Beth Waschow
Beth Waschow was a candidate for at-large representative on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board of Education in Wisconsin. Waschow ran for the seat in the primary election on February 16, 2016.[1] She received the fourth-most votes in the primary, which allowed her to advance to the general election on April 5, 2016.[2] She lost the general election.[3]
Waschow participated in Ballotpedia's school board candidate survey. To see her responses, check out the "2016 campaign themes" section. The 2016 primary election was her first time running for office.[4]
Biography
Waschow is the curriculum chair for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. She has held that position since 2012. She previously worked as a high school teacher for 35 years teaching French, English and Spanish. Waschow also taught at the middle school level for two years and at the college level for two years. Her service experience includes volunteering with Interfaith in Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and the South Shore area and with TMJ4 Call for Action. She also serves as the treasurer of the Milwaukee Writers Circle, as a member of The Legacy Education Foundation and as the secretary of the South Milwaukee Retirees Scholarship Committee. Waschow earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education in 1971 and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in 1994. She earned both degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.[4][5]
Elections
2016
Four of the seven seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on April 5, 2016. A primary election was held on February 16, 2016, to narrow the field of candidates from 13 down to eight.[6] Incumbent Frank Carini and challengers Veronica Baricevic, Joshua Borzick, Jeffrey Gassenhuber, Darin Grabowski, Elizabeth Sparks, Amy Mlot, and Beth Waschow won the primary election.[1][2] They faced off again in the general election, where Carini, Sparks, Grabowski, and Mlot were elected to the board.[3]
Two of the four seats on the ballot were up for election to regular three-year terms. The other two seats were on the ballot in order to increase the size of the board from five members to seven. Carini and Sparks, the top two vote-getters, won three-year terms. Grabowski, who came in third place, won a two-year term, and fourth-place candidate Mlot won a one-year term.[1][3]
Incumbent Jonathan Jossart and challengers Rosemarie Annonson, Sean Kingston, Thomas Kroon and Gregory Loreck were defeated in the primary election.[1][2]
Results
| Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, At-Large General and Special Elections, 3-, 2- and 1-year terms, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Frank Carini Incumbent |
17.20% | 5,131 |
| Elizabeth Sparks |
13.16% | 3,926 |
| Darin Grabowski |
12.42% | 3,705 |
| Amy Mlot |
11.78% | 3,514 |
| Jeffrey Gassenhuber | 11.44% | 3,412 |
| Joshua Borzick | 11.34% | 3,382 |
| Beth Waschow | 11.30% | 3,371 |
| Veronica Baricevic | 10.86% | 3,241 |
| Write-in votes | 0.51% | 153 |
| Total Votes | 29,835 | |
| Source: Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, "Official Results of the General Election," April 11, 2016 | ||
| Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, At-Large Primary Elections, 3-, 2- and 1-year terms, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Frank Carini Incumbent |
14.74% | 1,629 |
| Joshua Borzick |
9.20% | 1,017 |
| Veronica Baricevic |
9.14% | 1,010 |
| Beth Waschow |
9.08% | 1,003 |
| Amy Mlot |
8.10% | 895 |
| Darin Grabowski |
7.98% | 882 |
| Jeffrey Gassenhuber |
7.85% | 868 |
| Elizabeth Sparks |
7.19% | 795 |
| Gregory Loreck | 7.10% | 785 |
| Jonathan Jossart Incumbent | 6.70% | 741 |
| Rosemarie Annonson | 5.94% | 656 |
| Sean Kingston | 3.56% | 394 |
| Thomas Kroon | 3.41% | 377 |
| Total Votes | 11,052 | |
| Source: Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, "Official results for spring primary," February 22, 2016 | ||
Endorsements
Waschow was endorsed by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.[7]
Funding
Waschow filed an exemption statement detailing she would not spend or receive more than $2,000 toward her campaign. Because of this, she did not have to file additional campaign finance reports for this election.[8][9]
Campaign themes
2016
Ballotpedia survey responses
Beth Waschow participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of school board candidates. In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on February 4, 2016:
| “ | Education is my lifeblood and passion. I have a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction and spent 35 years in the classroom. I am currently the Curriculum Chair for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. If I elected to the school board I would have two goals: to add an educator's perspective to the discussion of issues and to improve communication between the stakeholders of the district, particularly between the teachers and school board and administration.[10][11] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in Wisconsin. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| “ | While running the district and approving the budget should be the top priority, all of these issues are important. Maintaining good relations with the teachers is extremely important since they are the ones who implement all of these priorities. All groups should work together as a team. Special education is a federal mandate and should be up to code. The arts should be maintained as an important part of a well-rounded education.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (February 4, 2016) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer nine questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| No. I would only support a charter school if it were a part of the district. If the district wants to try out an alternative program or methods without the structure and confines of the regular school, it could have that option. We have three neighboring districts that have an alternative high school program at an off-site location, but it is administered by one of the districts. