Two candidates vie for SES board spot

By MICHAEL STRAND

Salina Journal

Both candidates for the contested seat on the Southeast of Saline School Board have experience in education and want to bring that experience to the board.

Charisse Nurnberg, 39, and Dwight Christie, 48, are running to fill the remaining two years of a four-year term for the board seat representing the Assaria area. The seat became open with the resignation of Casey Thaxton late last year.

Christie is the director of computer services for the Salina School District, and Nurnberg taught kindergarten for three years before becoming a stay-at-home mom.

While Nurnberg said several of her neighbors asked her to consider running for the school board seat, she pulls out a picture of her children, in kindergarten through eighth grade, when asked why she decided to run.

"This is why," she said, pointing to the photo. "I have a vested interest in the school and the environment they're taught in."

Christie also has children in the Southeast schools, and he sees involvement as an important part of keeping small communities viable.

"I grew up in a small rural community, and if a rural community is going to survive, people have to do their part," said Christie, who served as a volunteer firefighter in Assaria for several years.

And, he said, "it really feels cool when you see a kid benefit from what you're doing."

Christie said his experience with education technology will prove valuable to him as a board member.

"Working here, I'm privy to research and best practices, and I know what teachers and administrators are facing," Christie said, "not just with technology in education, but education in general, and I've had to use that in decision-making in the past 10 years."

Both said they think the Southeast of Saline district is doing things right, and they want to maintain that in the future.

"If we were in almost any other district, I think we'd be home-schooling," Nurnberg said. "There's great caring and bold decisions made there. It seems like they've really got the whole package, both the academics and the relationships, that are important to a family."

"There's a great camaraderie between classes at Southeast," Christie said. "In many small schools, there's little interaction between seniors and sophomores, for example."

Christie said he's also been impressed with the extracurricular activities offered at Southeast and that students have opportunities for involvement they might not have in a much larger district.

One thing the district doesn't offer, Christie said, is the number of advanced classes that might be available in a larger district such as Salina.

"Southeast doesn't offer the same number of Advanced Placement classes as Salina schools do, and won't be able to," Christie said.

And while he thinks online classes could help fill that gap, he said he's also seen such programs not live up to the promise.

"Online classes are not always done correctly," he said. "Too often, the student is left on their own."

Nurnberg, too, said new technology can benefit students but must be looked at carefully.

"I would look for what would most benefit the children, not just what's new," she said.

Both also agree that budget issues are likely to be at the forefront for the next few years.

"Short-term, the big question will be how do you make the right financial decisions, without sacrificing the current kids for the rest of their lives," Christie said.

"We're going to be facing budget challenges in the next few years," Nurnberg said. "I see that as our biggest challenge. I'll look at what we need to do that's best for the kids -- what can we cut, without hurting their progress."

n Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by e-mail at mstrand@salina.com.

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