ELECTION, THREE DAYS LEFT IN A
STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO LEAD THE
WISCONSIN K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES
FIGHTING FOR THIS JOBMENT DB HAS JOB.
DEBORAH KERR HAS WORKED IN THE
BROWN DEER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A
R IS CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE
FOR ADVANCING TEACHERS.
JILL UNDERLY IS A SOCIAL STUDIES
TEEP ER.
SHE'S WORKED AS A LICENSING
SPECIALIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND FOR THE
PAST SIX YEARS HAS SERVED AS
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PESK PECATONICA
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MARISA WOJCIK PROVIDES THIS
OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE KEY
ISSUES IN THE RACE.
>> THE RACE FOR WISCONSIN'S NEXT
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IS COMING TO THE FINAL PUSH FOR
CANDIDATES JILL UNDERLY AND
DEBORAH KERR, HAVING JUST THREE
DAYS LEFT IN THE CAMPAIGN TO
APPEAL TO VOTERS FOR TUESDAY'S
ELECTION.
THE RACE HIGHLIGHTS KEY
CONTRASTS BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC
BACKED UNDER LI AND GOP-BACKED
KERR INCLUDING HOW THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED IN THE
MIDST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE GOVERNOR CLOSED SCHOOLS IN
SPRING LAST YEAR.
BY THE FALL, SCHOOL DISTRICTS
COULD DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES
WHETHER TO REOPEN CLASSROOMS,
TEACH VIRTUALLY OR RUN A HYBRID
MODEL.
>> SOME DISTRICTS REOPENED RIGHT
AWAY IN SEPTEMBER, WITH A
VIRTUAL OPTION.
OTHERS HAVE WAITED, KEEPING
STUDENTS LEARNING FROM HOME AS
POSITIVE COVID CASES CONTINUED
TO RISE THROUGH DECEMBER.
>> SOME FAMILIES HOPED FOR US TO
OACH
OPEN SOONER.
SOME FAMILIES ARE THINKING WE
COULD BE WAITING LONGER.
I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS THE
CHANCE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE.
>> THE MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT
BEGAN TO PHASE KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH 2nd GRADE BACK TO THE
CLASSROOMS.
>> AS AN EDUCATOR, CHILDREN
BRING JOY AND IT REALLY HAS BEEN
JOYFUL EVEN THOUGH THERE'S
DIFFERENT ROUTINES AND
PROCEDURES WE ARE FOLLOWING.
>> THERE'S NO OFFICIAL RECORD OF
WHICH DISTRICTS RETURNED AND
WHEN, BUT MADISON AND MILWAUKEE
APPEAR TO BE THE LAST REMAINING
DISTRICTS TEACHING MOSTLY
VIRTUALLY.
THE ISSUE HAS BEEN A LIGHTNING
ROD OF DEBATE, ONE SIDE
CONTENDING STUDENTS NEED TO BE
BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, THE OTHER
SIDE DISPUTING THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF RETURNING IN PERSON.
ONE THING IS CERTAIN: MANY
STUDENTS STRUGGLED TO LEARN
ONLINE AND DISTRICTS ARE PLAYING
CATCH-UP.
>> THERE'S SOME STRUCTURES AND
SUPPORTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ABLE TO TARGET INSTRUCTION FOR
STUDENTS.
>> THE OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT
SAYS SCHOOL CLOSURES MAGNIFIED
MANY INEQUITIES.
>> THE BIGGEST THING ON MY MIND
FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS
THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN THE COUNTRY,
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE THE
TOP OF OUR FOCUS FOR EVERYONE IN
EDUCATION.
>> CONTINUING TO DISRUPT
PRACTICES THAT HAVE FURTHER
MARGINALIZED STUDENTS OF COLOR.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT
WORK.
HOPEFULLY WHO'S EVER IN THAT
ROLE WILL SUPPORT US.
>> OTHER ISSUES ARE THE PRIVATE
SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, SCHOOL
FUNDING AND TEACHERS UNIONS.
FOR "HERE AND NOW" I'M MARISA
WOJCIK IN