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. Schools should have local control, but in an extreme case where there may be gross mismanagement, the state may have to step in. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. Students should learn to think and problem solve. Standardized tests do not measure this.These tests are usually biased, culturally and economically. Then there are students who are better test takers than others. With high stakes testing we also have the problem of teachers teaching to the test and even schools that cheat on the test. Some discourage lower ability students not to attend school on test days and now many parents are opting for their students not to take the tests at all. What does this all prove? The tests can be valuable if there is a question analysis available for schools to look at questions where their students did not perform well as a whole to see where they can improve instruction. Just the test results and numbers do not measure anything accurately. There are too many variables. |
| What is your stance on the Common Core State Standards Initiative? |
| Every school needs standards. Education in almost every other country has some kind of national standards. I have been involved in writing standards many times over my 35 years in the classroom. There needs to be wide input. in a national system with the ability to be flexible when necessary. The Common Core is a good starting point, but I believe states should have some flexibility. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. Teachers should have every opportunity for self-improvement.The ideal would be to match them all with a mentor from the beginning no matter how good they might be or think they are. Additional training options should be offered to all, but especially to those who are struggling. Penalizing them during any period would only strain the relationship and instill feelings of resentment. Support is a necessity. If all support doesn't help the situation, the teacher can still be terminated. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| No. I would only support merit pay if all teachers had the opportunity to access it by meeting prescribed goals. If there is a pot of money that is only to be given to a limited number of teachers, I don't believe this can be fair and objective. One cannot go by student test scores. This is a service industry, not a business. Not all teachers get the same raw materials to work with so they cannot all produce the same results. If administrators decide who gets the money, this is too subjective as they will usually choose their favorites, whether it's conscious or unconscious. Teachers should be rewarded for loyalty to the district and increased education and skills. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. Public schools are the great equalizer. They should be able to give all students a good education. We should not take money from the public school system to support private schools, especially where these schools can be selective in their enrollment and are not held to the same standards as public schools. If these private schools are religious in nature, funding them with taxpayer money is, in my mind, a violation of the separation of church and state. I like parochial schools. I have attended some myself. But it is a parental choice and should be a parental financial obligation. If we give public tax money to voucher schools who only want the best students, it negatively affects the diversity of the public school system that is obligated to educate ALL students. I have seen cases where a voucher school expels a student after the third week of school. The voucher school still gets the state aid for that student who returns to a public school that will receive nothing for him from the state. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| Expulsion should be a last resort for extreme circumstances. I believe that every student is entitled to a good education in order to become a contributing member of society. . A school may need to modify or offer some form of alternate education for students who cannot function in a traditional setting. Of course there are some extreme offenses for which many districts have a stance of zero tolerance, but I think sometimes this may need to be appealed or considered on a case by case basis. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Teachers While student-teacher ratio is very important, it is still the teacher who makes a difference. A low ration means nothing if the teacher is not competent. Since all of the other stakeholders are part of the team, they are also an important support system. If the administration is not supportive, the teacher cannot function as well. If parents are not supportive, it will hinder the student's progress. |
Political philosophy
Waschow shared the following political philosophy with Ballotpedia:
| “ | I chose to run for school board because education has been my life and passion. I would like to give back to my community and this is a good fit for me. There is currently nobody on the board who has a background in education and I would offer a unique and informed perspective in discussions as we move forward. With the growth of the district and the advances in technology, it is a challenge to keep up but there are also many exciting opportunities. I want our students to get a great education so they can be contributing members of society. They will be the workers. professionals, taxpayers, and contributors to Social Security.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (February 4, 2016)[4] | ||
She also included the following statement:
| “ | Education requires a team effort. The school district has many stakeholders: students, parents, community, teachers, administrators, and school board. I would like to see expanded communication between the groups and more transparency in board decisions.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (February 4, 2016)[4] | ||
Yes for Oak Creek Schools candidate profile
The group Yes for Oak Creek Schools published candidate profiles on its website. Waschow's answers to the group's questions can be found below. The bolded text indicates the questions provided by Yes for Oak Creek Schools.
