Paulson, Ricker Seek School Board Position
Pryce Paulson and Darryl Ricker are the two candidates for the contested race for a Wolf Point School Board position. They are seeking the three-year office for District 1.
Ballots will be mailed Friday, April 17, by the Wolf Point School District. Voted ballots can be mailed back or dropped off at the Wolf Point School District Office, 220 Fourth Avenue S. in Wolf Point. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5.
The candidates answered the following questions.
What is your experience, background?
Paulson: I have grown up almost my entire life living in Wolf Point. I have attended three schools within the Wolf Point School system. I went on to Fort Peck Community College where I earned an AAS in automotive technology, then an AS in in pre-engineering. I finished at MSU-Bozeman with a BA in mechanical engineering with an aerospace minor. My involvement has always gone beyond just the classroom. I was involved with extra- curriculars everywhere I went including sports, clubs and volunteering. I had worked for Will’s Office World for over a decade and in that time I have observed many different schools from the IT perspective.
Ricker: I have been a certified teacher for many years. I have worked in Washington and Alaska along in most reservations in Montana. I spent the first 10 years of my life in Poplar before moving to Wolf Point. Coaching experience includes in track, basketball, wrestling and cross country.
Why did you decide to run for the school board position?
Paulson: I love my hometown and was looking for more ways to give back to my community. I have young children of my own that will one day attend these schools. I would like to help create the best possible schools for not only them, but all the students enrolled in the district.
Ricker: I was approached by some people in the community that thought it was a good idea if I ran for board. As an elder, I started to get more interest in the school district.
What do you think are the main challenges facing the Wolf Point School District?
Paulson: I believe that some of the main challenges facing the school district are similar to when I was enrolled. Student retention in the later years of school, aging infrastructure, staffing challenges, integrating technology without letting it district from learning. I don’t necessarily have answers for all of these problems, but I look forward to working together to find solutions.
Ricker: Drugs and vaping in the schools. A lot of the stuff that comes in. The meth problems are causing grandparents to raise grandchildren. I think we can do more as a school and become more involved with outside programs. The current policy on the reservation isn’t working. The school can help create a center to provide a safe place for kids to go after school. Technology has gotten out of hand as students are staying up all night playing games and then not going to school. There is a breakdown of the family unit, I see it as an assistant pastor and working with the homeless. It’s like a virus getting worse. We need to work better as a community. We need to break down the barriers.
