Marjorie Passman for School Board

Progressive Dane Endorsement Questions for
Spring 2008 Madison School Board Candidates

1. What are your top priority issues to advance progressive ideals and policies and/or to represent your constituents’ needs? Please be specific.

My campaign is about the children of Madison and the learning that takes place inside our Public Schools. This Public Education is about us. All of the following are PD ideals.

We have Public Schools:
1. To provide universal access to free education
2. To guarantee equal opportunities for all children
3. To unify a diverse population
4. To prepare people for citizenship in a democratic society
5. To prepare people to become economically self-sufficient
6. To improve social conditions

2. In what ways are you currently active on school issues and in the community?

I have worked on previous school board campaigns and was treasurer for the pro- referendum group, Citizens and Schools Together. I am also a founding member of the–AMPS –Advocates for Madison Public Schools. After retiring from teaching I was asked to become a mentor for first year teachers in MMSD. This enabled me to learn even more about Madison schools by having opportunity to go into several additional schools to the ones I taught in. I regularly attend Board of Education meetings and education related community events.

3. Below are some school issues that are of concern to Madison residents. Which are most important to you? What do you plan to do about them?

The backdrop to all your questions is the increased diversity of our schools. As MMSD becomes increasingly urbanized we must come up with solid and sustainable answers to all the following issues and we must do it even without adequate financial support from the Federal or State governments.

• the achievement gap, racism and classism in schools

Recognizing these realities is essential for success. If we cannot teach all our students we cannot succeed for any of them. Public schools, by definition, are inherent to the concept of “equality opportunities for all.” Everything else comes second. Madison schools have had some success in raising the achievements levels for many of our students. I want to continue that success in making sure that the programs that brought about this improvement continue and improve. At the same time, students already achieving at the highest level must also be offered a challenging curriculum.

• managing school boundaries, demographic changes and school closings proposals

Because this could be the most divisive element in our district, this is where constructive citizen input is crucial. Previously, the East/West Citizens Task Forces proved what excellent work can be accomplished when we open our decision making to members of our community. The recent passage of our school referendum shows what can be accomplished when the community is a part of the study, analysis and judgment of what needs to be done. There is no doubt that our elementary schools, in particular, are the major anchor for our neighborhoods. Unless our neighborhoods recycle and flourish we will lose the inner city vibrancy that Madison needs. That is why I will not vote to close any elementary school.

In order to accomplish this there must be a strong partnership between the district and the city. I support the district/city council joint committee, which has been transformed with new members and ideas and I will also ask our new Superintendent to work with the Mayor to further this end. Forbes Magazine recently named Madison and the surrounding area as the second best school system in the country. I will do all I can to maintain this well-earned reputation.

• equity related issues

I have been encouraged by the Board’s recent return to consideration of equity and have great respect for the work of the Equity Task Force. Like the Task Force, I strongly support a comprehensive Equity Policy that includes but is not limited to resource allocations. This has been a long process and it is essential that in these final stages we take the time to get it right so that the enacted policy will address all aspects of equity and can be put into practice. This is too important to settle for less than the best we can produce.

• state education finance system

Although not truly universal education in the early years of our country, today, we finally have the chance to complete this historical vision by successfully educating all children – regardless of sex, color and race and economic class. The irony of our times is that just when our country is morally and ethically capable of accepting the concept of a free education for all the state education finance system and the Federal government have bankrupted our schools. We desperately need to replace property taxes as the major source of revenue. Many grass roots organizations are being formed to do this. I am active in ABC Madison, educating the public on the problems and how to work for change. I will support the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools in lobbying efforts and work to have the Wisconsin Association of School Boards push harder for real reform.

• services to special education students

Even though many services to these students are federal or state mandated, we are receiving less funding for these students. This disconnect is a major dilemma.

Madison has always had a special ed program envied by other districts. Parents move to Madison in order to have their children included in our programs. For all of my 25 years teaching in Madison I have never separated special education students from regular ed ones: all were there to learn individually as well as cooperatively. For 5 years at Lincoln I shared a combined special ed/regular ed classroom with Bonnie Augusta, which would become a model classroom for the District. But the system is not perfect. We have a predominance of children of color in the program and we must study this to make sure these children are placed appropriately. Personal experience with special ed students has given me the perspective of seeing how successful our programs can be when all students are included.

• suspension and expulsion policies

Our schools must be kept safe for all students or no learning will take place.
Expulsion must be a last resort but if it effectuates a decline in student or staff stress as a result of a student’s excessive threats or actual behavior, it is a necessity. I prefer in-school suspensions where students can continue their learning. Both expelled and suspended students must be given the opportunity to continue their education and must be counseled with behavioral expectations. As a teacher I saw many examples of a mutual need for both students and staff who need a temporary break from each other. Above all, thinking again, in terms of an increasingly urban district, our schools must have a uniform behavior code for all students to learn in, from kindergarten through to graduation, a code that remains consistent and fair throughout the students’ life in MMSD.

