GMG School Board Candidate: Justin Hornberg

Age: 45

Profession: Location Manager New Century FS Garwin

Education: AA from MCC

Family: Wife-Kari, Daughter-Lexie, Son-Jarrett

What motivated you to run for this office?

I have been asked in the past about running for the board and haven’t been able to as I am employed by the school as the Head Varsity Girls basketball coach. I feel like with the change in Administration that has occurred, it is time for some fresh thoughts from new school board members as well.

What qualities and behaviors should school board members exhibit?

I believe that a board member needs to have listened to both sides of an argument before they make a decision. Political views shouldn’t enter into the decision making process. This is a position of doing what’s best for the kids and their ability to receive an education and go into the world with the skills that they need to become productive members of society.

What do you see as the primary roles and responsibilities for the position you are running for?

Level headedness. Weighing all the options of what is being presented to you before making a decision. As I stated before, having the best interests of the students as well as the health of our school district in mind.

How would you handle requests if approached by an individual? Special interest group?

Each individual that approaches a board member usually only does so because they have a specific concern that they want addressed. You have to take the time to listen to their thoughts. No one person has all the answers and they may present an angle that you haven’t thought of yet. In my mind there is no place for any special interest group in the decision making process for our school district. Local people making the decisions that effect our kids is the best way to go.

What do you feel are the three most important issues the school board will face during your (anticipated) term as a school board member? How do you plan to address those issues?

Covid is on the top of a lot of peoples list right now as well as local control of any kind of masking policies that may come up. Right now I feel like the school has a solid grip on what’s taking place inside their walls with the policy that they have in place and unless things drastically change, I don’t see any reason to change that.

With the new Administration that we have in place I think that making and instituting policy changes is a topic that will continue to be addressed for the foreseeable future. Having a child in school, I want what’s best for all the kids in the district and will look at any changes for benefits and drawbacks.

How do we move forward as a district in the future? What is our 3 and 5 year plan to advance all of our programs both academically and in extra curriculars. We need to make GMG a school of choice for kids that want to excel in both of those fields.

Why should people vote for you on November 2, 2021?

I grew up here, went to school here, and have had a child in the system for the last 21 years. I am actively involved in the community since I work in Garwin and live just outside Green Mountain. I know what our school district was like when both communities showed up and took pride in being a Wolverine. I want that back. I want trust between the community and the board as well as the Administration. Don’t get me wrong, I feel like the board has been doing a commendable job, but it’s time for new ideas.