12 thoughts on “Marj Passman & Tony Casteneda Discuss The Madison School Board Race”

1. I listened to the audio clip of Tony Castaneda interviewing Marge Passman and recommend it to others. I respect Ms. Passman’s commitment to public service by running for school board. Nevertheless, I found her comments to be almost entirely vacuous. She said several times that the Madison schools don’t have any money, that the next Board will have to cut $10 million from the budget, that everything that could be cut already has been, and that there can be no cuts that affect classroom instruction. So what does she plan to do? Who knows.
   Ms. Passman did bemoan how low the starting salaries are for Madison school teachers. Why is this the case? I think the answer is simple. MTI has chosen a bargaining strategy that, relatively speaking, favors the older and more senior teachers at the expense of teachers just starting out, who naturally exert less influence in the union. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this – the union should pursue the strategy that its members decide on. But you would hope for some push back from the school district to help ensure that the newer teachers don’t get the shaft. It’s belaboring the obvious to point out that MTI-endorsed candidates like Ms. Passman are unlikely to lead that particular charge, and so disingenuous for her to suggest that this is a problem that she might help remedy.
   The principal responsibilities of a school board member are, in the first instance, to do the best job that can be done with the budget mess each year, and then, following that, do as effective job as possible in persuading the voters to support the referenda that turn out to be necessary when the budget situation gets out of hand. This requires serious efforts at building up a level of trust with the voters, through open and constant communications and candid analysis that respects the intelligence of the audience. It’s certainly my impression that some of our former Board members, like Bill Clingan, Juan Lopez and Bill Keys, didn’t do such a good job of this. All three are listed as supporters of Ms. Passman, who, if this radio interview is any indication, won’t be so great at this either. Listen to the interview and ask yourself whether Ms. Passman seems likely to be able to persuade a skeptic – someone who doesn’t already agree with her – of the need for more spending on schools.
   The irony is that it’s the other school board members like Lucy Mathiak, and Lawrie Kobza, and like candidate Maya Cole – the crew that Tony Castaneda kept trying to link darkly to Republicans – who seem best equipped to persuade the voters to support needed referenda and so who could end up as responsible as anyone for the higher taxes that may turn out to be necessary to support quality schools.

2. Tony Casteneda ought to be taken off the air, for being a liar when he calls schoolinfosystem.org a “Republican front” and other disparaging remarks.
   For a guy who poses as a hip cultural alternative champion, he’s too busy licking the boots of the establishment (Cartensen, Passman, Keys, Rainwater, and Mathews) to provide any thoughtful insight on school board races.
   You are a fake, Tony.
   You complain about the MMSD not hiring enough teachers of color, yet you support exactly those people in power who didn’t hire enough teachers of color.
   In discussions with me, Tony, you’ve tried to accuse those who want change of causing low scores among minority and low income people, while you cheer for the people in power who could and don’t change curriculum to improve scores for low-income students and students of color.
   You and Marge complain that new teachers don’t get paid enough, while the people you support are the ones who cut closed-door deals with MTI to maintain the salary structure that keeps entry-level salaries low.
   You talk about polarization on the board, Tony, while your comments feed it.
   I’ve never had any respect for you, Tony, and neither should any one else, even Carstensen, Keys, Passman, and the others who use your smug phoniness to preserve the status quo.
   I encourage people not to contribute to WORT until Tony is taken off the air, and not to attend events where Tony’s band plays.

3. Since Tony Casteneda brought up the issue about how some people don’t want to serve all MMSD students, I think it’s sadly necessary to review the comments of TJ Mertz, one of Marj Passman’s active supporters, on the listserve of last fall’s pro-referendum Communities and Schools Together (CAST):
   “At the Wright PSO meeting one of the things that really got me was a father who talked at length about “so little money for the children.” I thought about how many of these families have made such great sacrifices for their children’s futures, leaving their homes, coming to strange country, struggling with language… that to them it is a no brainer to spend a bit more for the schools. We hear about “Bright Flight,” but when it comes down to it I CARE A LOT MORE ABOUT GIVING THESE IMMIGRANTS WHAT THEY CAME FOR THAN I DO ABOUT CATERING TO THOSE WHO TREATEN TO MOVE OUT OR GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. I think I share their values more and know I want what they have to offer for our shared future.(emphasis added)
   Sorry for getting on the soapbox, but it was very moving to hear how simple the referendum question appeared to them. Like anyone else they wanted the figures and the details, but when they heard them there was no question where they stood. Hell, it seems simple to me too.”
   So, Tony, I guess you were right on one point — Marj’s supporters don’t support education for all students.
   I hope that Marj publicly renounces TJ’s comments.

