Joshua Schorzmann, Meet the SF School Board Candidates

Joshua Schorzmann

Education: Kilian Community College, A.A. Liberal Arts-2005; University of Sioux Falls, B.A. Political Science/History-2008; University of South Dakota, M.A. History-2013.

Occupation: Server, Darden Restaurants, Inc.; Volunteer Policy Advocate, South Dakota Voices for Children; Board Member, Sioux Falls Board of Historic Preservation.

Family: wife, Katie; daughter, Kylie.

Years in Sioux Falls: 13.

I was at a School Board public information meeting last September, interested in the school consolidation that affected Longfellow, Jefferson, and Mark Twain elementary schools.  What struck me as odd during this meeting was that although the School Board was asking for public input on the consolidation, they had already made up their minds on the issue before hand.  How long? Who knows, but I didn’t appreciate being told that my input was integral to the process while the decision had already been made.

I got into this election with the firm conviction that I would not keep the public out of the loop. Let me ask you a question:  how many people within the Sioux Falls School District can name all 5 school board members? My guess is not a majority. This is not the public’s fault, it is the board members’ fault. Becoming more visible and meeting with the district employees, teachers, parents, and the taxpayers on a regular basis is a fundamental goal of mine, and using this input from these individuals to accomplish a set of positive goals is very important to me.  The School Board must be more transparent, and I vow to make this happen when elected.

I want to implement a program of more one-on-one math and reading tutorials for the K-5 students.  These are the two toughest subjects for many of these children, and the district’s policy of group interaction within these subjects needs to be amended.  By doing this we will be instilling confidence in our public school youth which will set them up for better academic success moving forward.  A positive, happy, confident child is a better, more attentive student!

Massive Open Online Courses are the next step in the district’s technological future.  I want to start using MOOC’s in the district’s CTE and New Technology High School to keep these young adults interested in their focus of study.  While this is similar to distance learning, it can be organized quickly and efficiently with immediate feedback from the program instructors.  By taking the time to help students focus on a particular subject of interest during the school day will better prepare them for their futures after they leave the district.  This program can connect across disciplines, reduce teacher shortages, and build a community of students and teachers without communication barriers as it can be used in any language.  With a growing and diverse district this technology program will become increasingly useful.

As a school board member I will preserve the quality of the school district, achieve positive goals, embrace the new district wide technology program, be open minded and carry no prejudices, and assist every parent, teacher, district employee, and taxpayer with any questions or feedback at anytime.  A School Board member is not hired by the administration, it is an elected official whose job is to represent the public, and this is the way my elected position will be handled-with the focus on doing what is right for the everyone in he Sioux Falls School District.

Vote for Joshua James Schorzmann on May 21^st for Sioux Falls School Board!