Randolph School Board

Six candidates seek school board role

RANDOLPH – Six candidates are vying for three open seats on Randolph School Board.

Voters will fill in the circle next to the names of their top three choieces on the primary ballot, choosing from incumbent Cody Backer, Anson Dockhorn, Tiffany Gatzemeyer, Marvin Nordhues, Corby Robinson and Chris Winkelbauer.

Here’s a look at all six candidates: 

Cody Backer

Incumbent Cody Backer has lived in Randolph all of his life with his roots going at least six generations deep.

He was motivated to run for another term on the school board to continue to improve the quality of education and ensure the district remains a strong community asset.

As a current board member, he’s an active proponent of the school bond issue that voters will determine on the general election ballot.

“My position on the proposed bond reflects my commitment to our district’s future,” he said. “I support the bond because it will have a direct, positive impact on our education system, addressing needs that will improve both facilities and opportunities for our students.”

Like with the bond issue, Backer said he takes the time to research and understand financial aspects of board decisions to ensure he’s making a choice that reflects the best interest of both the school and community.

“We work closely with the administration to ensure that we focus on the needs of the district while avoiding unnecessary expenditures,” he said.

With two terms of experience under two different superintendents, Backer said he’s a candidate worth supporting.

“I believe in open dialogue, working to understand any potential misunderstandings, and if necessary bringing concerns to administration to explore solutions collaboratively,” he said. “I approach every issue with a calm and open mind and am not afraid to stand my ground even if it means voting differently from others.”

Cody and his wife, Jennifer, have three children who have or will graduate from Randolph Public Schools. He also operates a local apiary business, and has served as a volunteer firefighter for more than 20 years. He is also active in church, youth, and school board activities.

Anson Dockhorn

Anson Dockhorn is not satisfied with answers like ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it.’

“While that doesn’t make it wrong, it also doesn’t make it right,” he said. “I ran for the school board to ensure that our school’s policies and our children’s education are a reflection of common sense and our rural Nebraska values.”

He hopes to bring a new perspective to the Randolph School Board as he grew up in the Burwell area.

Dockhorn and his wife, Crystal, have three children: Kody, sixth grade; Jackson, fourth grade; and Colt, kindergarten.

Dockhorn farms with a row crop and livestock operation, and thinks the school district should operate more like a business.

“The two assets I believe that make the most impact on education are the staff and the facilities,” he said. “The best curriculum and technology mean nothing without good teachers and support staff. And you need a safe, comfortable place to learn. Those are my priorities.”

With those identified priorities, Dockhorn is a supporter of the school bond issue.

“A lot of the stuff on the bond, the can has been kicked down the road far enough and it just needs taken care of,” he said. “As we see in our daily lives, these project costs are likely to only go up if we wait. I want to see more young families move back to the area. You look around and jobs brining these people back are mostly ag or technical so I see that (ag building) project as a good investment.” ***

Tiffany Gatzemeyer

Tiffany Gatzemeyer has learned to effectively collaborate with people from all walks of life from her upbringing on a multi-generation family farm near Osmond, as vice president of Nebraska Bank in Carroll, as a TeamMates mentor, and in numerous positions held on nonprofit boards including the Carroll Housing Authority and Randolph Summer Youth.

It’s those experiences and skillsets that make her a good fit to serve on the Randolph school board, she said.

“My upbringing on a small farm has given me the deep understanding and appreciation for the challenges faced by farmers,” she said. “Additionally, being married to a dedicated teacher has shown me the difficulties of the classroom. Above all, I constantly find myself grappling with the weight of ensuring I am doing what is best for not only my children, but your children, too.”

Gatzemeyer and her husband, Brent, have two children, Aniston, 13, and Cade, 9. They moved to Randolph four years ago but she has been a lifelong Northeast Nebraska resident.

She was motivated to run for a school board seat by her enthusiasm for public education.

“It is my priority to back our present administration, teachers, coaches and staff,” she said. “My choices will not solely revolve around the needs of our current students, but I will prioritize the long-term success of our future students as well.”

That’s why ensuring students have access to modern techonology and a secure environment - as provided in school bond improvements - is of utmost importance.

“I acknowledge that all costs are rising, making it extremely difficult for many,” she said. “The decision to approve the school bond was made with great care and throughness by our current board, dedicated administration and supportive community.”

