Pictured, from left, Waterloo school board candidates Jason Wagenknecht, Neil Giffhorn, Jimmy Yaekel and Johnny Caupert field questions from teachers during the Waterloo Classroom Teacher Association “Meet the Candidates” forum last Wednesday at the high school. (Sean McGowan photo)

The Waterloo Classroom Teacher Association hosted a “Meet the Candidates” forum last Wednesday at the high school to introduce the four school board candidates to teachers.

The forum included a short introduction in which candidates Jimmy Yaekel, Jason Wagenknecht, Neil Giffhorn and current school board president Johnny Caupert shared their background and qualifications.

The event was open only to teachers in the district.

The candidates also answered a list of prepared questions, including how they feel the school district can improve, why they want to run for school board and what they bring to the table. Teachers then asked their own questions to candidates at the end of the forum.

“I feel comfortable getting to meet you guys,” said Rogers Elementary teacher Jim Prather, who is also the WCTA president. “You have the best interests of the district at heart.”

The April 4 election has three seats up for grabs — Caupert’s, Dwight Boehm’s and Steve Wheat’s. Yaekel, an instructor for Union Laborers of Southern Illinois, ran for Waterloo School Board and lost in 2015.

The 1990 WHS graduate said he would love the opportunity to give back to the community after receiving such an excellent education from the school district. In addition, he highlighted the high quality teachers as the district’s greatest strength.

“Teachers build good students. Students build good schools. Schools build good communities,” he said.

Giffhorn, a Valmeyer High School grad, agreed that teachers are “the backbone of the schools” and added that finances are what’s causing the most difficulties in providing a sufficient education to students.

“Maybe if we can cut a corner here or there — I was raised with the idea that a penny saved is a penny earned…,” he said. “I’m not saying there is a silver bullet. There is no silver bullet.”

Giffhorn and his wife, Rachel, have two children — Josie, 12, and Robert, 2 — in Waterloo schools. He is a practicing attorney who has lived his entire life in the county.

Caupert chose a different direction, stating that drugs, suicide and mental health are the district’s greatest weaknesses at the moment.

“It is absolutely tragic what is going on in our backyard,” he said. “It can’t be ignored anymore, and I don’t think we are.”

Caupert is employed as executive director of the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center. He has served the last four years on the school board. His daughter, Jaynanne, attends Waterloo Junior High School.

Finally, Jason Wagenknecht — an executive recruiter and small business owner — said he would look at ways to make teachers feel appreciated if elected to the board. An example he gave involves limiting the amount of emails teachers receive outside of work.

“I’m sure all of you have gotten an email on Sunday and then it’s ruined your day because you think about work,” he said.

Wagenknecht and his wife, Amy, are bringing their daughter, Carrie, 12, through the Waterloo school district. For more information on these candidates, pick up a copy of next week’s Republic-Times newspaper.

“I think the event shed light on the fact that we have some very dedicated candidates and the community should be proud of those who are willing to represent them in the upcoming election,” Prather said.