4. Ed: I’m no fan of Tony Castaneda’s tactics. He continually mis-represented the Northside PTO Coalition as being a partisan organization during Laurie Kobza’s candidacy, even though myself and few others went to extra-ordinary lengths to recuse the NPTOAC from any electoral work whatsoever. I filed a formal complaint with the WORT news director (Tony was playing benefits for Clingan at the time) and he was reprimanded by WORT. In fact, I filed a second complaint for which he was reprimanded in writing. I’d suggest calling the news director and complaining, but please realize that WORT doesn’t deserve to be boycotted financially because of Tony. Caveat: I’m a long time WORTie and understand the dynamic that works there. It’s not like WIBA, where everyone is an employee, it’s 99% volunteer.
   Also, if you want to (once again) trot out TJ Mertz’s quote, you should include a link to his rebuttal that he posted the last time you pulled this stunt..only seems fair, and makes SIS look a bit more objective!
   In addition, it’s best to ask people to judge a candidate by their own words and not those of so-called supporters. It can work both ways, you know, and I doubt you’d want your candidate held accountable for what people post on SIS. Why only yesterday there was a sunflare here about “education for ALL students”.
   It’s good form, clean politics, and reflects better on your own side. Madison voters aren’t stupid, unmotivated at times, but not stupid.

5. David,
   Ed didn’t originally post tj mertz’s quote, I did because what he was saying here was contradicted by what he said elsewhere, hypocritcal, in other words.. And I didn’t find his explanation very compelling except for the complaint that he thought he was posting it on a friendly, confidential place, public forum though it was. If you think it’s important, why don’t you repost his reply or the earlier link.

6. I wrote to the operations manager and president of the board asking for time on the air to respond to Tony.
   If TJ Mertz doesn’t represent Marj, she should say so.
   Marj should also apologize for her silence when Tony was being clearly inaccurate and divisive. I’m sure you know the commentary that goes something like, “I was silent when they went after the Jews, because they didn’t come for me.” So Marj’s silence should be condemned.
   She’s going to be an even more abrasive copy of Bill Keys. The MMSD doesn’t need that.
   Her continual harping about her experience is another indicator that we’re going to get an MTI/administration insider who will do little more than lead cheers for MTI and the superintendent. The MMSD doesn’t need that either.

7. We’re adults here. Could we please discuss the issues without the personal attacks and nastiness? Geez.

8. Reading the comments on this topic makes me concerned about sharing my own thoughts here or elsewhere. I publicly support a lot of candidates for various offices, but I share 100% of a particular candidate’s views about 0% of he time. I would hate to have my opinion, which may or may not mirror my supported candidate’s views on a particular issue, mistakenly attributed to the candidates whom I support.
   Similarly, I am also a member of many organizations and an employee of two businesses. I hold leadership roles in some of these organizations. However, my personal views do not always reflect the views of those organizations.
   I write my own blog, post in various internet forums, write letters to the editor, and occassionally speak on the radio, just as many of you do. Unless I am specifically representing another group, the opinions I express in those situations are my own, not to be attributed to any candidate I support or any organization with which I am affiliated.
   Agree or disagree with TJ’s comments, is it reasonable to assume that Marj Passman shares his opinion simply because he is one of her supporters?
   Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual or organization with which the author affiliated.

9. Lisa’s right, of course. But be that as it may, at least one political big wig in town just made an endorsement decision in part because of his concern about comments being made on this blog by people he presumed to be the other candidate’s supporters. I am sure he will read this, and so would like to say to him, “SHAME ON YOU!”

10. I do not necessarily assume that a private individual’s comments reflect a candidate’s views, but if that person is close advisor to the candidate, the public needs to know the person’s views and the candidate needs to make it clear that she doesn’t agree with the comments of her advisors.
    I’m also waiting to hear Marj distance herself from Tony Casteneda’s disgusting comments. Her silence leads me to presume that she liked the divisiveness of Tony’s lies and distortions.

