03/31/2025
Banner Journal has been notified of a mistake in the publication of Kaitlyn Cunningham's interview for Black River Falls School District, which was missed. Here is a revision with the correction.
Jackson County is preparing for its upcoming school board elections scheduled for April 1. These elections determine who will make essential decisions regarding school policies, budgets, and overall direction for the district. Residents are encouraged to participate actively in the electoral process to ensure their voices are heard in matters affecting local education.
In Jackson County, there are four school systems: Black River Falls School District (BRFSD), Blair-Taylor School District (BTSD), Melrose-Mindoro School District (MMSD), and Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District (ACHMSD), and each has its own board.
For BRFSD, three candidates are running for two seats. The candidates are Kaitlyn Cunningham, Nick Helstad Kaitlyn Cunningham and Micheala Bloczynski. Helstad has been on the board since 2022.
Kaitlyn Cunningham, a candidate for the Black River Falls School Board, recently shared her detailed perspectives and priorities for the district in an informative interview. Her campaign emphasizes improving transparency, educational quality, student safety, equity, and community involvement.
Cunningham’s primary objectives include enhancing communication between the school board and the community, ensuring adequate resources for students and teachers, and effectively addressing educational gaps. “My priorities include improving communication between the school board and the community, ensuring students and teachers have the resources they need, and addressing learning gaps,” she said. “I also want to strengthen mental health support and make data-driven decisions to improve educational outcomes.”
To involve parents, teachers, and students more directly in decision-making, Cunningham proposes creating open forums, establishing advisory committees, and distributing regular surveys. “Transparency and collaboration are key to making informed decisions that serve everyone in the district,” she noted. She advocates for transparency through livestreaming board meetings, promptly publishing meeting minutes, and communicating policy changes clearly across multiple platforms.
Supporting educators is central to Cunningham’s platform. “I want to ensure teachers have access to professional development, manageable class sizes, and necessary classroom resources,” she explained. “Teachers need support, not bureaucratic burdens.”
Regarding curriculum, Cunningham supports a comprehensive educational approach that includes STEM subjects, arts, and humanities. “Diversity in curriculum ensures students gain a broader understanding of the world and fosters inclusivity,” she said. To address learning gaps intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cunningham supports targeted intervention strategies, such as tutoring programs, summer educational opportunities, and flexible learning methods.
Cunningham emphasized fiscal responsibility, advocating for budgets prioritizing direct student impact while reducing administrative overhead. “I believe in responsible budgeting that prioritizes direct student impact, minimizing administrative waste, and leveraging community partnerships,” she stated. She intends to collaborate with state and local officials to secure equitable funding and explore additional resources through grants. Recognizing the importance of competitive salaries for teacher retention, Cunningham added, “Competitive salaries are essential for attracting and retaining quality educators. I will push for sustainable salary increases while ensuring the district’s budget remains balanced.”
On student safety, Cunningham supports practical measures such as controlled access to buildings and comprehensive emergency preparedness training while maintaining welcoming school environments. To address student mental health and well-being, she strongly supports implementing robust anti-bullying policies and enhancing mental health programs, including additional funding for school counselors and social workers. “Schools must have strong anti-bullying policies and proactive mental health support,” she said. “I will advocate for programs that encourage peer support and early intervention.”
Cunningham also addressed equity, expressing support for policies that allocate additional resources to schools and students with higher needs. She seeks to eliminate barriers to advanced course enrollment and extracurricular activities by providing financial assistance and transportation solutions, ensuring equal access for all students. “I believe in removing barriers to participation by offering financial assistance, providing transportation solutions, and ensuring all students are aware of opportunities,” she emphasized. Cunningham further advocates inclusive policies, anti-discrimination training, and student-led initiatives fostering a respectful and supportive school atmosphere.
Regarding technology and infrastructure, Cunningham advocates conducting a comprehensive assessment to prioritize necessary facility upgrades and improvements. “I will push for a comprehensive facilities assessment to prioritize upgrades and ensure schools remain safe and conducive to learning,” she noted. To reduce the digital divide, she promotes expanding device access, improving internet connectivity, and providing digital literacy training. Additionally, Cunningham emphasized protecting student data through robust cybersecurity measures, regular audits, and dedicated staff training. “I will advocate for strong cybersecurity policies, regular audits, and training for staff and students on data privacy,” she said.
Extracurricular programs such as arts and sports are also vital, according to Cunningham, who pledges support for sustainable funding and community partnerships to maintain vibrant student engagement. “Extracurricular activities are vital for student engagement,” she stated. Furthermore, she envisions strengthening partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to offer mentorship, internship opportunities, and enriched learning experiences for students. “I believe in building strong connections with local businesses, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to create mentorships, internships, and expanded learning opportunities for students.”
Kaitlyn Cunningham encourages the community of Black River Falls to participate actively and remain informed ahead of the school board election, underscoring her commitment to creating a collaborative, student-focused educational environment.
Nick Helstad is seeking re-election to the Black River Falls School Board, hoping to continue his efforts in improving education and student success in the district. Having served on the board since April 2022, Helstad is already the most senior member, reflecting a period of transition and new leadership in the district. “I just want to be involved and improve the school in any way I can,” he said.
One of Helstad’s top priorities is improving technical education (tech ed) opportunities for students. He believes that expanding partnerships with institutions like CVTC in Osseo will give students hands-on experience in trades such as welding and machining. “We want to create a path where students can earn credits toward a technical degree while still in high school,” he explained.
