State Superintendent Tony Evers is up for re-election this spring.
He faces formal challengers by John Humphries and Lowell Holtz in the February
21st primary. A fourth candidate, Rick Melcher, is running a
write-in campaign. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the
primary election will advance to the general election on April 4.
Superintendent Tony
Evers is endorsed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, American
Federation of Teachers, and the School Administrators Alliance. Evers is also
supported by the Senate Education Committee Chair, Luther Olsen (R-Ripon).
Humphries is endorsed by
Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), who chairs of the Assembly
Committee on Education, and Representative Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee). Holtz is
supported by a long list of state
legislators as well as the Republican Parties of Barron, Jackson, Sauk, and
Washington Counties.
Tony Evers, incumbent:
·
Position on Libraries: “Under my
leadership, we launching new technology activities in libraries, like the
coding project giving librarians the background and resources to nurture
development of these skills with youth in their communities.”
·
School choice: opposes expansion of the
voucher program, wants focus on resources for public schools.
·
Common Core: Evers has supported the
adoption and implementation of Common Core
·
Running on: fixing the school funding
formula; increasing graduation rates/reducing achievement gaps; and making sure
students graduate ready for college and careers.
·
Website
Lowell Holtz, Superintendent, Whitnall School District:
·
Position on Libraries: “Libraries are a
seamless extension of our K-12 school system – before pre-school is commenced,
throughout the calendar year, and after diplomas are earned.”
·
School choice: supports the school
choice program, saying: “I have no problems with the concept of a voucher in
every backpack.”
·
Common Core: supports the immediate
elimination of the Common Core curriculum
·
Betsy DeVos: Holtz congratulated DeVos on her
confirmation, focusing on DeVos’ support for school choice.
·
Other positions: promises to
close the achievement gap, reduce administrative burdens on teachers, and
return control of education back to local communities and parents.
·
Website
John Humphries, Director of State & Federal Programs,
Dodgeville School District
·
Position on Libraries: “Too often, we
fail to adequately support collaboration between library/media specialists and
classroom teachers to maximize the use of diverse instructional materials…
Finally, by requiring certification as a teacher in order to be licensed as a
library/media specialist, we limit the supply of skilled professionals in
schools.”
·
School choice: Supports school choice,
believes it improves overall performance in all schools through competition.
·
Common Core: Previously in favor of
Common Core, now supports abolishment of Common Core and the creation of new
Wisconsin-specific standards.
·
Betsy DeVos: Humphries congratulated DeVos on her
confirmation, emphasizing the opportunities for DeVos to reduce regulatory
burdens on schools, students, and teachers.
·
Other
positions: supports the creation of a state board
of education; new school report card criteria; and turning control of “low-performing schools” over to outside operators
selected by parents
·
Website
Rick Melcher (write-in), Teacher, Racine Park High School
·
School choice: Believes school choice
should be eliminated, and does not produce effective outcomes comparable to the
amount being spent on these programs.
·
Betsy Devos: Melcher expressed concern
with DeVos’ history of campaign donations and the correlation with nomination
to position.
·
Website
Noteworthy Articles
Wisconsin Library Association questions:
Wisconsin Eye Interviews:
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