Casey Schilke, (Liz Macias, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Casey Schilke is running for a seat on the Kearney Public School’s Board of Education this election season.
Schilke said he has resided in Kearney for the past 17 years and raised his son in the community as his primary caregiver. His son is currently a junior at Kearney High School.
When asked why he is running for the board, Schilke said over the past several years he has observed “certain things that have happened through Kearney Public Schools, mainly from the administrative side.”
Schilke feels KPS administrative staff has been dictating to staff on how to do their job, rather than letting them do the work on their own. “It’s not easy to be a teacher when someone is telling you how to do the job you have been doing for years,” he said.
He added that the mandating of how and what teachers teach needs to come to an end.
Schilke said this has come to his attention from several friends who are teachers in the KPS system. He said that many are looking for ways out of the teaching profession and cite the administration as a reason.
“Something has to change,” Schilke said.
Schilke said that protecting children and students is a high priority for many and he agrees wholeheartedly but he also noted that it is the teachers who make good people and good citizens.
“Who is protecting these teachers,” Schilke asked and stated, “This is why I am running.”
When asked about his experience, Schilke said he has been a business owner for the past 10 years and said his number one priority is his staff. He said without quality staff, “you will never be a successful company, business or school.”
To ensure the retention of those quality staff members, Schilke said that “you have to know how to treat people.”
He said that when you hire a person to do a job, you let them do the job, even if it isn’t exactly the way that you would have it done, but if the task is accomplished then the goal has been achieved.
Schilke said that between being a single parent and business owner, much of his time has been spent raising his son and maintaining his business.
When asked about the other issues he sees the district facing, he cited an instance in which the Kearney Police Department was called because the reporting party believed Kearney students, who were not at a school function, were fighting.
The KPD responded but found they were not fighting, but Schilke said word of the police activity reached the ears of KPD and he said the students were given 25 hours of community service as a result.
Schilke said the district had no right to administer punishment in this case and feels it is an administrative overstep. He feels this was an issue best left to the parents to handle.
When asked about how he feels the board has been run, Schilke said he is certain that there is no current member who is like him.
He said he feels that some board members may have run with certain agendas in mind and haven’t been a check on the administration.
When asked what he would base his decisions on, Schilke said he would reach out to parents and teachers to get their thoughts on the issues. He added that these two groups support the children of the district, the most important part of the district.
In conclusion, Schilke said the number one thing he wants people know is that he plans to be a different school board member and said he doesn’t plan to stand by quietly.
Editor’s Note: Casey Schilke appeared on 1340 KGFW and this article was written using information provided during that interview. The full interview can be found here.
