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2025 School Board Candidate Merideth Garcia

A February primary will be required to narrow the number of candidates down to six.  The term of office for a school board member is three years beginning on Monday, April 28, 2025.  Six candidates will appear on the April 1, 2025, spring election ballot for three school board spots.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/people/Merideth-Garcia-for-La-Crosse-School-Board/61572602606775/

SCHOOL BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE

MERIDETH GARCIA

Can you tell us about yourself — your professional background, family, education, and history in La Crosse?

I taught middle and high school English and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in Texas for nine years and taught 4th-6th grade ESOL in India for a year. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. I hold Master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction from UT-Austin and English Literature from Middlebury College. I completed my PhD in English and Education at the University of Michigan and took a job in the English Department here at UW-La Crosse, where I teach literature courses, college writing, and teaching methods courses. My husband William works at Western Technical College. We have two daughters and four cats.


Why are you running for school board, and what motivates you to serve in this role?

I teach young people who want to be middle and high school English teachers, and I am committed to doing everything I can to improve the working and learning conditions of teachers and students. I want every teacher to have the resources they need to teach and every student in the district to feel a sense of safety and community at school. We have to be loud and clear that every student who lives in our district–whatever their race, gender identity, sexuality, socio-economic status, disability, or home language–deserves our respect and support.


Why is public education important to you, and how do you see it shaping the future of our community?

Public education is the foundation of the community. It impacts the children, parents, and educators of the community directly, and it benefits the whole of the community by providing a safe and enriching environment for young people. It shapes the future, but it is also the present! We are lucky to have community partners that engage our students in preparing for high-demand fields like healthcare and construction as well as strong theater and music programs, all of which contribute to the community’s reputation as a place where arts and industry flourish.


The district faces financial challenges due to declining enrollment and older buildings. What specific strategies would you propose to attract and retain students and address facility needs?

Addressing the problems created by declining enrollment and years of underfunding schools requires collaborating with district faculty and staff, parents, and community partners. We’ve made some progress in addressing aging buildings and combining programs so that students continue to have access to opportunities no matter what school they attend. I’d love to see us expand 4K and early childhood offerings. I’d also like us to press our state legislature to fully fund special education. Finding ways to support each school in developing meaningful solutions to their localized challenges will be key.


How will you foster greater community involvement in decision-making to ensure transparency and shared ownership of the district’s challenges and successes?

The Board wants community input. We invite emails, public speakers, private messages, linkages, and community forums. I’ve had great conversations with community members at district-wide parent meetings, community and neighborhood meetings, and school district events in the community. The success of the district and the success of the community are intertwined, and we continue to listen and look for ways to transparently represent the voices of community stakeholders.


Do you see a role for the district in addressing the childcare shortage? If so, what solutions would you propose?

I would love to see expanded 4K offerings and proposals for childcare. We just approved a position to research and coordinate potential offerings, and I hope we can gain state funding to address the shortage of childcare options.


What programs or resources would you advocate for to enhance students’ academic achievement, mental health and overall well-being?

I believe we find our belonging and learn most from being immersed in experiences.  That means that programs that connect academic skills to students’ lived experiences are the most effective in addressing both mental health and academic achievement, which both contribute to students’ overall well-being. So I support extracurricular programs (sports, band, forensics, theater, art, clubs, etc.) and curricular initiatives that put students in contact with nature, science, and local internships. Our community is wealthy in this regard, and our faculty and staff go to great lengths to make these connections for students.


How would you support teachers in their professional development and address challenges related to workload, compensation and job satisfaction?

I would work closely with LEA union representatives to be sure that teachers’ needs are heard and met. While I have my own ideas about what was valuable to me as a public school educator, it’s important to listen to teachers who are in everyday contact with students to understand what is really needed.


What priorities would you advocate for in the Wisconsin state biennium budget to support the district’s needs?

At minimum, the revenue limit should meet the cost of living adjustment. Special education should be fully funded, and I would like to see universal free lunch.