2009 Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI) Superintendent Candidates: Primary Election Tuesday 2/17/2009

Five candidates are on the statewide primary ballot this Tuesday, February 17, 2009. One of them will replace outgoing Superintendent Libby Burmaster. The candidates are

Wisconsin voter information, including polling locations can be found here. Much more on the Wisconsin DPI here. Wisconsin’s curricular standards have been criticized for their lack of rigor.

2 thoughts on “2009 Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI) Superintendent Candidates: Primary Election Tuesday 2/17/2009”

  1. Thanks for posting. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXEbVqMorHs to watch a question/answer session with all the candidates.
    I am surprised. Listening and watching the debate above, I’m prepared to say that all candidates seemed thoughtful and not strident, though they differ on certain points and several seem more narrow in their views and experience than others. However, their views seem closer to each other than I would have expected.
    Here’s how I rank the candidates, from most preferred to least preferred and the weight I give to each
    10. Holtz
    7. Evers
    4. Price
    2. Rose Fernandez
    2. Mobley
    I’m leaning towards Beloit Superintendent Lowell Holtz based on the debate. His answers were thoughtful and he always supported his answers with well-stated reasons. He seems to be the only candidate without a political agenda. He is fiscally conservative, seems focused on ensuring academics both for kids going on to college and kids going more directly into the workforce from high school. He seems to be the only candidate who would be able to work with those across all political spectrums. Holtz is the candidate who seems to understand the QEO. Unlike all other candidates, he understands that the QEO creates a floor of 3.8%, which in this economic climate, would be financially damaging to school districts. He seems to understand the limits and usefulness of WKCE and standardized tests and believes that multiple and timely assessments are required. A former teacher in private schools, principal in rural schools, superintendent in the urban Beloit schools, he seems to have wide practical experience.
    Fernandez is too narrow in scope and is overtly political. Because of her efforts and battles with DPI and WEAC on virtual schools, she is an overtly anti-DPI/anti-WEAC candidate — understandable but not a good foundation for dealing with the differing forces attempting to shape the educational landscape. She is opposed to assessment of private schools claiming, from her personal experience having 2 of her 5 kids in private schools, that parents are best able to assess a schools quality — anecdotal evidence is good enough. Same seems to be true regarding voucher and virtual schools. She seems willing to take quality based on faith rather than data when a school is not public.
    Tony Evers, current second in command at DPI, is thoughtful and coherent, but does carry bureaucratic baggage in supporting WEAC’s position against virtual schools. I don’t know what limitations he was under during the Burmaster years, but I don’t believe DPI has made improvements over the years. I think we need someone knowledgeable but outside the current bureaucratic system.
    Todd Price makes sure you know he is the only “progressive” running in this campaign. Overtly political. He is a professor at a private college, and is knowledgeable about educational research, but seems to take a theoretical and ideological approach to questions rather than practical.
    Mobley seems subtly political. Holding political office in Thiensville, a small enclave of 3300 people, median income of $70,000, 97% white, he claims he understands fiscal responsibility, helping the community exist without debt. It would not be a stretch to say this result in his community would be within the reach of anyone able to fog a window.

  2. A few more links on tomorrow’s contest:
    WisPolitics:
    http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=149070
    “The debate, sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools, featured no real fireworks. Rose Fernandez came the closest of the five to taking any kind of a shot at one of the other candidates.
    Responding to a question about the current cap on Milwaukee’s voucher program, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers pointed out his work over the past eight years with the program and his desire to see the results of a study on student performance before deciding whether to lift the enrollment limits.
    Fernandez said Evers had failed to mention DPI fought to keep the enrollment cap in place under his direction in working with Superintendent Libby Burmaster.
    “If I’m elected, there will be no fight over that cap,” Fernandez said.
    John Nichols has more here:
    http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/editstaging/438686

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