League of Women Voters Lansing Area Voter Guide EAST LANSING SCHOOL BOARD

Transcription

1 League of Women Voters Lansing Area Voter Guide EAST LANSING SCHOOL BOARD Marble Elementary School November 6, 2012 VOTE411 website Your guide to Michigan elections, amendments and proposals Under a Michigan law upheld in July 2007 by the Michigan Supreme Court, ALL voters are required to show photo identification to vote at the polls. If you have no photo identification or don t have one with you, you must fill out and sign an affidavit in order to receive a ballot. The ID requirement does not apply to persons voting by absentee ballot. 1

2 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS VOTER GUIDE CANDIDATES FOR THE EAST LANSING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION The League of Women Voters is a national nonpartisan organization established to encourage citizen participation in government. It never supports or opposes any political party or candidate. The League of Women Voters does support or oppose governmental action on issues after careful study, without regard to the stand of any political party. Issues are never advocated in VOTER GUIDES. This Voter Guide is also available at: the Lansing City Clerk s website at at the Vote411 website at and at the Lansing City Clerks office and the East Lansing City Hall. Publication of these statements and opinions of the candidates is solely in the interest of public service and in no way is to be construed as an endorsement thereof by the League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters takes no responsibility for any of the views or facts as stated by the candidates. If you wish to write in a candidate s name, please spell the candidate s name correctly. Slight variations in spelling or nicknames will not disqualify your vote. If you write the first name of a candidate as Debbie rather than Deborah, your vote will count. Enter name, Board of Education and the term of office on the ballot. Candidates have been gracious enough to draft responses for this Voter s Guide. Candidates are limited to a personal statement and responses of 300 characters, including spaces. Candidates appear in alphabetical order. East Lansing School Board - Non Partisan - vote for 2 candidates four-year term East Lansing School Board - Non Partisan - vote for 1 candidate Partial term expiring 12/31/2014 Kathy Esselman President League of Women Voters of the Lansing Area 2

3 East Lansing School Board Four year term of office Election assigned to this office: General Election 11/06/2012 Office Description: The East Lansing Public Schools are governed by a Board of seven members who are elected at large to serve four-year, overlapping terms. Since 1973, the Board has invited a student-elected, nonvoting student representative from East Lansing High School to sit on the Board for a one-year term. Regularly scheduled meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at East Lansing Public Schools Administrative Offices, located at 841 Timberlane, Suite A, East Lansing, MI Four year term of office. Non-Partisan. Salary: Unpaid. Vote for not more than 2 3

4 Rima Addiego Biographical Info: Address: 620 Ardson Road East Lansing, Michigan Campaign Phone: (517) Campaign Questions: Q: 1. What factors that should be considered in determining configuration? A: Configuration should be determined based upon an analysis of all populations, resident and out of district; # of class sections in each building; reducing as many transitions between buildings as possible;any relevant achievement data, and practical financial considerations for potential bonds. Q: 2. The Michigan Department of Education designated all six of East Lansing s elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School as Focus Schools, in which the bottom 30% of students is performing at a level significantly below the top 30% of students. How can we help struggling students improve academic growth while maintaining appropriate support for high achieving students? A: ELPS already has put in place multi tiered systems of support for our students at all levels. See the Public Response website, ELPS School Board Candidate Forum under my name where I discuss this topic at length, under question #3. Q: 3. About 22% of East Lansing students are non residents of the district participating in the Schools of Choice program. Would you expand, maintain or reduce East Lansing's participation in this program? Please explain your response? A: I do not favor expansion. I voted last Spring to keep the current numbers stable. Our Board and community need to have a thorough conversation about this topic - people asking for 6 neighborhood schools would essentially be requiring an expansion of this program. More public discourse is required. Q: 4. How can funding for East Lansing High School s extra-curricular programs be properly balanced? Do fees for creative and sports activities limit participation? A: More volunteer support and funding will be required in the coming years to keep these activities at a high level. As education funding gets squeezed this is an area where the Board has looked for reductions. Yes, although there are always funds set aside in each sport/activity for such situations. 4

