Silver Falls School Board Candidates Outline Priorities at Forum
- Derek Bratton
- May 3
- 6 min read
Updated: May 4
Silverton, Ore.—Six candidates vying for three open seats on the Silver Falls School Board shared their visions for the district at a candidate forum on April 30, held and hosted by the Silverton Grange, drawing community members eager to hear from the contenders for Zones 2, 4, and 5 in the May 20 election.
The Silver Falls School District faces a $825,000 budget shortfall after a $73 million bond failed in 2024, sparking debates over facility upgrades, curriculum changes, and student identity policies. Recent food access concerns and a shifting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) culture have the community asking many questions, while an April 17 safety incident heightened calls for stronger security measures.
District Challenges in Focus
The district’s financial woes took center stage, with candidates emphasizing the need for transparency and fiscal responsibility. The failed bond, intended to fund facility improvements, left schools like Butte Creek and Silverton Middle School struggling with outdated infrastructure. Food access issues, including limited options for students, have also drawn scrutiny, alongside concerns over DEI policies perceived by some as prioritizing identity over academics.
Candidate Profiles
The six candidates bring diverse expertise to the Silver Falls School Board race. Below are their backgrounds, with notable accomplishments in bold.
Note: All Candidates are asked a question, each taking turns starting, all answering the questions. below are the candidate's profiles in the order they are asked the questions.
Video below 👇👇👇
David H. Helman, Zone 2
A Silverton resident since 1995, David H. Helman is a retired programmer and educator with a PhD in Philosophy from Harvard, a BA from UC Berkeley, and an MS in Computer Science from Portland State University. He has programmed for 30 years at GE, Dell, and the State of Oregon, taught philosophy and computer science at the university level, and served as a middle school math substitute teacher. With three children who attended the district and have now achieved success, Helman focuses on enhancing safety through measures like metal detectors and school resource officers, promoting data transparency to analyze financial anomalies, and ensuring rural school equity to maintain access for all students.
Sarah Dalisky, Zone 2
A Silverton resident since 2005, Sarah Dalisky is a mom, student behavior specialist at David Douglas School District, and former Silver Falls educator with 22 years of experience as an educator, a BS in Early Childhood Elementary Education, and an MS in Education with a Reading Endorsement from Western Oregon University. She also holds a Writing Certificate from Willamette University and an Administrative License from George Fox University. With two children in the district and prior teaching experience there, Dalisky aims to bring an educator’s voice to the board, prioritizing transparency to address budget crises, accountability through fiscal oversight, and a students-first approach to decision-making.
Wally Lierman, Zone 4
A Silver Falls School District resident, Wally Lierman is a farm owner/operator and safety consultant with education from Salem Academy, Chemeketa Community College, and George Fox College. He has served on the Central Howell School Board from 1995 to 1997, served on the Silver Falls School Board from 1997 to 2017 (including chair for 9 years), and has been serving on the Oregon Blueberry Commission since 2021, with project management experience at Intel and SSOE Group. With over two decades of board experience, Lierman focuses on academic growth, wise tax dollar management through transparency, addressing challenges like enrollment and safety, and leveraging his proven leadership to ensure a stable future for the district.
Kellie King Strawn, Zone 4
A lifelong Silverton resident, Kellie Strawn is a mom and agricultural professional with an M.S. in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University, a B.S. in Agriculture from Oregon State University, and a diploma from Silverton High School. Her career includes roles as a communications coordinator for Oklahoma 4-H, marketing and sales associate at Stahlbush Island Farms, quality assurance and bookkeeping at Ag Solutions, College of Ag Sciences Leadership Academy Director at Oregon State University, and agricultural leadership instructor at Oregon State University. She also served on the SFSD Budget Committee, appointed in 2024. Having attended K-12 in the district, Strawn values extracurricular activities for fostering leadership and learning, aiming to navigate the 2024 financial crisis, restore fiscal stability, update curriculum, address staffing, and develop a sustainable strategic plan through transparent collaboration.
Nicole Grill, Zone 5
A Silver Falls School District resident, Nicole Grill is a special education assistant at John F. Kennedy High School with education from Wilsonville High School and the University of Oregon. Her career includes roles as a general manager at CFM Players Entertainment, operations manager at Langdon Farms Golf Club, and food services experience at Mount Angel Middle School. With a diverse background in education and management, Grill aims to establish a balanced budget, restore community trust through transparency, align district policies with community standards, create a plan for facility upgrades, foster a student-first environment, and promote accountability to ensure student success.
Daniel Cote, Zone 5
A Silverton resident for over 20 years, Daniel Cote is a chiropractor with over 28 years of experience as a Doctor of Chiropractic. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Parker College of Chiropractic (1996) and runs Cote Chiropractic, a family-oriented practice in Silverton serving wellness and injury care needs. He is licensed by the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners (license 273014) and has demonstrated leadership in providing holistic care to Silverton families, alongside roles as a member of the OBCE from 2010 to 2016, president from 2013 to 2016, National Board of Chiropractic from 2013 to 2022, president from 2019 to 2022, and International Board of Chiropractic from 2015 to 2022, chair from 2017 to 2022. With children who attended all levels of the district and graduated from Silverton High School, Cote seeks to prioritize core competencies, extracurricular activities, support for students and teachers, and transparent fiscal responsibility to rebuild a positive academic environment.
Forum Highlights
The forum, filmed by a local Silverton blogger (Derek2Earth.com) and substitute teacher serving Silver Falls School District, highlighted the candidates’ diverse approaches to the district’s challenges. Helman and Lierman emphasized safety. Dalisky and Strawn focused on transparency, stressing the need to rebuild community trust amid the budget crisis. Grill and Cote underscored student-centered policies, advocating for facility upgrades and teacher support to enhance learning environments.
The $825,000 shortfall loomed large, with candidates like Strawn and Cote drawing on their financial experience to propose sustainable solutions. Rural school equity also emerged as a key issue, particularly for Helman, who emphasized the importance of maintaining schools like Butte Creek for equitable access.
With the election on May 20, Silverton residents face a critical decision in shaping the district’s future. The candidates’ varied backgrounds—from education and agriculture to chiropractic and management—offer a range of perspectives on tackling the district’s challenges. Voters can find more information in the Official Marion County Voter’s Pamphlet at www.co.marion.or.us/CO/elections.
What is the Grange?
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By Gus Fredrick
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