11. It’s good to be king, or in this case, in charge of your own show. Also, based upon Ms. Passman’s comments elsewhere, I think she agrees with Mr. Castaneda’s comments about folks who don’t think exactly like they do about schools or who blog on SIS.
    I respect Ms. Passman’s love of Madison schools and commitment to public service even if I don’t feel her membership on the board is right for the city at this time. For example, how breezily confident Ms. Passman is that teachers can do more in the classroom with less. Afterall, she did it. Granted she said more money is needed and that we must get rid of the revenue caps and the QEO, but getting more from teachers with less – teachers are stretched NOW. She did say she’d protect the classroom in the budget process, but too late if that’s what she really wants to do. If teachers are really important to you – their salary, benefits and working conditions – the School Board should not have taken the big items off the table in negotiations with the teachers’ union upfront. As a board candidate, she should have been concerned with this vote, and taken a stand against it, but she has not. Any school board member who voted for this does NOT get the financial crunch we’re in and how decisions such as these affect other parts of the budget, limiting the board’s ability to do their best on behalf of the kids.
    Any savings from changes in health insurance could have been negotiated for higher salaries and improvements in working conditions, but we’ll never know, because the Supt. and MTI want to make nice with each other. But, then you would have to have a School Board that would push for this in contract negotiations. Where is that school board majority? Well, the majority were four MTI backed current board members (Winston, Carstensen, Silveira, Vang) who voted against negotiating on health care and other major contract issues UPFRONT. MTI’s position might work for its union members and is what they need to be doing for their members, but it’s not working for the school district, and I personally don’t think it’s working for a vast majority of teachers – as Mr. Hughes said, union favors senior members. Yet, the current school board majority acts as if they were union members vs. stewards of the district, which includes support of unions but not union membership.
    I am greatful for Ms. Passman’s 28+ years teaching experience, but with all this experience, why does she only generalize about where she would make cuts (keep cuts from the classroom – who doesn’t want this) and seems to miss the big picture – however, as a MTI sponsored candidate, she’s not likely to get it as much as she loves Madison’s schools. Already, she sounds like a union leader than a board member – it’s all the teachers’ money and I can’t do anything about that. MTI needs union leaders, not the School Board, who needs to respect and negotiate with, but not be, their unions. That will hurt teachers, will hurt our kids and will hurt future prospects for passing operating referendums . I think we need board members who love public schools AND are innovative and open to ideas and will provide strong governance, working with their board colleagues.
    While we’re waiting a few more years for the state to get its act together, which they may not, what would she do? Not much that would be helpful or innovative. Didn’t Madison vote out Clingan and Lopez who used board meetings to make speeches, railed against the state and their board colleagues who did not agree with them, but had no other ideas except go to referendum? Why would we want to vote their thinking and governance (or lack thereof) back in with Ms. Passman?
    I agree with Mr. Hughes’ comments that Kobza, Mathiak, Robarts – and Cole – do and would bring credibility to the School Board, which we need to pass referendums. This would help kids AND teachers. And, don’t forget, 70% of voters in Madison do NOT have kids in the schools!
    What are some examples of credibility brought this past two years with the addition of Kobza and Mathiak? Evaluation of the Superintendent, Measurable Goals for the Superintendent, Citizen’s Budget, sound long-range planning, to name a few things, on-going oversight of the budget rather than waiting to hear in late summer – oops, we had to balance the books with $2 million from equity, sorry. These changes in governance, as well as more substantive and respectful discussions at Board meetings, bring credibility to the School Board and bring confidence to the City of Madison voters when it comes time to vote for an operating referendum, which are tough to pass in the best of times.
    Board members who are innovative and open-minded will make a huge, positive difference for all our kids and their teachers.

12. Jane, I agree. For the time being the district MUST live within the confines of the revenue caps and NOT hang their hats on the possibility of eliminating them. That strategy is flawed and doomed to fail. We need ideas and innovation YESTERDAY. I’m frustrated at the lack of them or that they’re shot down with the blame always being placed on the revenue caps. It’s a cop-out and a real “can’t-do” attitude.

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