5 Kathleen Edsall Biographical Info: Address: 1026 Daisy Lane, East Lansing, MI Campaign Phone: (517) Campaign Questions: Q: 1. What factors that should be considered in determining configuration? A: While data is available to support any configuration, with our district's unique issues, I do NOT support moving 6th graders to MMS. I do favor either 6 K-6 or 2 K-4 and 4 K- 6. Both options decrease busing, keep our youngest close to home and the latter allows some consolidation at the 5/6 level. Q: 2. The Michigan Department of Education designated all six of East Lansing s elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School as Focus Schools, in which the bottom 30% of students is performing at a level significantly below the top 30% of students. How can we help struggling students improve academic growth while maintaining appropriate support for high achieving students? A: While all are Focus Schools,a range exists within our district. We need to model the more successful schools, implement the recommendations of the ELPS Achievement Gap Task Force, keep neighborhood schools to support parent participation and support teaching to small, ability defined groups. Q: 3. About 22% of East Lansing students are non residents of the district participating in the Schools of Choice program. Would you expand, maintain or reduce East Lansing's participation in this program? Please explain your response? A: Neighborhood schools, High school course variety and sports teams depend upon a minimum district enrollment. Though I don't support building excess capacity to accommodate SOC students, most SOC families commit/contribute to ELPS as well as the EL community by working in EL/MSU. Many even move here. Q: 4. How can funding for East Lansing High School s extra-curricular programs be properly balanced? Do fees for creative and sports activities limit participation? A: I am a huge advocate of extra-curricular programs for ALL students. It seems reasonable to believe that fees would limit participation. Accordingly, I would look closely at funding sources to allow the greatest rate of participation by all students without sacrificing academics. 5

6 Nate Lake Biographical Info: Address: P.O. Box 4934 East Lansing, MI Campaign Phone: (517) Campaign Web Site: Campaign Questions: Q: 1. What factors that should be considered in determining configuration? A: - student achievement - transition/movement of students - adequacy of infrastructure (INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY) - student population in neighborhoods surrounding each building - availability of funds - specific and overall needs of the district Q: 2. The Michigan Department of Education designated all six of East Lansing s elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School as Focus Schools, in which the bottom 30% of students is performing at a level significantly below the top 30% of students. How can we help struggling students improve academic growth while maintaining appropriate support for high achieving students? A: We must review and continue to implement appropriate recommendations from the Achievement Gap Task Force. -Recruit and retain personnel -Provide professional learning opportunities for district personnel -Strengthen accountability measures and achieve curricular cohesion Q: 3. About 22% of East Lansing students are non residents of the district participating in the Schools of Choice program. Would you expand, maintain or reduce East Lansing's participation in this program? Please explain your response? A: I would not expand our participation in schools of choice at this time. My support of any changes would be tied to the district s overall strategic plan including an analysis of opportunities and challenges posed by schools of choice. Who are we, who do we want to be, how do we get there? Q: 4. How can funding for East Lansing High School s extra-curricular programs be properly balanced? Do fees for creative and sports activities limit participation? A: I cannot answer the question without getting input from staff, students and parents. Do stakeholders believe this is an issue? If yes, then we must determine how much if any non-traditional funds are needed to balance the budget. Yes, fees can limit participation. 6

7 Alec Lloyd Biographical Info: Address: 1416 Basswood Court East Lansing, MI Campaign Phone: (517) Campaign Web Site: Campaign Questions: Q: 1. What factors that should be considered in determining configuration? A: East Lansing should base its school configuration on the needs of its students and what works best for the community as a whole. The record is clear: East Lansing had its best success when it embraced the neighborhood school configuration. Q: 2. The Michigan Department of Education designated all six of East Lansing s elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School as Focus Schools, in which the bottom 30% of students is performing at a level significantly below the top 30% of students. How can we help struggling students improve academic growth while maintaining appropriate support for high achieving students? A: There are too many transitions, causing students to get lost in the shuffle. Creating stable, neighborhood schools will help these children receive the help they need. Q: 3. About 22% of East Lansing students are non residents of the district participating in the Schools of Choice program. Would you expand, maintain or reduce East Lansing's participation in this program? Please explain your response? A: Our participation in Schools of Choice demonstrates the inclusive values of our community. That being said, East Lansing must have a strong base of in-district students. Keeping taxes as low as possible and embracing neighborhood schools will encourage more families with children to live here. Q: 4. How can funding for East Lansing High School s extra-curricular programs be properly balanced? Do fees for creative and sports activities limit participation? A: The current board has the wrong priorities. Pollsters and consultants should not be paid with dollars meant for students. The EPIC/MRA poll could have paid the athletic fee for more than 60 students. We should focus on finding ways to cut costs and increase accessibility for all students. 7

