Ann Arbor Public Schools also has room to grow and progress to an improved and new level of education. Im running for this position because I want to help all kids thrive. Baskett is joined on the ballot by Kai Cortina, Jacinda Townsend Gides, Jamila James, Lena Kauffman, Jeremy Lapham, Paulette Metoyer, Rima Mohammad, Susan Ward Schmidt, Barry Schumer, Andrew Spencer, Leslie Wilkins and Alex Wood. Tax Payment Options Keeping our public schools in person will require continued investment in smart approaches to public health and addressing staffing shortages by truly listening to our AAPS employees about what they need. We are also trying to increase student achievement, to bring it back to pre-pandemic levels. AAPS succumbed to the temptation to follow populist opinions rather than following the science - a cardinal mistake with negative consequences for many students, specifically those with minority background and those living in poverty. Locally, at the board of education level, our challenge is to build back confidence in our public schools, show that we can raise learning achievement for all students, provide wise oversight of public funds, and create the broad community support we will need when some of the current local bond funding the Ann Arbor Public Schools rely on comes to an end. Further progress for our district on reducing the number of days our students miss school for any reason. $25,000 in Housing Assistance Available Additional Info. McClary gets 4,085 votes (76.03%) compared to 1,285 votes (23.92%) for Edelmann. As a psychotherapist, he said he is very aware of the mental health challenges of children today, post-COVID.. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. School must be safe, and all our students deserve to feel like they belong, full stop. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. -Are we fairly compensating those that interface with our children to deliver services? She has been a manager in marketing for 13 years. My goal is to make each child feel that going to school is a safe haven where they see endless possibilities for learning and growing academically, socially and emotionally. An unwillingness to set down the ego in order to actively listen and to find out of the box solutions to real ongoing problems. See school board candidates for Washtenaw Countys main school districts, including Ann Arbor Public Schools, here. Finally, we need to improve public trust by having the board provide more communication direction and leadership to the Ann Arbor Public Schools superintendent and administration. Learn more | The treasurer's primary responsibilities are to safeguard public funds and to collect and account for the revenue used to operate programs for county residents. Though the district incurred an unanticipated $5.9 million in staffing costs during the COVID school closure, its likely those costs will recede. Ann Arbor Public Schools has always been known for its robust arts programs and I will fight to preserve those programs.Yet another priority will be staffing and other resources for students with special needs. McClary gets 109,321 votes (68.53%) compared to 49,537 votes (31.05%) for Chockley. I am surprised at how many people are eager to fight against keeping children safe, learning actual history, or reading diverse books because they personally find the safety plan or lessons uncomfortable. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. I want to keep public schools in-person, address the harms to learning outcomes many students experienced during virtual school, and improve clear and transparent communication about district decisions. Also, our top-notch educators need to be trusted to do their job in ways they know are best for students. A students ability to learn is determined by a number of factors outside of the classroom (e.g., hunger, homelessness, poverty, violence, mental health, and unsafe environmental conditions); therefore we need a comprehensive approach to ensure that students have access to high-quality health care, financial support, and out-of school opportunities that support their success. How long will it take to reduce tensions and increase trust amongst ourselves? MLive/The Ann Arbor News partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. It is amazing to see all the different representations of people, from refugees to people of color to various religious groups. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Earns designation as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO). Ensuring open communication, transparency and inclusiveness of the schools to provide social, emotional and educational support to all members of our community. What are your priorities in balancing the budget? James is a child advocate and nurse, with two children who have gone through AAPS and another still attending. yes, the mishandling of the school closing in the height of the COVID crisis. Ann Arbor, like many districts, will continue to face the challenge of staffing their schools with highly qualified teachers and support staff. One issue I particularly care about is literacy equity. Do you have an issue you especially care about? I will work with administrators and principle to increase access to our schools to civic organizations, leaders in business, education, labor, and parents to ensure high quality offerings to AAPSs students. He said he wants to work on solving the districts hard problems, aiming to find solutions that work for the entire community. