Election 2021 - Chelan School Board Candidates

CHELAN - Many candidates are running for school board in the Chelan School Districts. In Chelan, District 1, 2 and 3 are open for re-election. District 1 represents the area around the high school, Chelan Falls, Stayman Falls, Navarre Coulee and the south shore of the lake.
District 2 represents downtown Chelan, east of the Chelan river, south of 97A to the Columbia River, and to the district boundaries in Douglas County.
District 3 represents part of the district to the north, not including downtown, out to Manson and Pateros.
Chelan District 1 Candidates: Stephanie Fuller, Cole Soreano, and Brooke Isaak
Chelan District 2 Candidates: Kristi Collins, Barb Polley
Chelan District 3 Candidates: Jerry W. Lopez, Erik Nelson
Candidate Profiles
District 1 Candidate Stefanie Fuller was not available for immediate comment, but her answers will be included in a later edition.
District 1 Candidate Brooke Isaak was not available for comment, but submitted campaign information online. According to the submitted information, Isaak graduated from Manson High School in 1987 and completed a bachelors in business in 1991 from Pacific Lutheran University
“I bring 25 years of experience as a parent, business owner, board member, and community leader. These experiences give me a unique perspective to think out of the box,” the statement said.
Isaak’s first business was manufacturing candles and selling them to major retailers. Since 2015, she has been the CEO of 3 fast casual restaurants. She has served as a Program Leader for Thrive Mentoring, Board Member for Teen Talking Circles, and led the launch of the Lake Chelan Community Center.
 “Born and raised in the Chelan Valley, I returned here to raise my children in the place I call home. I am passionate about education and the opportunities it provides our children,” Isaak said in the statement.
District 1 Candidate Cole Soreano said that he has never run for school board before but that his being in law enforcement gives him a “unique perspective” because he interacts with kids who are not having their best day and sees what is really going on with them.
Soreano said that he decided to run because he wants to help the school move forward after Coronavirus and that he has a vested interest with kids enrolled in the school district. He said that transparency between the school board, superintendent and the community is very important, especially after the pandemic.
“After last year I think there was a lot of frustration. I think some parents or some people felt like they maybe weren't heard,” he said.
When asked about balancing fiscal responsibility with meeting student needs, Soreono said that you had to find a creative solution that works for the majority. When asked how schools can prepare for a successful future after graduation, he said that being a good person is the “main goal”.
One of Soreono’s main focuses as a school board member would be on improving school facilities.
“I think one of the main things for me is improving facilities in the school district. I think, In the last year it was pretty apparent that, you know, that we need more facilities, better facilities. And, you know, it's been lacking for a while now,” he said.
For District 2, Kristi Collins was not immediately available for comment, but her remarks will be included in a later edition.
District 2 candidate and incumbent Barb Polley was not available for comment, but her answers will be included in a later edition
District 3 candidate Jerry Lopez said that he has never held a position in the school board, but has lived in the community since 2006 and grew up in Pateros. He has three kids in the Lake Chelan School District.
Lopez graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2005 and became a middle and high school English teacher. After that, he spent some time running a local business with his in-laws before becoming an EMT. He said that these diverse roles have given him good communication skills and the ability to talk with those who have different views than he does.
Lopez said that if he were elected, his first action would be to get good information about what the Lake Chelan School District has, “coming up the pipe.” Lopez said that to address inequality you need to teach kids American history and economics at the high school level.
When asked about balancing fiscal responsibility with good school programs, Lopez emphasized setting up programs to help kids of varying academic abilities to make sure that those who are struggling and those who are ahead can both receive the instruction they need. Lopez also emphasized the importance of transparency to the community when making financial decisions.
 “Living here for as long as I have, this town will get behind kids 100% If they know what they're getting behind, if they know where their dollar is going,” he said.
District 3 Candidate Erik Nelson was not available for immediate comment, but his answers will be included in a later edition.