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Interview with MI State Board of Education
Candidate Elizabeth "Liz" Bauer
For more articles on disabilities and special ed visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
This year there are two open seats on the State
Board of Education in the November 5th election. The State
Board of Education has constitutional authority to set the
policy direction for all public education and to hire and fire
the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The State
Board of Education’s actions affect all citizens. It is
important for us to know who the candidates are and what their
positions are on the educational issues that are so vital to
us.
Elizabeth “Liz” Bauer is one of the two Democratic Party
candidates for the State Board of Education. We conducted this
interview with Liz so that readers could evaluate her
positions and ideas in preparing to vote in the November
election. We make one small disclosure before sharing our
interview with you. We have known Liz for over a decade, are
solid supporters and are on her campaign committee. Aside from
these minor details the questions are ours, the answers are
Liz’s. For those of you who might flinch at our blatant
favoritism, might we suggest that you, too, pass these
questions by other candidates for the State Board of Education
and post them as well. We all need to CARE; we must care about
the people who will be setting future Michigan education
policy. For OUR FAMILIES AND US the “bottom of the ballot”
might be our best chance to impact the educational and
community opportunities that are and will be available to our
children. And now to the interview.
1. Over the past 12 years the powers of the State Board of
Education have been reduced by Executive Orders. How have
these changes impacted public education?
The present role of the State Board of Education is to set the
policy direction and establish the priorities for all public
education including adult education and instructional programs
in state institutions and community colleges. Implementation
of the Policy Direction is delegated to the State
Superintendent. The Board hires, evaluates and may fire the
State Superintendent. The Board no longer has a hands-on role
in the implementation of educational policy. Therefore, it is
crucial that the public contribute to policy formulation if
public education is to be accountable to the people who use
and fund it.
2. What do you see as the primary goal of public education?
The purpose of public education is to provide all children
with the skills and knowledge required to participate
productively in a high tech, linguistically and culturally
diverse society. An excellent education includes instruction
in reading, writing, mathematics, science and technology, the
arts, humanities and the classics, history, civics, political
science, and conflict resolution. The State Board sets the
standards for achieving this purpose. As a Board member, I
will work to set rigorous standards for student achievement,
school performance, teacher and paraprofessional education,
and curriculum development and oversee their implementation
through state, intermediate and local education agencies. I
will work with the Governor and legislature to assure adequate
funding to implement this policy direction and achieve the
desired results.
3. What measures do you support to assure the best possible
education for Michigan's children?
I believe that we must set rigorous standards for instruction,
curriculum and student achievement. These standards must:
· Use multi-dimensional assessment measures which consider
each students’ individual ability, learning style and cultural
and linguistic diversity;
· Require and use fully certified teachers in every classroom
(teaching in the field for which they are certified);
· Reduce class sizes and/or add trained paraprofessional
support so attention is devoted to the;
· Increase focus on early childhood education; (Michigan
recognizes the importance of early childhood education in its
mandatory special education law. All children should have
educational opportunities early on.);
· Restore adult education funding;
· Assure schools are safe for all students and educational
staff;
· Resolve capital funding issues so that school buildings can
support demands of technology (many buildings cannot meet
electrical requirements of computers, etc);
· Involve and empower all parents to be effective advocates
for their children’s education using parent skill building,
empowerment and other development classes when needed;
· Reunited the related educational functions of education,
data collection, assessment, adult education, school-based
health care and school social work within the MDOE;
· Provide rigorous standards for teacher/paraprofessional
training and professional development;
· Include individualized post-secondary transition plans for
all; and
· Provide state supported pre-kindergarten education
throughout Michigan.
4. What role should the State Board take in evaluating and
improving school infrastructure [bricks and mortar]?