Current levy rates and cost per student at Randolph Public Schools is one of the lowest in the area.

“As a board member, it will be my goal to uphold the tradition of sound financial management set by the previous administrations,” she said. *** 

Marvin Nordhues

Marvin Nordhues has experienced the point of view as a student, parent, grandparent and taxpayer supporter of Randolph Public Schools. He would like to add the lens of school board member so he can understand the view of administrators and staff.

“What motivates me to be a board member is to do my part to make sure our children are receiving the best education they can in a safe, comfortable environment at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer,” he said.

And it’s with that in mind, that Nordhues said he is personally against the proposed school bond initiative. He attended nearly all of the bond steering committee meetings and toured the facilities, but said additional “homework” needs to be done by the board and administration.

“I am against tearing down the old ag building and constructing a new one in its place,” he said. “First of all, this new structure will hopefully be there for many years to come so why do we want the kids to be crossing the street everyday to go class? The new building should be attached to the current building by a short hallway and be built in the current staff parking lot.”

The old building could be used for storage, Nordhues suggested, which could possibly help reduce the size of the new building and save money.

“After touring the ag building I was shocked how it has been neglected in the last 10 years and I would hate to spend that much money on a new building and see it get neglected,” Nordhues said.

Updates to the elementary school, and repairs to the high school roof have been put off for too long, he said.

“The dollars spent on the main buildings will benefit so many more students and staff,” Nordhues said. “I think we can be more fiscally responsible than the current plan.”

Nordhues has been married to Kim for 28 years and has lived in the Randolph school district his entire life. They have four children: Mitchell, Renae, Kayla, and Grace.

Nordhues has been operating a family farm for the last 38 years with a cow-calf and cattle feeding enterprise along with row crops of corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

He is active in St. Jane Frances church, previously serving as the Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus, and the parish council and parish financial committee. He’s currently the president of the parish buildings and grounds committee. He also helps with confirmation instruction.

His experience with his church may set him apart from other candidates but all have one thing in common - a deep care about Randolph Public Schools and its future, Nordhues said.

“I invite every voter to vote their conscience and may the good Lord help us all make the right decision for what is right for the kids and their future,” he said. *** 

Corby Robinson

Corby Robinson and his wife, Salle, moved from Idaho back to his hometown of Randolph more than four years ago so that his two children, Sydney and Corby Jr., could benefit from a better school system.

“I want to have an active voice for Salle and I in what curriculum we’re having, what’s going on in the school. I want to be a part of it and want to be involved,” he said of his decision to run for Randolph School Board.

As a school board member, Robinson said he’s an independent thinker and will challenge others to gain different viewpoints.

“I am a question asker,” he said. “I want to know all the details before I sign on to something.”

That’s why he attended many of the steering committee meetings regarding the school bond issue. He was able to filter the information using his experience and knowledge of working in the construction industry for more than 30 years.

Ultimately, Robinson said he will be voting for the passage of the bond.

“I think we could’ve squirreled it down a little more but there’s definitely stuff we need in that bond that we have to do in order to continue in Randolph,” he said. “The elementary upgrades are definitely necessary. The repairs on the high school are necessary. The ag building is a good benefit to the community. There’s a few things on there that could’ve been done differently or better but overall, I’m for the bond.”

Being fiscally responsible will be high on Robinson’s priorities if selected for a school board set.

“You have to have your house in order, in order to improve it,” he said. *** 

Chris Winkelbauer

Chris Winkelbauer wants to be a part of the future of Randolph and that’s why he’s running to be a school board member.

“The school is the cornerstone of the community and a huge part of the talent that is going to keep our town growing and moving forward,” he said.

If he fills the seat, Winkelbauer will work at being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to prioritizing needs and wants and their timeliness.

“Like any business you need to reinvest from time to time to stay relevant and keep facilities in good working order,” he said.

He works as the location manager at Central Valley Ag and has lived in Randolph all of his life. His four children, Colton, Cazlynn, Carlin and Cason all attend Randolph Public Schools and his wife, Catrina, is a first-grade teacher at Randolph Elementary.

His experience working with budgets, being a good listener and keeping an open mind will assist him if elected to the school board.

“This is a very good group of candidates and a lot of talent,” he said.