The Wauwatosa School Board voted to appoint Mr. Jason Wautier to represent Seat 7 of the School Board during its meeting on Monday, August 26, 2024. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Ms. Jessica Willis.
Mr. Wautier brings an outside, private sector perspective to the Board - specifically related to finances and budgeting. In his career field, Wautier leads a team that identifies and optimizes solutions for real world problems and executes critical thinking skills. In his role on the Board of Education, Wautier seeks to be a valuable asset to both the Board and the community by engaging and interpreting the needs of the community, prioritizing strategic planning, and reviewing and prioritizing the District’s annual budget.
“Multiple controversial, difficult, and wide-reaching policy decisions need to be made regarding both pivotal November referendums,” said Wautier. “I accept the duty and gravity of this appointment. It will not be an easy or immediate fix, but I believe Dr. Means and his team can find solutions. The board can create effective policies to implement them. I will listen to community members, use data-driven facts, consider public and district staff sentiment, and make the most informed decisions possible.”
The appointment was made by a vote, after hearing from a total of three candidates for appointment. In the first round, Mr. Wautier received three of the existing Board members' votes, and candidates Mr. Bob Helbig and Ms. Leah Whatley each received one vote. In the second round of voting, Mr. Wautier received four of the existing Board members’ votes. Mr. Wautier’s appointment was unanimously approved by the Board.
Each candidate submitted application materials including a Notice of Interest, letter of introduction, resume and/or letter(s) of referral. Each candidate was provided an opportunity to speak before the Board and the community during Monday’s meeting. Among the questions candidates answered were:
Please help us understand how your background will expand the expertise of the Board.
Of all the things the Wauwatosa School District is responsible for, what are the three that are most important to you?
A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is frequently identified by district stakeholders as a key priority. How have you demonstrated such a commitment in previous work/volunteer experiences?
When faced with a controversial topic within the district community, how would you arrive at your decision?
The Wauwatosa School Board is a policy and governance board. Describe how you will balance being knowledgeable and contribute to oversight while allowing the Superintendent to guide day-to-day operations and strategy implementation.
Please share what you find important in the Board's North Star and District Strategic Plan; please also share, have you reviewed the Board Bylaws, Policies, and Ethical Standards and are you committed to following them?
Mr. Wautier took the oath of office following the vote and will serve his term through April 2024, when the seat is up for election.
“I’d like to thank each of the candidates who volunteered to serve our community,” said Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger, School Board President. “Mr. Wautier’s priorities are aligned with our Strategic Plan, and I strongly believe he will be an asset to the Board and the Wauwatosa community.”
In addition to Mr. Jason Wautier, the current Wauwatosa School Board members are:
Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger, President, Seat #3
Dr. Jenny Hoag, Vice President, Seat #1
Ms. Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Treasurer, Seat #5
Mr. Michael E. Meier, Clerk, Seat #2
Mr. Phillip Morris, Seat #4
Dr. Lynne Woehrle, Seat #6