School Board Candidate David Wessel Wants a More Financially Sound District

David Wessel and his wife have had a child in Mehlville schools for one year, and already they see the struggles in the district. Wessel is a hiring manager in the information technology field and interviews candidates for job openings. Wessel said he often finds candidates lacking in the necessary qualities to fill the positions, even in this economic recession. 

“If you have high tech skills or engineering skills, you are very much in demand,” he said. “I want to make sure our kids, and everyone else’s, are being educated, so they have the skills that are in demand in the future.”

Wessel grew up in the Mehlville School District and graduated from Oakville High School. With two children—one at John Cary Early Childhood Center, and one that is almost 2 years old—he saw that certain things can be cut due to funding. Wessel said that the defeat of Proposition C opened his eyes. He thinks that the budget constraints proposed with Prop C, paired with the large asking amount, lost a lot of trust within the community.

Wessel has no doubt that the current board wants to do everything in its power to make the district better. However, he said one must sprinkle a dose of reality in there as well.

“Parents as Teachers has been cut. It’s going to be a scary couple of years to be quite honest with you,” he said. “My main goal is to say ‘Hey, let’s stop the bleeding and stabilize where we are at.' Expenses keep going up and the revenue doesn’t. You can’t improve without fiscal responsibility.”

Wessel has a bachelor’s degree in music education. During his student teaching, he said he discovered an understanding about education and the challenges schools face today. Even though he is no longer working in education, he leads a team of highly-skilled engineers and is responsible for a budget. Getting the school district in financial order, or at least on the path, is one of his primary goals if elected. 

“If we can do that, I think we need to focus on bringing back things that we had cut. Basic reading, writing and arithmetic are great, but there are skills above and beyond that are going to separate us from the pack: arts, science and technology,” Wessel said. “The real world is really looking for that now, and we need to make sure we set our kids up for that.”

Wessel said that just like most companies, the vast majority of expenses relate to its employees.

“The teachers are getting the job done and are the biggest assets of the district,” he said. “Obviously, the biggest expense should go with that.”

Wessel said he has reviewed the numbers and knows the deficit that the district is looking at operating within over the next few years.

“There is only so much to cut out without having to affect people,” he said. “I have experienced a salary freeze myself, but I think our revenue is coming in flat and going down a bit, so unfortunately, I would implement a salary freeze. I’d like to take it on a year-by-year basis.” 

Wessel said that he would also like for the district to use its money better and more wisely. Facility changes and being more environmentally friendly, such as shutting off computers and monitors, can go a long way.

“You can save $10,000-$15,000 annually with that. It isn’t going to make up a $4-million budget, but you are going to have to look at those types of things, reduce some staff through attrition," he said.

Even though Wessel voted for Prop C, he didn’t agree with everything in the proposal. He thought he was making the best of a bad situation and choosing the lesser of two evils. He would much rather have supported a lower tax increase.

“I think had a more moderate number been put out there, it probably wouldn’t have failed as miserably,” he said. “I definitely want to see the district succeed. I’m not the type to say public education is bad. That’s not me. Prop C failed, and therefore, nothing was accomplished. I’d rather accomplish a little bit instead of nothing.”

Brian Coles, a friend of Wessel’s since high school, thinks Wessel is great for the school board because he has an ability to take in his surroundings quickly and assess the situation, making sound decisions.

“He grew up so much faster than myself and the rest of us. He’s always been such a mature guy,” Coles said. “It doesn’t surprise me that he wants to improve the climate of Oakville. We went to Oakville at a time where we didn’t think anything could get passed. He cares about his family and wants the best for it and his friends. He’s such a laid back ‘doesn’t need to be the center of attention’ guy.”

Wessel said that if he has a weakness in his campaign, it is that he is not a politician.

“To be honest with you, I have not followed the history of the district as closely as I’m sure other people have had to,” he said. “It’s going to take me some time to get up to speed. You only can learn so much looking through meeting notes and financial statements. Obviously, I think I can do it, or else I wouldn’t be here.”