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Responses to InformMT Questions Roman Larson

What motivated you to run for School Board this year?

I decided to run for School Board this year because I want to bring a fresh perspective to the M-T Board of

Education. Over the last several years, through decisions like the trimester schedule or the proposed

elimination of the French and German programs, the School Board has lost focus of the key component of any

school system: the students. Having spent ten years in the classrooms of the Mequon-Thiensville School

District, I know exactly what is happening in those buildings on a day-to-day basis. Im running this year

because I want to continue improving the educational experience for all students in the district. Additionally,

being a part of a generation that uses technology for nearly all aspects of life, I can help our school districtfocus on its transition to 21st

century learning.What is your long-term solution to the shrinking enrollment and budget crunch issue M-T faces?

In October 2011, the Community Conversation Task Force released their recommendations for the Mequon-

Thiensville community. The task force issued several clear recommendations regarding housing and economic

development for Mequon and Thiensville. It is imperative that Mequon and Thiensville adopt these

recommendations because without new residents, our school system will continue to struggle under the

burdens of a shrinking enrollment and a diminishing budget. While the community works to adopt the

recommendations presented by the task force, the school district must continue to examine every possible

avenue to become leaner and more efficient. As a Board member, Ill advocate the utilization of all tools

provided in the Budget Repair Bill (Act 10). Additionally, Ill encourage the Board to perform a comprehensivereview of all programs provided to students in the districtthose which are ineffective and drain the district

budget must be eliminated. An improvement in the housing policies of the Mequon-Thiensville community,

combined with a maximizing efficiency approach to the district budget will put the district on sound fiscal

footing for the long-term.What unique skill set would you bring to the Board and why is it important? Why should someone vote

for you?

In 2007 while a freshman in high school, I developed the Ninth Dimension after-school tutoring program,

which later expanded into a non-profit education organization providing private tutoring and summer school.

Developing those programs gave me insight into the operations of the school district and strengthened my

resolve to support all students in the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Ive been involved extensively in

non-profit education management for the last five years. Through my programs and other activities, Ive had

the opportunity to work closely with students, gaining an understanding of their thoughts and perspectives

regarding education. As a student at Stanford University studying political science and education policy, Ive

continued to refine my education background working with some of the best educators in the world. I can

offer a perspective to this School Board that no one else can. For many years, weve heard administrators and

board members say that its all about the students. As a current student, Ill ensure that every decision made

by the School Board will be in the best interests of all students.

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What is your long-term vision for MTSD? Five years, 10 years from now - what do you see for the school

district?

In 5 and even 10 years from now, I envision MTSD continuing to offer the best educational program for

students in the state of Wisconsin. The school district must incorporate new technology into the classroom to

enhance student learning. The first decade of the 21st

century is already over and the district hasnt fully

integrated technology into the educational process. Over the next decade, I envision the school district

adopting powerful new tools to enhance student learning. In 5-10 years, Id like to see an MTSD recognized

for having some of the best teachers in the Midwest. Excellent teachers whom exceed expectations on alllevels will help to create the intellectually stimulating environment that all students in MTSD deserve. While

MTSD is already a great school district, we shouldnt shy away from working hard to make improvements.

Over the next ten years, I see the quality of our district continuing to improve, attracting new families to the

Mequon-Thiensville area.

Would you support a referendum? If yes, under what circumstances? If no, why not?

The Mequon-Thiensville community has voted twice in the last several years against a referendum. Given this

track record, I would not support dispensing precious financial resources on a referendum that would most

likely fail a third time. The school district, like all organizations across America, must continue to do more with

less. In the face of financial difficulty, we cannot go to the community and continually ask for more money.

Rather than focusing on a referendum, which the community has said twice (once in 2002 and again in 2006)that it doesnt support, we must focus on continuing to make the best of what we already have.

Were you in favor of Act 10? Why/Why Not

I support Act 10. The legislation has given school districts all across the state new tools to balance their

budgets. Before the passage of Act 10, many school districts, including MTSD, were hampered by collective

bargaining situations that prevented district administrators from making important cost-saving decisions like

switching health care plans. Act 10 provides the Mequon-Thiensville School District with the opportunity to

offer truly world-class education. Great teachers will finally receive the recognition they deserve because Act

10 has given school districts the flexibility to create a superior teaching staff. As a school board member, I will

continue to take advantage of tools provided in Act 10 to improve education in the district.

Were you in favor of the trimester system? Why/Why Not?

I oppose the trimester system. The new schedule at Homestead High School is an unnecessary and

detrimental change for a school that has clearly been successful with the current scheduling model. First, 70-

minute class periods are far too long for most students. Even at Stanford University, nearly all classes are 50

minutes in length. I personally understand that 70 minutes is far too long to spend on one particular subject

area. Additionally, the trimester schedule puts all Homestead students at a disadvantage. In a world where

math and science skills are becoming more and more critical for success, the trimester schedule could mean

that students only take math and science for 2/3 of the year. Meanwhile, courses like band, orchestra, and

chorus (I participated in band for 4 years at HHS) are full year courses. Students should have year round

exposure to math and science in order to prepare them academically for college level courses. Finally, thetrimester proposal failed to address the real issues at Homestead High School: ineffective teachers.

Oftentimes, 5 minutes of classroom time is wasted in the beginning and end of the period, amounting to 10

minutes (or more) of instructional time lost every period. With a 70-minute period, students may finally get

the 50-60 minutes of instruction that could be provided in a normal 50-minute period if the entire

instructional time was efficient and focused. Rather than upending the schedule for students at Homestead,

the district must make a more concerted effort to ensure that teachers are instructing 100% of the time while

students are in the classroom. The trimester system was a bad decision that distracted the school district

from making positive, beneficial changes at Homestead High School.