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. First, I want the school district to make it very explicit that it has learned from its recent mistakes and will assure parents that there will be no COVID related school closings unless urged by public health officials. She was 22 years old at the time. Join Facebook to connect with Paulette Metoyer and others you may know. Some children have no choice about the hard realities they face. All rights reserved (About Us). What could we do better? Paulette Metoyer commented on Contact 2020-06-22 11:50:16 -0700. . Board chair Meri Lou Murray removes Harrison as parliamentarian and replaces him with Robert Guenzel, who served as the county's corporation counsel at the time. It does not mean another $10 million in technology funding on more apps and devices, some of which are hardly used and parents dont want. Wood is a former AAPS student and current AAPS parent. Nov. 2, 2004: Wins re-election for a third four-year term as Washtenaw County treasurer, facing only an official write-in candidate Thomas A. Burns who got 3 votes. Catherine McClary at an October 2012 candidate forum. The first four goals are: 1) to hear from our community 2) Enhance our work on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility 3) Continue to enhance academic, social, emotional and mental health. Paulette Margaret Metoyer, MD is an internal medicine doctor and primary care doctor who practices at Richard J Foster D O P C located at 250 E Michigan Ave in Saline, MI 48176 (Washtenaw County). Nov. 6, 1984: Is unopposed and wins re-election to another two-year term on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, representing District 9 in Ann Arbor. I am running as part of a slate of experienced, profession, progressive & passionate leaders who want to serve our community and ensure all voices are heard. Paulette Metoyer Water Resources Commissioner Vote for not more than 1 County Commissioner . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Susan . It was a disgrace to witness the uncivil interactions among trustees over the last year. Stalin! Students need to see these aspects of themselves celebrated and reflected in curriculum materials and in classroom and extracurricular activities. That is why these variables are incorporated into the goals I would aim for should I be elected to the Board. If more children of a particular group end up being chosen then so be it. As a leader, Im more swayed by data and by examples of innovative, effective policy than I am by the most strident voices in a room: Im most interested in bringing all voices to the table, particularly those who arent being heard. 3. I will advocate for high-quality research into the issues facing public education, and ensure that the voices of Michigans rank-and-file educators are part of any proposals to help our students succeed.Make Schools Community Centers Again. My wife and I have two sons that attend AAPS, and she has many, many patients that see her at C.S. Setting this foundation starts with clarifying current goals already in progress and what a school board trustee can and cannot do per state law and work that has already been done. See a full list of all candidates in Washtenaw County, including candidates for uncontested races and other school board races, here. In Michigan, the largest share of funding is determined by the state and follows student enrollment. The couple, who live in Ann Arbor, have two children and 4 grandchildren. DEIA -I plan to analyze DEIA needs and implement sustainable interventions to ensure these needs are addressed. Other districts are offering not only signing bonuses but retention bonuses. The challenges facing Ann Arbor Public Schools are around issues surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism, transparency and community engagement, opportunity gaps, and learning and curriculum assessment. See Copyrights. November 1974: Wins election to her first two-year term on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners representing District 15 in Ann Arbor. (2) Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Catch-Up After so much remote learning, mental health issues for many students have increased, while academic achievement levels, especially in reading and math, have decreased. In addition to this just being the right thing to do as a district that prides itself on equity, there is significant evidence that adding HEPA filtration units to each classroom and ensuring that children are fed during the day has a significant, positive effect on educational outcomes. DATE? Also, access to the arts reinforces positive mental health. I also have a goal of advocating for an updated curriculum that includes Social Emotional Learning as well as Restorative Justice . We have an opportunity to used the $1Bn AAPS infrastructure bond to invest to invest in: improving building efficiency using LEED green standards; renewable energy sources like solar and geothermal; and to transition the transportation fleet to electric. Candidates in this contest and votes received: Catherine McClary (72.6%), Paulette Metoyer (27.4%), Rejected write-ins (0.1%), Unassigned write-ins (0.0%), Undervotes (6.6%), Overvotes (0.0%), Invalid Votes (0.0%), Total Votes Cast (0.0%), and Total Ballots Cast (0.0%). Short and long term health consequences, and the financial stress of taking time off work to care for a sick child are disproportionately affecting BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities and working class families. Communication will be a major part of my service as I will make myself accessible to all stakeholders in our school districts learning community. I would be grateful for your support and vote to help carry this work forward. She was in her early 20s at the time, and served in that part-time role through 1988. renting district land for UM parking and cell towers We also practice good stewardship by constantly reviewing how we may utilize the funds as we use them in alignment with our communitys values. I am the only incumbent running for re-election. Our website website can be found here: https://www.communitycenteredcandidatesforaaps.com/. An organizational budget is, effectively, a statement of values- we spend money on the things that are important to us. We must do all we can so children reach their full potential so they can attain their academic and personal goals. Public education should stick within budgetary limits. I believe that its never too late to go back and choose to do the right thing, even if that thing will be difficult, so I know I am up for the challenge. ANN ARBOR, MI In addition to helping decide the nations president for the next four years, Washtenaw County voters will decide dozens of contested races for local, state and federal offices in the Nov. 3 election. How do we make it better?