The special meeting involved Board members Cory Brickl, Randy Lisowe and Jerry Kolbe taking turns asking a series of questions from the three applicants – Criter, Thomas Brandt and Larry Hedrich.

Criter, who owns Chilton Manufacturing Corporation, comes to the position with a variety of community involvement, including serving on the Chilton Area Catholic School Board for two terms, as well as being on the Ad Hoc Community Committee that was formed in March 2007 to review the District budget and recommend to the School Board ideas for budget savings.

Criter is currently a member of the Good Shepherd Parish Council and the Chilton Athletic Club, where he is a volunteer coach.

Criter said, "My reasons for wanting to participate on the Board are really just a desire to serve and help the community, a desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, a desire to help make our students the best they can be."

When asked whether he had a budget philosophy regarding the District's budget, Criter responded, "The plan should drive a budget, and the budget doesn't drive the plan. So, you start with a vision and a mission and you work backwards and you fund that mission and that vision, using whatever resources are necessary."

While Criter admitted his experience in the business world did not include bargaining contracts with unionized employees, he said the primary ingredient in the process was communication.

Criter cited the importance of communication along with mutual respect and the need for people to realize they don't always have to like things, but they need to understand and respect the process.

Regarding the role of the Board, Criter believes the Board's primary role is to set policy so there are parameters in place that direct how the District, the administration and the staff is to carry out necessary jobs. He also felt the Board has a role in garnering community input to be a voice for the community. He added that the Board's responsibilities include budget stewardship and a commitment to the youth.

When asked about the importance of extracurricular activities in the students' educational experience, Criter said the experience of being in a group participation setting, whether it's a club or sports, provides solid fundamentals that are necessary to help kids understand what it's like to be on a team, to maybe take some risks, or even to become a leader.

Criter said, "I think it's critical, I think it needs to stay a part of the curriculum that's offered."

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