” really speaks to what we do every day as a School Board and District. I graduated from Northland High School in 1986 and my daughters now attend Northland so it means a great deal to me for the district to succeed and grow for generations to come. I truly appreciate the trust that parents and community members have placed in me – I don’t take this job lightly. In everything we do as a school board, I try to have the parents & families of the community in mind. We try to use the limited funds we are given from the state to create the best learning environment with the most opportunities available to the students. I think we have done a great job over the past years and I ask the members of the community to vote for me again and allow me to continue to help the district strive for excellence.

   As mentioned, I am a graduate of Northland High School. I am also a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. I served 8 years in the US Army in active duty and the reserves. I worked as a manager for Michelin Tire Corporation for 14 years in the USA and Canada. More specifically, with Michelin I was the Business Manager at a major production facility for 3 years. I was involved with the budgeting process for the entire plant and responsible for budgets in excess of $100 million. I also was a negotiating team member for multiple contract negotiations involving the United Steel Workers unions in the USA and Canada. I now own several small businesses in our town. I believe my background provides a good foundation for me to help our communities by serving on the School Board for District 118.

   As I mentioned previously, the district does a tremendous job of using the limited funds that the state provides to offer the maximum education and opportunities to our students. I believe that our top issues in the years to come will continue to be to effectively use tax dollars to provide a quality education as well as extra-curricular activities. By doing so, we send our graduates into the world as well-rounded, educated young adults ready for the challenges they will face in all areas of life. We cannot afford to waste or mis-spend a single dollar. That is our biggest issue/challenge.    

Jeremiah Fenning

   My desire to serve on the school board stems from my deep involvement in the community and my family’s connection to the school district. Having coached youth sports for several years, I have seen the impact that positive guidance and support can have on children’s development. Coaching has given me valuable experience in leadership, teamwork, and communication, all of which I would bring to the school board.

   As an active community member, I have a strong commitment to helping our district thrive and to ensuring that our schools provide an environment where all students can succeed. My family’s investment in the district motivates me to take an active role in shaping its future for the benefit of all students and families.

   I am committed to ensuring a strong education program that prepares our students for future success, emphasizing both academic excellence and personal growth. I believe that supporting our schools is one of the most important ways to do so. One of my top concerns is the lack of volunteers for school programs and the limited resources available for both extracurricular activities and educational programs. Volunteers play a critical role in enhancing student experiences, whether through after-school activities, sports, or classroom support, and the shortage affects the quality and variety of opportunities we can offer. 

   Additionally, many of our programs—both academic and extracurricular—are underfunded or stretched thin, which limits students’ ability to fully explore their interests or access enrichment. Another key focus as a school board member will be promoting positive discipline strategies that emphasize correcting behaviors in constructive ways rather than relying on punitive measures. I believe that rather than isolating students in resource rooms as a form of discipline, we should encourage approaches that allow kids to channel their energy in positive ways, such as physical activity, creative outlets, or structured breaks. Children need opportunities to release energy and refocus, which can lead to better behavior and improved learning outcomes. By adopting strategies that guide students toward self-regulation and accountability, we can create a more supportive and effective learning environment.

   By addressing these issues, I aim to build stronger community involvement and advocate for the resources needed to ensure our schools can provide a well-rounded education that supports both academic success and personal growth for all students.

David Kitchenhoff

   I’ve always enjoyed serving our school district, helping our students and the employees of the district and ensuring a proper education for all students so that we can have a good relationship with our community.

   I used to work for the district and my wife just retired as a teacher. Not only my wife and I but also our children graduated from Northland.

   I would like to work to bring the community and the district back together so that parents feel that they are part of the school. I would like to begin this by bringing back the parade during homecoming week in order to include the community in our celebrations. 

   I would like to bring senior citizens back into the high school as well as the elementary building in order to mentor students.  

   I intend to have school board meetings set in a manner that anyone is allowed to ask a legitimate question of the board as long as they’re not attacking the board, any staff member or a board member personally.

   We have in our district a group of employees that work everyday to provide the best for our students yet our board has refused to raise their income to a living wage. I would work to get these employees the wage they deserve because all employees need to know they are valued. We have lost some really great employees to local businesses because of their potential increase in wages. 

   I believe discipline needs to be worked on dramatically so that students who want to learn do not have to tolerate constant interruptions and teachers can teach. If the only reason a student attends is to bother other students I really would prefer they be removed from the regular classroom. We have rules for a reason. We require every student an opportunity at the beginning of the year to understand exactly what the rules are. They also know what the consequences (good and bad) are for their behavior. 

Jason Perkins

   I am seeking a position on the Northland School Board to make a positive impact on the school and children’s education. I believe in preserving traditional values free from hidden agendas and want to become more involved in Northland’s decisions. It would be my honor to provide my experience in leadership, hard work, and knowledge where I once was a student and now where my children’s education takes place. My dedication is rooted in passion for the school district my family calls “home.”

   I graduated from Northland in 2011. My oldest son is now a kindergartener, and my younger son will go to Northland. I am patriotic and I believe tackling challenges facing our school district comes from a standpoint of shared value systems with other parents and community members. I have served on the Longville Fire Department since 2015 and enjoy helping the community. My professional experience and specialized training include core competencies in teamwork, critical decision-making, leadership and communication.

   I strongly advocate schools must prepare students to become productive members of society. Radical changes are happening in schools, and I am looking to take part in advocacy to protect our children’s environments. I am a good listener and ask relevant questions to better understand the risks and benefits. I believe the district should ensure decisions represent fiscal responsibility. Important issues I feel are most relevant are academic achievement and parental rights. If elected I will ensure to work towards greater outcomes for Northland students.

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