- that aids in teaching ac-countably, Mental Health and Social Work support, Skill Trades, Teacher Autonomy to do the jobs they went to school to do, and teaching our children to respect and honor our environment. Taxpayer Assistance Find out what resources are available for taxpayers. Rima Mohammad. Facebook gives people the power to share and. 1998 - 20079 years. I want all teaching to end the message to kids, that we live in a horrible, racist country. County Treasurer's Office Phone Number: 734.222.6600 County Treasurer Email Address: taxes@washtenaw.org County Treasurer Website Property Tax and Assessment Statistics Tax Rate History (Millage Rates) Pay Property Taxes Online Customers have the option of making one time payments online with no registration required. All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Treasurer Vote for not more than 1 Nanette L. Havens Trustee Vote for not more than 2 Dale Luick We expect them to be adults at 18 and we have done nothing to help them in adulting. She received her medical degree from University of California (San Francisco) School of Medicine and has been in practice for more. Having watched my father prepare for board meetings so many times over the years, I know that serving on the AAPS board will take a lot of work. Retain our top professional teachers, and make sure they feel good about their futures. A commitment to equity, making sure the children who need the resources, such as tutors, reading specialist, mental health support, get the help they needed to enable them to feel that school is a safe place to make mistakes and learn from them. McClary was elected as Washtenaw County commissioner in 1974, serving one of the districts in Ann Arbor. ANN ARBOR, MI - While three members of the Ann Arbor School Board whose terms expire at the end of the year have opted not to seek re-election, there is no shortage of interest from the community in filling those seats, with 13 candidates vying for four seats in the Nov. 8 general election. As a life-long educator, I have advocated for children and adult students my entire adult life. Students thrive when they are safe, healthy, free from harassment and can see themselves reflected in the curriculum. It is the perfect place to build community, compassion and empathy for ourselves and each other. Nov. 4, 2008: Wins re-election for a fourth four-year term as Washtenaw County treasurer. We are a progressive county, a blue dot in the state of Michigan, and we need to do better. McClary had run unopposed in the Aug. 5, 1986 Democratic primary. Education. And we need to trust our teachers to do their jobs, while giving them the autonomy to deliver an outstanding education in the way that they know best. The achievement gap is really an opportunity and resource gap. Also, increase training focused on mental health. As a veteran teacher my top priority has always been to make sure my students felt the classroom and the school was a safe place. Overcoming its own dysfunction. Nothing can be done without 4 votes. Although my background is not in finances, I am aware that 85% of the approximate $300 million tax revenue for the Ann Arbor Schools, go to teacher and staff salaries, medical costs and retirement funds. I believe that we are not preparing our children for adulthood and the world that is so different from the one we grew up in. In-person quality public school is simply essential and cant be compromised. As a researcher, clinician and educator, I have strong critical thinking and analytical skills that can help assess opportunity gaps in education and factors associated with these gaps. Meet the candidates running for the Dexter School Board in November, Ann Arbor Democrat faces Ypsilanti-area Republican in Michigan Senate race, Saline has 5 choices for 3 City Council seats. Im committed to reviewing current district policies and consulting with families to determine which policies are most helpful in supporting equity, and which ones are harmful. McClary receives 118,889 votes, or 99.14%. 3. Successful organizations have good sustainable leadership with consistent goals. As a veteran board member, my primary commitments have been preserving academic excellence and increasing equity between schools: while others see these goals as incompatible, I see them as necessary synergy. The public schools, under no circumstances should feel that they have the right to interfere with anothers respiratory function by mandating the use of unhygienic masks that forces the wearer to violate OSHA clean air standards, and place others at risk of becoming ill. Im also eager to learn what else we can do in Ann Arbor beyond what I know today. I think this will allow us to each exhale, reflect and re-commit to our community. Why should we continue to benefit from our white privilege, while so many brown and black children who live just outside our school district, remain trapped in failing schools? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. As the pandemic recedes, we still see students who still have needs related to crises that were exacerbated during the worst of the COVID outbreak. Start Date: End Date: Type: Title: Contributor: NEWS: Date: Category: Headline: Article: Contributor In AAPS, we have a district where one elementary school has a 61% free and reduced lunch population, while another has an 11% frl population. