Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

ISD #882 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-board

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Mary Barthel
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jeff Hegle
    (NP)

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    Sandy Lichty
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jamie Sieben
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kathy Ziebarth
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

Contact Phone 7633812725
Campaign Email mary.barthel@outlook.com
As a retired educator, and someone who has also worked in the private sector, I have a good understanding of the unique needs of a diverse student body with many identities from many cultures. I understand the strategies needed to help our students obtain their future dreams.
My three top priorities will be support of students’ freedom to learn, keeping good teachers and staff through clear policies and good salaries, and continued transparency and communication with the community.
Work with administrators, staff, and students to identify those cuts that will have the lowest impact on students preparing for their future.
Apply and approve all state funding available to assist those students with less to give them the extra support needed to match those students with more.
“What is best for the child,” is the question I have heard that leads us to the best decisions. Our school board is already available through emails, phone calls, at meetings – which are livestreamed – and small chat groups. Continuing this accessibility is the most transparent way of engaging district staff and the community.
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The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.