8 East Lansing School Board Partial Term expiring 12/31/2014 Election assigned to this office: General Election 11/06/2012 Office Description: The East Lansing Public Schools are governed by a Board of seven members who are elected at large to serve four-year, overlapping terms. Since 1973, the Board has invited a student-elected, nonvoting student representative from East Lansing High School to sit on the Board for a one-year term. Regularly scheduled meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at East Lansing Public Schools Administrative Offices, located at 841 Timberlane, Suite A, East Lansing, MI Partial term expiring on 12/31/2014 Non-Partisan. Salary: Unpaid. Vote for not more than 1 8

9 Kay Young Biddle Biographical Info: Address: 6096 Horizon Drive East Lansing, MI Campaign Phone: (517) Campaign Questions: Q: 1. What factors that should be considered in determining configuration? A: Academic success is the primary consideration when making configuration decisions. We know that building transitions negatively impact student achievement. Additionally, we must use our professional staff efficiently and distribute students in a manner that results in reasonable class sizes. Q: 2. The Michigan Department of Education designated all six of East Lansing s elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School as Focus Schools, in which the bottom 30% of students is performing at a level significantly below the top 30% of students. How can we help struggling students improve academic growth while maintaining appropriate support for high achieving students? A: By treating students as individuals with strengths to be built upon and extended and challenges to be met early, before small skill deficits become a barrier to long term learning. We have begun to implement this approach in the early grades by frequent assessment and intensive response. Q: 3. About 22% of East Lansing students are non residents of the district participating in the Schools of Choice program. Would you expand, maintain or reduce East Lansing's participation in this program? Please explain your response? A: This year I supported maintaining the current level of non-resident enrollment. I have asked the superintendent for a more comprehensive assessment of the impact of the current level Schools of Choice participation, which is necessary for making informed decisions on this issue. Q: 4. How can funding for East Lansing High School s extra-curricular programs be properly balanced? Do fees for creative and sports activities limit participation? A: There is a delicate balance between what the District can afford and what the community can support. Currently fees are waived for free and reduced lunch students, and athletic fees are covered by the boosters for others who ask for assistance. The impact on participation is difficult to assess 9

10 John L. Revitte Biographical Info: Address: 919 Wick Court East Lansing, MI Campaign Phone: (517) Campaign Web Site: sites.google.com/site/revitteforelschoolboard/ Campaign Questions: Q: 1. What factors that should be considered in determining configuration? A: Many factors and options have been discussed. Configuration objectives should promote academic achievement, small class size, keeping schools in neighborhoods, and reducing transitions. There are several compromise solutions that could accomplish these objectives and keep all buildings functioning. Q: 2. The Michigan Department of Education designated all six of East Lansing s elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School as Focus Schools, in which the bottom 30% of students is performing at a level significantly below the top 30% of students. How can we help struggling students improve academic growth while maintaining appropriate support for high achieving students? A: The gap between higher and lower achievers must be addressed and all aspects of the achievement gap task force plans need to be implemented with vigorous attention and commitment. We also need to strengthen the curriculum, encourage teacher collaborations and continue advanced placement programs. Q: 3. About 22% of East Lansing students are non residents of the district participating in the Schools of Choice program. Would you expand, maintain or reduce East Lansing's participation in this program? Please explain your response? A: ELPS should continue to actively participate in Michigan's SOC program, but at a slightly reduced level of between 15 to 20% of students being non-residents. We should encourage more SOC students to enter at lower grade levels, and we should work with the city and encourage families to move to EL. Q: 4. How can funding for East Lansing High School s extra-curricular programs be properly balanced? Do fees for creative and sports activities limit participation? A: ELPS needs to continue charging modest fees. We must work with the education foundation, athletic boosters and band and orchestra parents to hold successful fundraising campaigns. ELPS and these support groups should continue to offer scholarships so all students who want to participate can do so. 10

11 Please join us and make a difference! The total annual dues for are $ This includes $31.00 for LWV-US, $21.00 for LWV-MI, and $10.00 for LWV-LA. If another member resides in the same household, the dues for the second member are $ National and state dues are assessed to our local league based on the national membership list as of January 31, If you wish to join or renew your membership, please complete this form and mail in the enclosed envelope to: LWV-LA P.O. Box 971 E. Lansing, MI NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP PHONE Please note that we will keep your information confidential. Amount enclosed: $ $62.00 for one member $ $93.00 for two members in the same household Additional donations: $ for LWV-LA $ for League of Women Voters Education Fund (Please use separate check) 11

12 12