LWVKA 2010 Voter Guide

Provide biographical information, including your qualifications for a seat on the State Board of Education and the reasons you are running. (100-word limit)
What can the State Board of Education do so that adequate public school funding is available to meet the educational needs of students? (100-word limit)
What can the State Board of Education do to ensure that all school districts comply with the standard curriculum requirements? How should the effectiveness of those requirements be assessed? (100-word limit)

Eileen Weiser
Republican, www.eileenweiserforstateboardofeducation.com

I’m a musician (B.A., MSU, M.A., UofM) and the mother of a public school 4th-grader with learning disabilities. As a frequent school volunteer and passionate supporter of good schools and teachers, I understand the practical issues our educators face. I’m a former State Board member (1998–2006) currently serving on the Board that administers The Nation’s Report Card (NAEP). I want to help Michigan find innovative, thoughtful and workable policies for K–12 schools in difficult financial times. I also want to ensure our graduates have the education they need to help create a better economic future for Michigan.
Under Michigan’s Constitution, the State Board (SBE) provides leadership and general supervision over all state educational institutions, and advises the legislature on financial requirements. In May 2010, SBE approved a Framework for Education Investment and Reform. I agree with the findings but believe that until our economy improves, its cost-cutting recommendations can be implemented faster than committing significant sources of new revenue. The Board, Governor and Legislature must confirm together what level of education is needed—preschool through college—to produce a skilled Michigan workforce with engaged citizens, then work to stabilize education funding.
Michigan’s State Superintendent can reconstitute or close any persistently non-performing school. Michigan has high K–12 knowledge requirements assessed by the MEAP and ACT—but like many states, we have low, misleading thresholds for student AYP assessment cut scores. NAEP samples our students annually, comparing achievement between states. In 2005, the National Center for Education Statistics analyzed that Michigan’s “proficient” in 4th and 8th grade math ranked just above NAEP’s “basic” scores—in the bottom half of the US. We must keep high standards and raise expectations for student outcome, requiring that students graduate from high school prepared for adult life.

Richard Zeile
Republican, http://drzeile.net
Did not respond in time for publication.

Elizabeth W. Bauer
Democratic, www.bauer4stateboard.com

50-year advocate for inclusive education law and policy (federal, state, & local), high standards, universally designed curricula, personalized instruction. Champion of arts in education, career & technical education, education technology. Member, State Board of Education 2003–2010. Executive Director, Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service 1981–2001. Director, Community Placement 1980–1981 Michigan Dept. Mental Health (MDMH). Director, Staff Development, MDMH 1978–1980. Teacher Consultant Special Education/Adult Education Administrator, Pontiac School District 1975–1978. Speech Pathologist 1959–1967. B.A., Mount Holyoke College; M.A., The Ohio State University, Education Exceptional Children; post-M.A. coursework, Education Administration, WSU & MSU. International Consultant education law, policy, human rights, and civil society.
State Board’s Constitutional Authority is to provide “Leadership and general supervision over all public education [except B.A.-granting institutions]... serve as the general planning and coordinating body for all public education, and shall advise the legislature as to the financial requirements in connection therewith...” I support SBE’s “Recommendations to Better Support Michigan’s Education System: Reforms, Restructuring and Revenues” submitted to Governor & Legislature, May 2010, including recommendations for equitable system (e.g., universal preschool, full-day kindergarten; cost saving reforms (e.g., consolidation of services, administrative functions and districts); revenues (e.g., graduated income tax). Legislature & Governor have responsibility to agree on funding.
State Board aligns state and federal accountability requirements into a state accreditation system to provide means of setting standards for continuous school improvement and measuring the need for support and intervention for schools. Federal guidelines require review of existing accountability system and state law. Elements of redesign include student achievement (proficiency in all core curricula), performance level change (growth), compliance with statute and policy and Michigan standards, accreditation status (Adequate Yearly Progress), district specific information (e.g., per pupil funding, teacher/student ratio, ACT and WorkKeys scores, accreditation by external organizations). State law requires multiple measures. MDE uses continuous improvement monitoring system.