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Most importantly, a learning environment must be created that values each child and their needs. Creating long-term solutions to the childcare issues. Why/how did this happen? Each candidate was asked to outline their stances on a variety of public policy issues listed below. We need to ensure that staff positions (e.g., the senior high school counselor) are paid competitively to similar positions at UM so that we retain our paraprofessionals. She also has served on other nonprofit boards for the last nine years. How can one of the best school systems in the State of Michigan, have such a shockingly high percentage of students non-proficient in math and reading? Paulette M. Metoyer, MD earned a degree of a Doctor of Medicine . Ward Schmidt has more than 35 years of experience as a teacher in rural, urban and suburban schools in five states, including AAPS Scarlett Middle School. Built with love by, Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA), Washtenaw County Road Commission Winter Maintenance, Washtenaw County Weekly Road Work Schedule, 2019 Washtenaw County Health Department Annual Report, Military & Overseas Absentee Voter Application, Important information about property taxes, Community Center Advisory Committee Meeting 3/2/2023 5:30pm, Volunteer at the Washtenaw County Dispute Resolution Center, Serves on the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, Superior Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals, Washtenaw County Critical Incident Stress Management Team. (The county board had been reconfigured into new districts following the 1980 census.). Dr. Paulette M. Metoyer is an internist in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The current plan is unsustainable. The AAPS general budget is balanced; I dont expect that to change and would not support moving to a deficit budget. The issues I care about especially is Social Emotional Learning, Restorative Justice- which teaches children yes, we make mistakes, we all do. Addressing the labor shortage which has been a national problem for a long time. Catherine McClary walking in the Ann Arbor July 4, 2012 parade. The alteration in body chemistry from CO2 (the same CO2 that the environmentalists abhor) that results from these masks is extensive but the long term consequences are currently unknown, as this has never been done in the history of the world. I and the district have suffered through several iterations of school boards. One major priority that I have is around making sure that we have counselors, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and specialized teaching consultants to make sure that all learners, elementary students in particular, are learning to their maximum potential, particularly in reading and writing. How we choose to respond to this ongoing public health crisis is a clear representation of the districts commitment to equity (or lack thereof). My priorities are aligned with hers: Long-term planning with short term flexibility. I am not a one-issue candidate. But that doesnt mean that we here in Washtenaw County need to give up on it. He is a scientist trained in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics who has been working in health care research and development to discover new medicines for patients. Paulette Metoyer. With board members Rebecca Lazarus, Jessica Kelly and Bryan Johnson opting not to run again, trustee Susan Baskett is the only incumbent with an expiring term to file for re-election for another four-year term. Lets start by developing a strong sense of community to solve these issues, with students, parents and teachers. AAPS is one of those rare school districts that has community support enough to pass a billion dollar capital bond to improve facilities and sustainability, which assists us in allocating other budget money towards student and educator needs. We can never let this happen again, yet some talk about introducing zoom days back into public schools as a way to address staffing shortages and budget limitations. 4. The Board of Education must sustain a political will to allocate the necessary resources so that each child may learn in the best proven way. My family struggled and we have lived through tough financial, social and emotional struggles, including racism and poverty. Technology that gives schools more data on which students need additional support is obviously something that the AAPS will pursue. One thing that contributes to that is representation especially for BIPOC students, students in the LGBTQ community, and students with special needs. Mental Health -I will support the need to address the wellbeing of our community by increasing behavioral specialists and social workers at each school to identify and address mental health needs of students, teachers and families. If not, you are nothing more than a hypocrite. Teachers and Staff -I plan to assess and address burnout in our teachers and staff. I am passionate about addressing the issues facing our city and public schools, especially surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism, transparency, community engagement and curriculum assessment. I believe we have some solutions in our community for the childcare and labor issues. Safe to share ideas, take risks, to fail sometimes and to know their emotions and individuality is valued. We have parents who fight standardized testing. It means that we properly screen and support learners that struggle or learn differently. School segregation. As a board member I pushed to disarm the SROs in the Monroe County schools, and when the Indiana state legislature passed a bill allowing school districts to join social justice education with curricula, I very quickly wrote and passed our districts resolution to do so. But Id like to see more of a focus on our