Southern Door County School District

Three candidates are vying for two seats up for re-election on the Southern Door County School District Board: Adam Schopf, Seth Wilson and incumbent Janel Veeser.

Janel Veeser (incumbent), 43, lives in the Town of Union and works as a higher education teacher at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She has a Master’s Degree in Management & Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College. She is married to Justin and has two, high-school aged children. She volunteers for a variety of school and community extracurricular events. First elected in 2021, she is running for her second, three-year term on the board.

Janel Veeser. Submitted.

Why are you running? I’ll admit – I really contemplated whether to run again. Southern Door has faced many challenges over the last three years, and the board has shouldered a lot of negativity. It would be easier to walk away, but I have been truly vested as a board member. I feel an obligation to continue the work on the board to bring the district to a better place. 

What specific skills do you bring to the board? Positivity! I am positive that we are a strong district with great things happening. I am also very aware of current district issues, which awareness is needed to move forward. I have been active in professional board development including board governance, continuous improvement, student mental health, school law and school finance. I have built a network of professionals and board members within the state. I am an experienced educator.

Residents were never informed about the reasons for the district parting ways with the former superintendent. In addition, the district made construction-project cuts that came as a surprise to some voters who supported the $14.9-million school facility improvement referendum of 2022. What do you think the board and district should do to improve transparency and communication? The board has had to make some tough and unpopular decisions regarding budget and personnel. As a board, we need to implement listening sessions to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to offer feedback in a respective manner. As a district, we need to revive our district newsletter to provide regular updates. 

Adam Schopf, 41, lives in the Town of Gardner and works in production planning and procurement at Therma-Tron-X in Sturgeon Bay. He’s a high-school graduate, and has done short-course programs at both Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is married to Dana and has three school-aged children. He is a retired firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder. He volunteers whenever possible at his kids’ athletic events, practice, or games – or wherever there is a need. This is his first time running for a public office.

Adam Schopf. Submitted.

Why are you running? I am a Door County native with kids ranging from four to 10 years old who attend Southern Door. The community needs a voice on the board. There needs to be more transparency with people to ensure that the concerns of residents, parents and teachers are heard and that they have a voice in educational and administrative decisions.  

What specific skills do you bring to the board? I am a good listener and willing to be a voice for the community, teachers and students. I am a proven problem-solver and have honed my skills personally and professionally. A board member must listen to people’s needs, inventory its resources, and develop a plan to achieve the best possible solution to the opportunity at hand.

Residents were never informed about the reasons for the district parting ways with the former superintendent. In addition, the district made construction-project cuts that came as a surprise to some voters who supported the $14.9-million school facility improvement referendum of 2022. What do you think the board and district should do to improve transparency and communication? There needs to be clarity given to what the school board is doing when making decisions with a big impact. I believe in open communication and ensuring that what is communicated is implemented. It is evident that approach has not been followed in both matters mentioned. Also, we must help educate people on what decisions are made and why. Whenever future referendums are needed, the community must clearly understand the use of taxpayer funds.

Wilson, Seth.jpg

Seth Wilson, 46, lives in the Town of Nasewaupee and works in sales. He has a B.S. in Technology Education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and an M.E. in Education from Graceland University. He is married to Julie and has two children who attend Southern Door County Schools. This is his first run for public office.

Seth Wilson. Submitted.

Why are you running? I believe every decision made by the board and administration needs to be made with our students’ education as the priority. What we witnessed with the last capital referendum encouraged me to get involved. I am in the race because our school – the school my children attend – needs honest money management. We need to spend wisely to give our kids the best shot at success. We need to work together to keep our school strong.

What specific skills do you bring to the board? I bring a unique aspect to the board with a teaching background in technical education. My blend of teaching and commitment to thoughtful decision-making positions me to make a positive impact on our schools and community. This community remains committed to supporting the school, but it’s crucial to ensure accountability in spending. As a board member, I aim to dig deeper into financial decisions to align spending with the community’s trust in education quality.

Residents were never informed about the reasons for the district parting ways with the former superintendent. In addition, the district made construction project cuts that came as a surprise to some voters who supported the $14.9 million school facility improvement referendum of 2022.  What do you think the board and district should do to improve transparency and communication? The board and district must be transparent about the last referendum, explaining decision-making and project funding. Taxpayers deserve clarity on choices affecting education and safety. Some project cuts impacted students and funds should prioritize existing building and technology upgrades. With my background, I bring the ability to ask crucial questions, improve the approval process, and enhance communication with the community.  As a parent of Southern Door students, I take this role seriously.