The District is again publishing profiles regarding the School Board candidates.
Candidates invited to participate included (listed in order they will appear on the ballot): Joni L. Heisner and Andy Busch.
The election is Tuesday, April 7. Voters will be asked to select not more than two candidates.
The top two vote getters will each receive a three-year term on the school board commencing Monday, April 27.
Thank you to the candidates for participating.
Joni L. Heisner (Incumbent)
- Please tell us a bit about yourself, including what motivates you to run for school board and what experience or skills have prepared you to serve.
My name is Joni Heisner and I am seeking reelection for my third term on the Mineral Point School Board. My husband, Cyrus, and I live outside Mineral Point, and we are proud parents of three daughters who attend Mineral Point High School. In addition to my service on the school board, I also serve on the CESA 3 Board of Control and on the Finance Council for Saint Pius of Pietrelcina Catholic Church.
I hold bachelor’s degrees in agricultural business and agricultural economics from South Dakota State University, as well as a MBA from Edgewood College. For the past 23 years, I have worked at John Deere Financial in a variety of roles that have strengthened my skills in strategic planning, budgeting, and data‑informed decision‑making.
I am motivated to run for the school board because I care deeply about this community and believe in the importance of strong, stable leadership. I enjoy working collaboratively with my fellow board members, listening to diverse perspectives, and making thoughtful decisions that support our students, staff, and families. It is meaningful to me to help shape the educational experiences that prepare our young people to enter the world as capable, confident, and contributing adults.
Serving on the board has been an honor, and I am committed to continuing the work of ensuring that Mineral Point remains a district where students thrive, educators feel supported, and our community’s values are reflected in the decisions we make.
- How do you define success for our school district, and what outcomes or indicators would help you know the district is moving in the right direction?
I believe success for our school district must be measured in multiple ways, because no single metric can fully capture the experience or outcomes of our students. Two areas that rise to the top for me are strong academic performance and meaningful student engagement.
Mineral Point has long been recognized for its academic excellence, as reflected in our School Report Card and standardized test results. These indicators matter because they show how well we are preparing students in core academic areas. However, they are only one part of the picture.
Equally important is how our students are engaging with the opportunities we provide and how prepared they feel for life after graduation. That’s why I value the work we are doing with Measures that Matter and our Portrait of a Pointer. These tools help us understand whether students are developing the skills, habits, and experiences that set them up for success—whether they plan to enter the workforce, pursue higher education, or follow another path.
When we see strong academic outcomes paired with high levels of student involvement, confidence, and readiness for life beyond high school, that’s when we know our district is moving in the right direction.
- What are one or two challenges you believe our district will face over the next few years, and how do you approach decision making when there are competing priorities or differing community perspectives?
One of the biggest challenges ahead is the ongoing uncertainty around public school funding. The recent referendum puts Mineral Point in a stable position for now, but we need to remain fiscally disciplined and plan carefully to ensure long‑term sustainability.
We are also facing real space constraints at the elementary school, which is operating at full capacity. It’s a positive sign that families want to be part of our district, even as demographic trends suggest enrollment should be declining, but it also creates pressure on our facilities and staff and requires thoughtful long‑term planning.
When difficult decisions arise—especially when there are competing priorities or differing community perspectives—I focus on listening to all viewpoints, grounding decisions in data, and being transparent about the reasoning behind the choices we make, always keeping students at the center.
- What do you find most rewarding about being a school board member, and what are you most looking forward to in an upcoming term?
One of the most rewarding parts of serving on the school board is the recognition portion at the beginning of our meetings. Each month we honor students and staff for their accomplishments, and it’s inspiring to see the wide range of achievements—from academics and athletics to music, leadership, and beyond. It’s a privilege to witness their hard work and to know that, in some small way, my service on the board helps create the opportunities that allow our students and staff to thrive.
Looking ahead to a possible third term, I’m excited about continuing to work with my fellow board members to strengthen Mineral Point’s reputation as an education destination. We have a strong foundation, and I look forward to helping ensure that our district remains a place where students, families, and staff feel supported and proud to belong.
Andy Busch (Incumbent)
- Please tell us a bit about yourself, including what motivates you to run for school board and what experience or skills have prepared you to serve.
I live with my wife, Gail, in Mineral Point, where I have resided my entire life. I am motivated to run for school board because I believe the Mineral Point School District is an incredible place to live and has provided me so much in my life, and I wish to provide what I can in return. I have been on the board for 10 years.
- How do you define success for our school district, and what outcomes or indicators would help you know the district is moving in the right direction?
I define success as our district making a positive impact on each student and employee in the district. I think continuing to track the culture in the district, continuing to track the students and making sure we are providing as much as we can for each student’s success, and that each student has someone they relate to or rely on in the district so no child feels alone. I think continuing to monitor student success academically is also important. I’d like to continue to work with the staff as well to monitor staff culture and continue to cultivate a positive relationship between the board, administration, and all staff.
- What are one or two challenges you believe our district will face over the next few years, and how do you approach decision making when there are competing priorities or differing community perspectives?
I believe school finance will always be a challenge to rural districts in Wisconsin, and will continue to approach each decision with a cost/benefit mindset and evaluate that alongside what the current board and district goals are to help reach my decisions. I think another new challenge for the district will be the use and implementation of AI, making sure we are preparing students with the knowledge of how to use it, how it will affect them, and how it may change what their future plans look like.
- What do you find most rewarding about being a school board member, and what are you most looking forward to in an upcoming term?
I find that knowing that we have tried to provide each student and staff member with the best experience in public education that we can each and every year is the most rewarding. I look forward to continuing working with some incredible colleagues on the board to make sure we are doing everything we can to meet our goals, so we can continue to provide an experience we can be proud of to all students and staff.