To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the residents of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District. My name is Nathan Elble and I am running for the BKW Board of Education.

I am a proud BKW alumnus (Class of 1999) and longtime resident of Knox.  My wife, Carli, and I moved back to Knox seven years ago to raise our children in the house I grew up in.  We chose to come back to this district because we wanted our children to attend the same tight-knit school with strong community values that I grew up with.  We have four children: Natalie is in third grade; Charlotte and Eden are in first grade; and our youngest, Mason, is 2.

In recent years, our school has been faced with deep cuts to our state aid, a declining enrollment, and an inability to maintain consistency in its administration.  Tough decisions about our budget had, and will have to continue, to be made.  Many of our older students have a negative opinion of BKW, a problem that neighboring districts don't seem to have. 

Despite these hardships, I feel like the spirit of the BKW community has endured. I believe that it is with this sense of community that we can continue to grow and evolve our district.

A popular topic of conversation at the recent public forum was a school-led community garden, an idea I wholeheartedly support.  Community gardens are proven to foster the development of a community identity and spirit, something I think our children will greatly benefit from as they advance through their education.  Additionally, the highly nutritious foods produced could be used in our lunch menu to provide some balance and variety that we currently do not offer.

I am also aware of the fiscal concerns of the taxpayers. School taxes are high and our working-class families struggle with the burden these taxes place upon them.

My position on taxes is simple; they need to remain as low as possible.  Any increase should only be for a need so great that the school could not function without it.

How can we continue to improve and evolve our school without raising taxes?  BKW is in a unique position compared to other school districts in the area.  I've come to realize that the community here revolves around the school, whereas in other districts the school is just a part of the community.

Few, if any, districts in the state can boast the high percentage of former students that still reside in the district.  We have a wealth of people who know what going to BKW is all about, and who care about our successes and failures as a school.  This is a resource we can tap into to help achieve our goals going forward.

I believe that I am the best candidate to help achieve goals.  As the father of a large young family, my interests in improving and evolving our school district have really only just begun. On Feb. 23, I ask for your vote for the BKW Board of Education.  Your support will go a long way in helping bring about the changes our school deserves.

Nathan Elble

Knox