Lupe Ramos-Montigny
Democratic, www.friends2electlupe4sbe.com

As a teenager, I was introduced to our beautiful state as a migrant farm worker. We traveled from Texas to hoe beets in Caseville, pick cherries in Old Mission Peninsula, and finished our migrant tour by harvesting tomatoes in Indiana. I was born in Weslaco, Texas. I am a proud mother of Gerard, works with insurance broker; Irma, a mechanical and manufacturing engineer. After 36.5 years of working in the Michigan Public Schools, I retired, and my commitment continues! I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas and my Master’s degree from Grand Valley State University.
Our State is being challenged by long-term financial difficulties. Costs need to be cut and resources must be directed to support quality education, in quality buildings, with quality personnel. Funding must be distributed in a predictable manner in order for school districts to make effective decisions. An equitable base amount of financial support must be available to all schools. Our problems have to be reformed, restructured in a creative way understanding that the problems cannot be solved solely with additional cuts or more money. The State Board of Education must be vigilant providing the “leadership and general supervision” as required.
The State Board of Education is required by Article VIII, Section 3 in the Michigan Constitution to “provide leadership and general supervision over all public education” thus including all districts to comply with the standard curriculum requirements. The effectiveness of the requirements can be measured by student achievement which has prepared students for the demands of college and the workplace. Students in high school are taking advanced placement classes for college and enrollment in higher education has increased substantially. Since 2007, the dropout rate has decreased by four percentage points by the implementation of the more rigorous curriculum.

Latham Redding
Green
Did not respond in time for publication.

Mary T. Wood
Green

Since 1999, I have been monitoring/researching the creation/operations of charter schools from an angle nobody else has looked. www.metrotimes.com/news/story.asp?id=13230 My 100+ 5-minute monthly public testimonies prohibited any serious discussions by the board about my concerns. When charters were on the board’s agenda I was not allowed to give input. The depth of the board’s discussion is often directed by the very people that I have raised concern about. Current board members do not know any different due to their limited knowledge about the subject. I would be an asset for accountability of the expenditure of tax money in this way.
This past spring the State Board had serious discussions and developed “Recommendations to Better Support Michigan’s Education System: Revenues, Reforms and Restructuring.” I totally stand behind this bi-partisan report. The Legislature must now do its role to make this happen. But a serious look has to be given to those districts already in deficit such as Detroit Public Schools who was expected to reduce their expenditures at the same time they continued to lose more student revenue. Soon many more districts will be in a hole with no visible way out. Also are charters a good value for the dollar?
Transparency makes for accountability. If the curriculum requirements are not being adhered too it will show up in the results of the MEAP, MME and ACT scores. As long as test results are the only criteria for evaluating success (which I believe is only one measurement) the recent ranking of schools by the State Board tells administrators and parents how their schools compare to all the others. This surely should keep districts on their toes to work harder to educate children to succeed. Districts need to be encouraged to turn to their intermediate school districts for assistance and support.

Karen Adams
US Taxpayers
Did not respond in time for publication.

Ronald Monroe
US Taxpayers
Did not respond in time for publication.

Dick Gach
Libertarian, www.lpwm.org/DickGach
Did not respond in time for publication.

Bill Hall
Libertarian, www.lpwm.org/BillHall

A.B., magna cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa, Wabash College, 1978. J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, Northwestern University School of Law, 1981. Attorney and Partner, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, specializing in real estate and election law. Served on the boards of the Heartland Institute, Taxpayers Association of Michigan, and Libertarian National Committee. Volunteer Scout leader, 1994 to date, currently Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 282, Rockford. I am running to oppose the income and sales tax increases unanimously endorsed by the Republicans and Democrats on the current Board to fund $3 billion in educational spending increases.
We must cut spending, live within our means and pursue academic initiatives that don’t increase costs. Test scores show educational achievement in public schools is practically the same as 30 years ago, though we are now spending dramatically more inflation-adjusted dollars. Spending more money is clearly not the answer. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has identified billions of dollars of savings to be had by privatizing non-core functions of our public schools—transportation, food services and facilities management. Through collaboration (not consolidation) among school districts in the purchase of goods and services millions more dollars can be saved.
We need to leave our local schools alone to do their job. Local school boards, parents and taxpayers know what’s best for their kids—state politicians and bureaucrats don’t. Eliminate state micro-management of local schools. Respect local decisions on issues of educational policy. Free schools from red tape, so they can spend their funds on academics, not reporting. Let teachers spend their time teaching, not completing forms to send to Lansing. Don’t impose unfunded mandates. Encourage schools to raise academic standards by publicizing the successes of schools whose higher standards actually raise academic achievement.

Stacy Kohmescher
Natural Law
Did not respond in time for publication.