| “ | WHY ARE YOU SEEKING SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE AT THIS TIME? I am an educator. I am not running for School Board to micro-manage the school district. Education has always been a passion and part of my life. Since I am in the giving back/service time of my life, I want to contribute to my community. With my background, what better avenue for me than to serve the school district, which is the bedrock of our community! It’s good to have a variety of backgrounds and experience on the board when discussing issues. I don’t believe there is anyone on the current board or any other candidate who has my background in education or my passion for it, so I would offer a unique perspective. As you can see from my varied jobs, I am used to serving people and solving problems. I like to look at all sides of an issue, get all points of view. I am not afraid to contact people to seek information or to ask questions. I also do not have an agenda. Many people run for school board because they have a pet program to protect or an ax to grind. I have none of that. So maybe it’s good that I don’t have kids in the district and can be open-minded. My philosophy has always been to make a difference – to leave people and places better off because I have contributed to their well-being. I think Oak Creek has a good education system but I want it to become great. The schools are an important factor when families or businesses consider moving to a community. I know a lot of students in my neighborhood and I would like to see them have the best education possible. They will be the wage earners, professionals, business people, and contributors to social security that will impact us all. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PRIORITIES AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? |
” |
| —Beth Waschow (2016)[5] | ||
Oak Creek Now candidate survey (general election)
Oak Creek Now asked the candidates in the general election the following two bolded questions. Waschow's responses are shown below.
Last summer, the school board agreed to spend $4.5 million to build a new auditorium "shell." How would you, as a board member, propose raising the additional $4 million needed to complete the project?
| “ | Involve the community. I would start by organizing a committee made up of parents, community members and businesses, with representation of staff, administration, and school board to conduct a fundraising drive. Set up timeline and guidelines. Appeal to alumni, especially those who are successful or supporters of the arts, and area businesses. Consider naming rights and sponsors. Explore fundraisers, crowd-funding, online appeals and donations.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (2016)[12] | ||
The school board has been criticized in the past for not being transparent enough. Do you agree? If so, how would you improve the district's relationship with the community?
| “ | Yes. Show up to meetings. Be respectful of constituents, not rude and dismissive. Listen to all factions. Discuss issues at public meetings instead of behind doors and simply voting in public. Don't be a rubber stamp. Institute team building for the new board. Reconfigure seating so members can see each other to better communicate. Involve board members with district and community committees, e.g. strategic planning, auditorium. Attend school board conventions; keep abreast of topical issues.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (2016)[12] | ||
Oak Creek Now candidate survey (primary election)
Oak Creek Now asked the candidates in the primary race the following two bolded questions. Waschow's responses are shown below.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board?
| “ | Education is my passion. After teaching 35 years in South Milwaukee, I'm now curriculum chair for UWM's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Schools face many challenges today from funding to security. I want to serve my community by offering a unique perspective to help the board make informed educational decisions.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (2016)[13] | ||
What is one major change you would like to see within the district?
| “ | The future holds many exciting possibilities. The OCFJSD has several stakeholders: students, parents, community, staff, administration, and school board. I'd like to see better communication between the various groups, more transparency in decision-making, and defined district vision and mission statements as we plan for the future of education here.[11] | ” |
| —Beth Waschow (2016)[13] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Beth Waschow' 'Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, Wisconsin
- Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District elections (2016)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Franklin Now, "Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners and Oak Creek 2016 elections begin," January 5, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, "Official results for spring primary," February 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Milwaukee County Election Commission, "Election Summary Final - Unofficial," accessed April 6, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Ballotpedia's Biographical Information Submission Form, "Beth Waschow's responses," February 4, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Yes for Oak Creek Schools, "Candidate Profile: Beth Waschow," accessed January 27, 2016
- ↑ Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District, "School Board Election Information," January 6, 2016
- ↑ WI AFL-CIO, "2016 Spring Election Candidate Endorsements," accessed March 22, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Campaign Financing," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jill Bebeau, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District," February 15, 2015
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2016, "Beth Waschow's responses," February 4, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Oak Creek Now, "Oak Creek-Franklin School Board candidates address auditorium funding, district transparency," March 22, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Oak Creek Now, "Oak Creek-Franklin School Board hopefuls state their views," February 3, 2016
| 2016 Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Elections | |
| Milwaukee County | |
| Election date: | April 5, 2016 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Frank Carini • Incumbent, Jonathan Jossart • Rosemarie Annonson • Veronica Baricevic • Joshua Borzick • Jeffrey Gassenhuber • Darin Grabowski • Sean Kingston • Thomas Kroon • Gregory Loreck • Amy Mlot • Elizabeth Sparks • Beth Waschow |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
