Don’t
forget to vote in the State Superintendent election on April 4! This is a very
important race for the school library community.
Incumbent
State Superintendent Tony Evers is being challenged
by Lowell Holtz, a retired
superintendent of the Whitnall School District.
According
to the Milwaukee
Journal, priorities for Evers include increasing state school funding, expanding mental health services, closing achievement gaps, and addressing the teacher shortage.
Holtz’s first priority is school safety, and he is a strong proponent for eliminating Common Core standards.
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). See a complete list of Evers’
endorsements here. Holtz is supported by
a long
list of state legislators as well as the Republican Parties of Adams, Dane, Dodge,
Marathon, Milwaukee, Waupaca, Barron, Jackson, Sauk, and Washington Counties.
See a complete list of Hotlz’s endorsements here.
Here
are some quick facts on the two candidates for Tuesday’s election:
· Tony Evers, incumbent:
· Position on Libraries:
“Under my leadership, we are 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.
· 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
· Other
positions: promises to close the achievement gap, reduce administrative
burdens on teachers, and return control of education back to local communities
and parents.
There are
also school board and other local elections going on around the state, as well
as the re-election vote of State Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler. Ziegler
is running unopposed.
And don’t
forget about voter
ID laws!
