Two newcomers running for School Board

Neither has political experience or issues with how the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District is being run, but both want to serve.

Daniel Derler and Mike Sells are running for the Belgium seat on the School Board in the April 7 election, but the entire district may vote. Incumbent Nancy Niebauer didn’t seek re-election.

Derler, 43, works in project management for a medical manufacturer. He has a tool and die degree from Moraine Park Technical College, is married with two daughters in the district and has lived in the district for 15 years.

“To be honest, what I saw was an opportunity to continue the path forward where we’re at and to continue that and grow,” Derler said.

Sells, 56, teaches special education at Bayside Middle School in Fox Point. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Taylor University in Indiana, a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master’s degree in special education from Cardinal Stritch. He is married with four children, three adults and one in the district, and has lived in the district since 2003.

“I saw an opening and I thought I really appreciate what the board does. I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring,” he said. “I have no agenda or anything. I thought I’d give back to the community.”

Derler said he is interested in Rocket Academy, the district’s public charter school that teaches skilled trades to juniors and seniors from area districts.

“I have an interest with Rocket Academy being from a tool-and-die background and trade schools. I can largely benefit the district with that, helping aid and grow that program,” he said. To see the way tech and artificial intelligence is going, there are a lot of students who would really benefit from a strong technical background. I have a lot to offer in that area.”

Sells said he also supports the Rocket Academy.

“I do like that opportunity we have for kids not necessarily going onto the college track,” he said.

Sells said he looks forward to the chance to be on the other side of a district from a teacher.

“The board that I’m with, I appreciate their support. The district I’m in has a good relationship with the teachers. That’s so important for morale. Keeping that open relationship and communication,” he said. “It’s important to be responsible and look for ways to be creative.

“The board makes some tough decisions.”

Derler said some of those decisions are due to the shrinking number of students.

“One of the big things that we’re going to face is the enrollment starting to decline and how we deal with budgets that way. How we put the kids first in those situations and do the best that we can with the funding available,” Derler said.

He said his experience may help.

“It’s a unique position, something that I found that my skill set could benefit due to balancing budgets and working on large projects for work,” Derler said.

“I’ll sit down and listen to everybody, get different points of view and aspects on things, then determine where we should go from there.”

Sells said one of his sons wished the district had more Advanced Placement classes, and he would like to consider broadening the foreign language offerings, perhaps teaching Spanish at the elementary school a little more.

He is impressed with the district’s ranking on the Department of Public Instruction’s state report card and its recent honor for teacher engagement.

“That’s so important. You kind of take pride in that. Teachers are so important,” he said.

Both candidates are impressed with the district and want to help foster its continued success.

“We’ve done well as a district and I want to keep that going,” Derler said.

“From my own kids’ experiences, I’m really pleased with the education and the teachers. Nothing that is really a hot issue that I’m aware of. I think we’re in a great community and it’s just kind of maintaining it,” Sells said.

The term is for three years.