The State Board has the constitutional authority to make
recommendations to the legislature. Districts with inadequate
tax bases and/or declining enrollment are unable to raise
funds to replace or modernize their school buildings. These
capital improvement funding problems require a statewide
solution. I will work with the legislature and school
districts to devise new ways to fund infrastructure
improvements and/or replacements so that all districts can
bring their buildings up to date without penalizing those
districts which have funded their own capital improvements.
5. How can the State Board encourage inclusion of students
with disabilities in general education classrooms?
The State Board sets the standards for teacher preparation and
certification. I will promote policies encouraging teacher
preparation programs to integrate the training and education
of special education and general education teachers in a
single program, as is done in some other states’ teacher
preparation programs. Young teachers need better grounding on
strategies and ideas on how to make instruction relevant to
ALL students in the classroom and deserve the support of
school administration to gain the confidence to implement
them.
I also will promote policies supporting annual in-service
personnel development opportunities for administrators and
faculty identifying and embracing new strategies for modern
inclusive schools and classrooms. I will work for a State
Board policy that directs that ALL Michigan students should be
educated with their same age peers. The Superintendent and the
MDE must work with ISDs and local education agencies to
implement that policy direction.
6. What should the State Board of Education be doing to help
fund special education?
The State never has lived up to its responsibility to fully
fund special education in Michigan. The coalition to Keep the
Promise to Michigan’s children is working to achieve the goal
of full funding. I have signed on to the “Promise” and will
work to fully implement its objectives.
7. What role should the State Board of Education play in the
creation and operation of Charter schools?
The State Board has the constitutional responsibility to
oversee all public education. The Charter Schools are public
schools and are supposed to be overseen by their authorizing
institutions (Universities, Indian Tribes). As a Board member
I will support policies that require the authorizing
institutions to hold the charter schools accountable to the
same standards as all public schools and that require regular
reports on performance.
8. How can the State Board help schools classified as
“under-performing” by the federal Elementary and Secondary
Education Act [ESEA] maximize student performance so that the
schools are not financially penalized and large numbers of
high risk students are not left undereducated or uneducated?
While ESEA has a punitive approach to “under-performing”
schools, ESEA does not prohibit Michigan from creating an
“early intervention” program to bring at-risk schools up to
Michigan standards. I will work to see such programs created
and used. The Board will adopt the definition of “proficient,”
against which schools will be measured. The dilemma for policy
makers is how to maintain high standards for public education
in the state and at the same time not set up schools for
failure. Some states have defined “proficient” at such a low
level that they have no failing schools. Others seek to
maintain their high standards and are struggling with how
those high standards will impact or influence the number of
“failing schools.” I will work for a definition of the terms
“proficient” and “adequate yearly progress” that motivate
Michigan educators to strive for individual school excellence
while minimizing costs.
9. How do you propose that the State Board of Education
address school accountability?
The Board must set rigorous standards for school district
accreditation and teacher and para-professional preparation. I
will work to implement the State Board-approved accountability
instrument “Education YES! Yardstick for Excellent Schools,”
and assist in the development of meaningful performance
indicators for its multiple measures. I am committed to the
multiyear use of Education YES! to assess performance trends
and validate student evaluation instruments. As a Board member
I will work to assure the monitoring of the performance of ALL
public schools including charter schools. To facilitate the
implementation of rigorous educational standards and the
fulfillment of Education YES standards, I will work with MDOE
leaders and the legislature to reintegrate all educational
functions in within MDOE. I believe it is essential to involve
and include all of the stakeholder groups -- educators,
students, parents, community and all interested citizens -- in
developing strong education policy. I believe that such
policies are strongest and work best when they are developed
with direct input of people most affected by them.
10. What criteria should the State Board develop and use to
determine when a school system is considered unable to govern
itself?
School systems in financial trouble and/or with no
demonstrated academic gains on system wide and individual
building bases should be assessed over a three-year period to
determine the sources and scope of system deficiencies. I will
advocate for the use of supports and resources such as
management and fiscal consults, institution of technological
and comprehensive supports and personnel development to
address identified deficiencies. I will support policies that
impose sanctions when leadership fails at the district,
Intermediate School District (ISD) or State level when the use
of supports and resources are rejected by the system, or are
not faithfully implemented by the system.