neuro-diverse and non-traditional learners, as well as a commitment to obliterate the opportunity gap also known as the achievement gap that exists for students in traditionally marginalized populations. She has been a communications professional in health care for nearly two decades. These problems reflect a changing and chaotic society. Also my lived experiences have shown me that systemic racism is still harming Ann Arbor students. First, it is crucial to get community input for our districts budget prior to finalizing and implementing a budget. Paulette Metoyer is on Facebook. That would have included me as a child as I was an English language learner and had a single mom who worded outside the home. Since a majority of the board will be overturning this year ensuring stability is the biggest challenge and is of upmost importance. I will request for more support for teachers and staff which includes increased salaries, more manageable workloads, increased resources, and dedicated time for other activities, such as committee involvement. These two goals will provide immediate improvements for both quality of education, and quality of life for our school community. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Just as important is making sure all students have strong foundational literacy and math skills. And at the root of all equity problems? Ensure we optimize the opportunities provided by the 2019 bond that our community provided to our schools.I believe the above goals are backed by common sense and hard data proving their importance. Addressing inflation and staffing shortages -- which includes addressing teacher pay, satisfaction and well-being -- must be a priority. Our staff needs to be compensated justly, as they provide the social emotional and mental health support that our babies need. Stop confusing our kids. Per law, our budgets are audited and always available to the public. Preparing AAPS students for a modern global workforce by engaging stakeholders to craft, high-quality, student-centered systems for AAPS. The Board of Education must have the sustained political will to address the achievement of ALL students. LocalWiki is a grassroots effort to collect, share and open the worlds local knowledge. AAPSs decision to ignore the CDC and NEA guidance on continuing protections for those at highest risk for Covid is a huge concern for me. We can do better. I know if we elect enough people brave enough to make the hard right choice, we can make a real difference this year. Heres whos running in the Nov. 8 election. For example, in order to know what is needed, each student must be fairly assessed. The best way to keep our budget balanced going forward is to get back to a growth-based mindset where we once again become a district families want their children enrolled in and teachers want to work at. She grew up in Kentucky before earning a bachelors degree from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor degree from Duke University. There is no one main issue on which Im running, but I believe public schools are critically important to education, democracy, and building community. For a district that very vocally prides itself on equity, choosing to allow the federal program to expire with no backup plan, giving families only a few days notice that school would start without the meals theyd relied on for 2 years was a shocking choice. Instead of using the term woke, the more accurate term is Communist. Start Date Candidate Category Ad Tone Lng Title Run Time Contributor More information about me and my platform can be found here: www.jeremylapham.info. Putting capitalism /Ego/Prestige and Optics above our children and their future. (Ann Arbor District Library Old News archives), refuses to recognize McClary in the roll call, Washtenaw County Treasurer unable to recoup funds in 2013 tax foreclosure auctions, Incumbent Washtenaw County sheriff, prosecutor, treasurer, clerk win, McClary, Chockley Race for County Treasurer, Washtenaw County treasurer candidates sound off in friendly forum, Washtenaw County Treasurer Catherine McClary: Pay what you can on property taxes, Clerk balks at recognizing new commissioner, Prosecutor's Effort Fails To Halt Pot 'Giveaway', http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/treasurer. This means that the majority of next years school board will have served less than one term. Together. McClary was elected as Washtenaw County commissioner in 1974, serving one of the districts in Ann Arbor. Nov. 4, 1986: Defeats Republican David J. Ann Arbor MI 48105 To be clear, this doesnt mean Im trying to speak on behalf of BIPOC families; I plan to intentionally listen to their voices, and bring their issues, opinions, and suggestions to the board. Fostering community input and discussions at all levels. I believe there are some local viable long-term solutions. An unwillingness to be uncomfortable for change to occur. When one school isnt performing as well as others, all schools arent performing as well as they could, and at the root of many student achievement problems are inequities that are made worse by misallocation of resources and systematic segregation of students by race and socioeconomic status. MLive has partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide information to voters. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 5. Too many schools and teachers have supported the use of a new language with the goal of weakening boundaries, and weakening parents influence over their children. One area to look at is the way we implement Schools of Choice. Her current four-year term runs through 2016. Public schools have overstepped their bounds. Washtenaw County Critical Incident Stress Management Team Lisa Lewis, Treasurer Phone: 734-482-6099 Fax: 734-482-3842 Email: llewis@superior-twp.org Office Hours - Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.