• budget process

I attended most of the budget meetings held last spring by our School Board. I felt the Board did an outstanding job in scrutinizing the budget. I also felt that the $100 budget studies of community members were excellent. Due to a one-time Tax Incremental District windfall, the 2008-9 budget will require only minimal reallocations. However, the next budget (2009-10) will be the most horrendous ever to face Madison students and citizens. I will work for an operating referendum to avoid this. With or without windfalls or referenda, what is crucial now is someone who has gone into a classroom, closed her door, and learned how to teach with dwindling resources. We need to hear what the “bottom line” of depleting funds means to each classroom child. That is what I can provide as a member of the School Board.

• NCLB

This horrific education bill is not only Madison’s albatross but also the entire nations. It is estimated that it will cost schools districts over 13 billion dollars to enforce. Think what we could really do for education if that money were put it the pockets of our schools. Teachers regularly assess their students’ strengths and needs in order to teach them. As a teacher I never thought that standardized tests told me as much about a student as individual one- on- one assessment on a regular basis. State standards have some value for guidance, but when used to dictate the curriculum for each classroom, they eliminate the strength of knowledge that each teacher brings to the classroom. In addition, this flexibility is also needed to allow for the many interests and needs that students bring to the classroom. As a Board member I will do everything I can to educate the public on the failings of this law and support our elected officials efforts to enact legislation that addresses the real needs of our schools and children.

• communication among the administration, the School Board, and the public

When my own children entered school in Madison in 1970 I became aware of the importance of parent input. At that time we had a group called The Parent Advisory Committee, which met once a month to discuss school issues. During these meetings the Superintendent and other administrators discussed school issues. Out of this group came the first strong TAGs program in MMSD, which parents had lobbied for in the PAC meetings. Positive support for our schools flourished because parents felt they were being listened to. This group disappeared with a change in Administrators. I wish it hadn’t, and I would welcome it and other community groups to participate in an increased communication network. I will strongly encourage a new Superintendent to reach out to the public.

• other issues you’d like to discuss

A stronger partnership between the district and the city for the sake of the city’s economic growth is vital.

4. Do you think grass roots support can help advance progressive policy initiatives in MMSD? If so, please give one or two examples.

Grass roots are the key to all change in our society. I write this response from the perspective of a former social studies teacher. With the recent targeted funding as well as classroom focus on reading, math and science (all very necessary) we should be aware that, in the process, we may overlook the needs of social studies curriculum—the very classroom curriculum that connects our students to their community, to their future citizenship and their role in the governing process, as well as to local, state, country and global issues. These are the very issues PD is committed to. Social Studies teachers may no longer be able to purchase new materials, attend training classes etc. When I taught my Social Justice unit I turned to the Southern Poverty Law Center for free and excellent materials covering all aspects of the subject matter. Could not PD provide speakers and material to our school district doing the same?

5. Have you carefully read the Progressive Dane Candidate/Elected Official Expectations? Do you have any questions or concerns that are not captured in your responses to the other questions below?

No

6. Please tell us about your campaign team, fund-raising efforts, and plans to reach voters. What have you done thus far and what do you intend to do through your campaign to win election in April?

Even though I am running unopposed, I feel it is still necessary to run a complete race and communicate extensively with the public. I will do this by attending coffees, forums, and visiting as many schools as I can. I will talk to students, teachers, parents, administrators, and connect with as many groups and parent organizations as possible. Of course, I will continue to regularly attend School Board meetings. This campaign offers a unique opportunity to discuss the many issues facing our schools calmly and objectively, and I look forward to doing just that. I will not be complacent during this campaign.

7. What kind of support, specifically, would you like from Progressive Dane during the campaign?

Those campaigning strategies and efforts that no one does better than PD: leafleting, and providing election wisdom and a heavy hand when you think I am losing perspective.

8. What will you do to help build Progressive Dane?
Financial support beyond membership dues (i.e., contributions to campaigns of other PD members)
As I have done since I joined PD, I will provide visible support of PD (“make it known I am part of PD”), support of other PD candidates, active support of PD issues.

9. What would you do if something like the follow situation arose? You are running for election/reelection to Seat X. You have a good relationship with the incumbent in Seat Y whom you feel is a good representative for her district. However, Progressive Dane has endorsed a different candidate in Seat Y.

I would find out why PD has endorsed a different candidate and make a considered decision based on PD’s answers to me.