11. What role should the State Board play in strengthening
parent participation in local PTAs, ISD Parent Advisory
Councils and other parent-educator organizational
partnerships?
I will work for Board implementation of a policy that school
districts and ISD’s work to foster and support parent
involvement. This policy initiative will set into motion
actions by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, MDOE,
ISDs and local districts to develop and support models for
parent involvement that improve parent/educator partnerships,
expand the ownership of Michigan education by all
stakeholders, and promote opportunities to celebrate the
positive results of successful partnerships.
12. Michigan school districts have phased out school nurses
over the last 25 years, while more and more students come from
two-wage earner or single parent families, and more children
with disabilities or special medical needs are attending
general education schools. What role should the State Board
take in evaluating the current need for school nurses and in
returning school nurses if the need is justified?
One of my primary campaign goals and personal objectives as a
Board member is to restore the health and social work
functions to full-time status in the schools. In some
districts where safety is a huge issue, I advocate full time
safety officers as well. These professionals historically have
been strong and vital resources, not only for the students,
but also for their families. It is a form of community/school
relationship that enhances the standing of the school in the
community. I will work to pass Board recommendations that the
legislature redirect public funds to fully support
school-based services.
13. What role should the state board take in addressing School
climate issues like bullying, challenging student behavior,
and other related concerns?
The state board has received a number of reports on these key
issues and has evaluated model programs throughout the state.
I personally support and embrace the implementation of
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) for ALL Michigan schools, and
will work to support the implementation of PBS by advocating
Board policies that enhance PBS development. I also support
the Board playing a strong role in formulating policies that
promote safe schools, and support and encourage active
involvement by the State Superintendent to developing and
implementing strong safe school activities. Again, the board
is responsible to recommend to the legislature the funding
required to accomplish its policy, and I will work with MDOE
and the legislature to help make that funding happen.
14. What actions will you take as a State Board of Education
member to make yourself available to students, parents and
educators and administrative staff?
Board members are public officials who are accountable to the
public generally, and not only to people concerned about
Public education. I will publish my e-mail and telephone
numbers and address and will welcome contact from people who
have questions suggestions, or any other information to share.
I have always have been open and responsive to stakeholder
input throughout my career.
15. What role should the State Board take in evaluating and
improving information technology in the schools?
The Board commissioned a task force on information technology
and the report was presented in 2002. I will work to see that
its recommendations are implemented.
17. What role should the State Board take in facilitating and
improving school/family/community partnership?
The Board has made integrating schools and communities a
priority. The report of the task force is available. I will
work to see that its recommendations are implemented. I
believe in and will work for creating a school/community
relationship that embraces the reality that every Michigan
resident has a vital stake in maximizing the benefits and
performance of Michigan’s public education system.
18. What role should the State Board of Education take in
student medication issues?
Whether a student’s condition requires medication is a medical
decision that must be made by the parent/guardian and child's
physician. School personnel may have valuable information on
the child’s observed behavior, health conditions and their
perceived effect on performance. School personnel may refer a
child for medical assessment. However, in my view, it is not
the responsibility of the school personnel to recommend
medication. Once medication is recommended, however, it may be
necessary for it to be administered during the school day.
Again, it will be important for the doctor to determine the
method of administration and the qualifications of the person
to administer it. Schools must then ensure that medication is
dispensed to the student in a non-stigmatizing manner that
preserves medical and educational confidentiality.
If you have other questions for Liz, or want to assist her
campaign personally of financially, please contact her
directly at:
Elizabeth W. Bauer
1355 Lake Park Drive
Birmingham, MI 48009-1089
248-540-4656 (phone and fax)
bauer4stateboard@aol.com
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