Another concern is student attendance. He notes that truancy has been a widespread issue since the COVID-19 pandemic. “If kids aren’t in school, they aren’t learning,” he said. While he recognizes the challenges in enforcing attendance policies, he suggests making students and parents more accountable. “Maybe if there were real consequences, we’d see improvement,” he added.
Supporting teachers is another focus for Helstad. He sees the district’s investment in childcare as one way to assist educators. “Some teachers have actually turned down jobs here because they can’t find childcare,” he said. The district’s new daycare facility aims to solve that problem, though the initiative has faced some criticism. “I wasn’t totally in favor of the school running childcare, but it seemed like an imminent need. Hopefully, in a few years, it can sustain itself financially.”
Regarding the budget, Helstad believes that teacher salaries should be prioritized over infrastructure. “We have beautiful buildings, but I’d rather see more money going to staff so we can keep great teachers here,” he said. He acknowledges that the district has had to rely on emergency-licensed educators, which he sees as less than ideal. “We need to make sure we’re offering competitive pay so we don’t have such a revolving door of teachers.”
When discussing equity and inclusion, Helstad emphasizes fairness. “I think all students should be treated the same, regardless of background,” he stated. He also noted the issue of the digital divide, acknowledging that during the pandemic, many students struggled with online learning due to a lack of internet access. However, he believes a return to traditional learning methods may be beneficial. “Books and paper are good,” Helstad said. “Parents can actually see what their kids are learning.”
Helstad has also been actively involved in extracurricular projects. He played a key role in raising between $80,000 and $100,000 to replace the high school football scoreboard. “We didn’t use any school funding for that,” he said proudly. He sees extracurricular activities as an important part of student life, highlighting the district’s strong programs in arts, music and Future Business Leaders of America. “We have so many opportunities here for kids. They just have to take advantage of them.”
As election day approaches, Helstad remains confident in his leadership and his chances of winning another term. “I think I’ve done a good job, and I get along with most people. If I don’t get re-elected, I have plenty of other things to do, but I’d love the chance to keep working for the district,” he said.
With two open seats and three candidates in the race, Helstad hopes that voters will recognize his dedication and experience. “I want to keep improving our schools and helping our students succeed.”
Micheala Bloczynski
“I’m Micheala Bloczynski, 28 years old, and my family and I moved to Black River Falls in 2019,” said Bloczynski. “I recently earned an associate degree in Applied Science with a focus on legal studies. My husband and I have three children, two of whom have special needs, and we run a small hobby farm.” These experiences have shaped her passion for education and advocacy.
“Education is the backbone of our community, shaping the future of our children and society,” said Bloczynski.” I am running for the school board to ensure every child has the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. My priorities include strengthening special education, improving academics, increasing attendance, enhancing parent communication, advocating for vocational training and ensuring transparency.”
“As the parent of children with special needs, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges families face in navigating the education system,” Bloczynski shared. “I’m passionate about ensuring all students, regardless of ability or background, receive a high-quality education. Additionally, I’ve heard from many parents, educators, and students about frustrations with communication, curriculum transparency, and academic support. I’m committed to addressing these concerns and making sure parents feel involved in their children’s education.”
Improving special education is crucial to ensuring students with disabilities get the support they need. “I will work to ensure that IEPs are properly implemented, educators are trained to support diverse learners and schools foster an inclusive environment where all students can thrive,” said Bloczynski. Academic success should be a priority at all grade levels. “Teachers need support, resources and professional development to provide high-quality instruction,” added Bloczynski. “Addressing learning gaps from the pandemic and offering targeted interventions will be a key focus.”
Expanding vocational training is essential for students who may not want or need a four-year college degree. “We must strengthen career and technical education programs and partner with local businesses to provide hands-on learning opportunities,” said Bloczynski. “Attendance is key to success, and chronic absenteeism negatively impacts performance. I will push for early intervention and work with community organizations to address the underlying causes of absenteeism.”
Parental involvement is critical. “I’ll advocate for clear, consistent communication between schools and families, ensuring parents have access to important information and opportunities to provide input,” stated Bloczynski. Transparency in decision-making and curriculum choices is essential. “Families deserve to know what their children are learning and be able to provide feedback on school policies,” Bloczynski said.
Bloczynski believes school safety and student well-being must be a priority. “I will advocate for stronger anti-bullying policies, expanded mental health resources and improved school security while maintaining a welcoming environment,” said Bloczynski. Ensuring equity and inclusion is another focus. “All students deserve access to the same opportunities,” Bloczynski added. “I will support initiatives that promote inclusivity, equal access to advanced courses, and extracurricular programs.”
Bloczynski believes investing in technology and infrastructure is vital. “Closing the digital divide by providing necessary tools will be a priority, and I will work to ensure strong cybersecurity protections,” Bloczynski shared. “Upgrading facilities will enhance the learning environment. Extracurricular activities provide students with leadership, teamwork, and creativity opportunities. I will advocate for continued funding and support for arts, sports, and clubs.”
“The school board’s decisions directly impact every child’s education and our community’s future,” said Bloczynski. “I’m committed to advocating for students, supporting teachers and ensuring families have a voice in our schools.”
By focusing on special education, academic excellence, vocational training, attendance, transparency, and parent engagement, “I’ll work to build a district that prioritizes student achievement and community collaboration,” she explained.
“I looks forward to earning support and working with parents, teachers and community members to strengthen our schools,” Bloczynski added. “Togeth-er, we can create an educa-tion system that prepares all students for success—whether they choose college, technical school or a skilled trade.”
