The Chilton School Board will have at least one new member as one incumbent and two newcomers are competing for two seats on the board.
Incumbent David Juckem is seeking re-election, but board member Randy Lisowe’s decision to retire from the board assures that there will be at least one new member. Austin Kopitzke and Gene Prentice join Juckem on the ballot next Tuesday.
Following are the responses of each candidate to a survey form sent to them by the Tri-County News. The order in which their responses are printed here was determined by a random drawing conducted by the Tri-County News staff.
Austin Kopitzke
Austin Kopitzke is the owner and operator of Soul Nourishment Obtained. The 2011 graduate of Chilton High School opened Soul Nourishment Obtained—also known as SNO Yoga and Wellness Center—in 2024 to offer holistic health, wellness and fitness services to the Chilton and Calumet County community.
In making his first bid for public office, Kopitzke said he has just over 20 years as a student (collegiate degrees and professional certificates) experiencing both in-person and online/virtual learning as education technology and programs evolve. He said he also has extensive experience in business management, having worked in aerospace supply chain for 10 years. During his time in aerospace, he primarily negotiated business-to-business contracts, managed fulfillment plans for manufacturing operations and worked closely with financial planning to ensure all cash flow stayed within budget. These experiences provided him with crucial skills in conflict resolution, budget management, organizational collaboration and value-setting.
Lastly, Kopitzke said he is a natural leader who is comfortable communicating and advocating for the group’s, community’s and the education system’s goals. All of these skills and experiences make him a great asset for the Chilton Public School Board, Kopitzke said.
Asked about his perceptions of issues facing the Chilton School District, Kopitzke said, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has many cons and potentially a few pros (if used correctly). Any implementation of AI in schools and education should be done with care and transparency. That being said, (I believe) AI is not appropriate for education and should not be used in lessons or education at any level, except for advanced high school literature, psychology, or sociology courses. This standpoint is largely due to AI’s tendency to eliminate marginal information in favor of communicating only the majority perspective, as AI has been built upon the premise of excluding the minority. This premise is wrong and extremely detrimental.”
Regarding other matters, Kopitzke said he is not currently on the board and is unsure “what specific issues plague the Chilton Public School system.” He said he has noticed some attrition amongst the principals and superintendent roles, “which is pretty normal from time to time.” He said he sees Chilton “has a wonderful education program and is excited to be more involved in improving the overall quality of education.” Kopitzke has a collaborative approach to problem solving, believing issues within a public education system are best solved and addressed as a group, and he said he is happy to work together to resolve anything that needs to be resolved.
Kopitzke added that he “has a wealth of experience in conflict resolution, value alignment and budget management.” He said he is excited to share his expertise in leadership, business and education with the Chilton Public School system “to continue improving the wonderful community we have here. Please vote for Austin Kopitzke on April 7 for the Chilton Public School Board.”
Gene Prentice
Gene Prentice is employed as a motorcycle safety coach. He is married to Dianne. After 23 years in the military and several years later, he and his wife moved home to be closer to family and to be of assistance to his parents.
“My community involvement includes assisting in maintenance of the private road that we reside on,” he said. “In addition, I provide input in developing new motorcycle safety courses. I am currently a state certified motorcycle coach in Wisconsin and provide teaching skills at Road America and Moraine College in Fond du Lac.”
Prentice has not held public office in the past. He said, “In my military experience, I held several jobs including working with military aircraft, two years as a paralegal, and paramedic with multiple deployments to combat areas. For two years I was the sergeant in charge of 60 soldiers as different groups of new recruits rotated through a 16-week advanced training program. I finished my military service as a noncommissioned officer in charge of 50 military service and civilian employees at an internal medicine clinic.”
As for his perceptions of issues facing the Chilton School District, Prentice said, “Placing any group or individual above another based on race, gender, religion or sexual preference should never happen in a public school. Deciding to promote alternative lifestyles in any way should not happen. Use of tax dollars in a responsible manner, to give the children a great education to be productive members of our society. Love of country and community should be at the forefront.”
In conclusion, Prentice said, “I look forward to serving our local schools and supporting our great families of the Chilton School District, putting the parents need to know at the forefront.”
David Juckem
David Juckem is running for re-election to the Chilton trict School Board. “I have owned and operated TD Services Inc., an aerospace and medical component manufacturing facility here in Chilton for over 30 years,” he said. “Our customer base includes NASA, Plexus, Northrup Grumman, Sonex and Raytheon. I have an Associate Degree in aviation maintenance and a private pilot license. My hobbies and interests beyond aviation include astronomy, high-powered rocketry, electronics and computer programming.
“Over the course of my career, I have been able to interact with youths at all levels providing seminars and hands-on experiences in aircraft construction, high-powered rocketry, computer programming and robotics,” he added. “The skills involved in these activities are crucial to the future of our youth and need to be reinvigorated in the curriculum at Chilton School District.”
Juckem added, “Having been on the School Board for the past three years I have a good understanding of the processes and procedures required to run the district. I served all three years on the Education Committee and Policy Committee, this past year as chairman of policy. During this time, we introduced Bridges Math curriculum into the elementary and middle schools, HMH literacy programs at all grade levels and personal communication policies to limit cell phone use during school hours. In addition, I am currently the treasurer for the Town of Chilton which has provided me with further insights into governmental budgets.”
Juckem said, “As a Chilton native I feel giving back to the community in which I was raised is an important part of being a good citizen. I wish to use my interests and skills to help reinforce our STEAM program at elementary, middle and high school levels. STEAM curriculum is essential to the future of our youth. I plan to use my strong background in science and technology to help guide and strengthen our programs in Chilton, both in the classroom and in after-school activities. I want our school to become a model of what can be done in this area. With your support, we can ensure our youth are prepared to succeed in the world.
“Like many of you, I enjoy sports. Participation in these organized activities can teach valuable lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship and a healthy lifestyle. We cannot, however, allow an emphasis on sports to disproportionately outweigh our focus on academics.
“The arts have a place in our curriculum as well. While sports exercise the body, the arts exercise the mind and creative juices. Using your imagination to paint a portrait, play a musical instrument, write a poem, or immerse yourself in a role at the theatre enriches your life and those around you.
“I would be honored to receive your vote on April 7 to continue my work in making Chilton Schools the best we possibly can.”
