Michelle Anderson, Beukema, Burr at a table

Know before you go: Learn about the School Board candidates before the Nov. 3 election

St. Francis Area Schools

September 25, 2026

Two candidates for the St. Francis Area Schools School Board gathered on Sept. 22 for a Meet the Candidates event, which was hosted by the St. Francis Area Schools Community Education Advisory Council (CEAC).

Matthew Beukema and Nathan Burr attended the event, which included an interview-style format. The following questions were developed and gathered by the CEAC:

  1. In you own words, what do you feel is the role of the school board here at ISD15?

  2. Describe all of your previous connections or affiliations to the school district.

  3. If you are a parent, do/will/have your children attend St. Francis Area Schools?

  4. How do your personal values reflect the SFAS mission statement and how will your work as a board member support it?

  5. What makes you proud of the St. Francis Area Schools district?

  6. What prompted you to run for a school board member, and what would your goals and objectives be as a member if elected?

  7. As an individual school board member, how would you handle a situation where the board takes a position which you do not agree with? What if that position was something you actively campaigned on?

  8. What is the most important aspect of what ISD 15 does for our community?

  9. How would you plan to connect and communicate with older adults within the school district community?

  10. Is there anything in your past that could positively or negatively reflect on the SFAS school district? *

  11. What actions can the school board take to collaborate with local cities, towns, and governments?

  12. How will you engage the community stakeholders to get a representative sample of the community values on which to make district wide decisions?

*Question 10 was not included in the video due to technical difficulties.

Three at-large seats will be filled by a general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Beukema and Burr where the only two members who filed. As with any other board election, the top three people (including write-ins) with the highest number of votes will be elected to the seats. Elected board members will take office in January 2027 and serve until January 2031.