Roesler-Begalke to join Troy School Board

It appears the May 5 election for the Troy School Board of Trustees won’t be necessary. With only three candidates filing for three open seats by the March 28 deadline, those applicants will be elected by acclamation.

Angie Huisentruit and Melinda Thompson will be reappointed to their seats and Linda Lundin is stepping aside. The vacancy left by Lundin will be filled by Mark Roesler-Begalke, with terms lasting three years.

Roesler-Begalke has a degree in education and has spent 13 years in the field, 12 of which have been in the Libby School District.

“I had run for the board a couple of years back and I still have interest in the position. I also have two kids that go to school in Troy, a 7th-grader and a 5th-grader, so that makes me want to be involved,” he said.

“Anybody who has interests, concerns or ideas needs to step up and be willing to be accounted for,” Roesler-Begalke said. “Hopefully I can help the district move forward in a positive manner.”

The biggest challenge facing the Troy schools is funding, according to Roesler-Begalke. A sentiment shared by chair of the board John Konzen and superintendent Jacob Francom.

Konzen said securing funding for schools has always been a difficult situation, but Troy is now facing another challenge.

“Declining enrollment means less dollars for the district. With the mine closing we’ve now had about 11 students withdraw.” He said each student accounts for between $5,000 and $6,000 in funding, which means the district’s budget will be decreased by more than $55,000.

“We’re in an area that doesn’t have a real solid industry,” Konzen said. “That shifts the burden of funding for schools back to residential property owners. School funding is a complex issue; there are so many little tentacles. We’re kind of in a holding pattern as far as funding goes right now.”

In order to make up for those losses, Francom said the district is getting as prepared as it can for losing students and lost revenue from the Troy Mine closure.

“We’re doing all we can to find grants to make up for losing students to stay afloat on many of the things we’re doing at the schools,” he said. Over the last two years the Troy School District has been awarded grants totaling $340,400.

“Our goals and challenges are the same as many schools. We want to make sure our students are as prepared as they can be after they leave our schools,” Francom said.

Roesler-Begalke said the Legislature seems more interested in vouchers and tax credits for private and secular schools than providing significant support for public schools.

“I don’t see that we as a state are funding education properly. Public education is part of what made this country great,” he said.

Roesler-Begalke thinks there are many exceptional private schools, but said public money should go towards schools all students have access to. He said public school boards across the state need to apply pressure on the government to encourage adequate funding.

As a new board member, Roesler-Begalke knows he has his work cut out for him. “It’s going to be a big challenge and a lot of work,” he said. “No matter what you do half the people will support you and the other half will be against you. You have to be willing to take the heat.”