Kristel Ann Foster Never Voted to Close a Single School

THE REAL DEAL ON SCHOOL CLOSURES

October 27, 2016 · by Casa Maria Catholic Worker Community

By Sarah Launius

There’s some real mixed messages coming from some of the TUSD Board Candidates on where they stand on school closures. You may have seen these signs up at Campbell near 6th Street.

When I saw these new signs last week I had two thoughts. First, the signs seemed completely inaccurate based on what I know. Second, I was infuriated that the “TUSD Kids First” assume that the general public is so stupid that they somehow wouldn’t know this.

Here’s the thing, beyond anything else, the TUSD Kids First campaign is endorsing Stegeman, Rustand and Betts. Of all the candidates, Stegeman is the ONLY one who has, in fact, closed schools. So, give me a break.

We’ve written about the responses to our school closure questions at the TUSD Candidate forum on October 13 here, where we include background necessary to aid our neighbors in making an informed decision.

David Safier, writing for the Tucson Weekly, also recently published on how candidates have shifted their statements on school closures during the race as well as contradictions with the voting records for the three incumbents.  You can find Safier’s piece here.

Safier mentions a few pieces that we missed. First, he discusses the operational efficiency audit that we reference in our previous blog (see too Sedgwick’s comment to Safier’s piece – but you might get disgusted if you read all the comments like we did). He also identifies statements from Rustand and Sedgwick from the forum at Palo Verde High School that indicate they believe closures should be on the table. Sedgwick discusses the possible need for school consolidations in a response to gender-neutral bathrooms in schools–which was probably an honest response from her but certainly didn’t require her to discuss consolidations. You can find that here around 1:12:00. She takes it up again around 1:35:00. Rustand discusses how TUSD may have to make hard decisions about school closures. You can find it here around 1:34:00.

I am only voting for two candidates: Cam Juarez and Kristel Ann Foster

Tucson friends: I've been asked how I'm voting in the TUSD school board race. I am only voting for two candidates: Cam Juarez and Kristel Ann Foster.  I know that they sincerely have the best interests of students and teachers at heart.

I don't believe in the politics of personal destruction but at some point I also think it can be irresponsible for people who have background knowledge about candidates not to share that information at a critical time. That's why I am reposting what I wrote earlier this year about TUSD incumbent Mark Stegeman following an op-ed he wrote for the Star. This is my personal viewpoint based on many, many interactions with Stegeman over the years.

Anyone reading this can take or leave it. It is my personal perspective and I'll decline to engage in any dialogue on FB about it.  --Ann-Eve

What is the difference between a reformer and a saboteur? It mostly comes down to motivations. A reformer wants to improve an institution or an organization because it’s the right thing to do. A saboteur acts out of self-interest, pursuing a personal power game. It can become confusing when a saboteur poses as a reformer. By doing so, the saboteur tries to convince people that he is looking out for the organization, when in fact he is trying to undermine it for personal gain.

That is the agenda deployed by Mark Stegeman, who is running for re-election to the TUSD school board. As a TUSD parent and a public education advocate, I have watched Stegeman in action now for many years. I have seen him undermine superintendent after superintendent. I have witnessed him sow seeds of division at school board meetings.

I have watched as he cynically sells his twisted story about TUSD to members of the public.

This is not how functional school board members behave. Yes, they must be watchdogs, not just cheerleaders. But at what point do a school board member’s actions cross over into being destructive rather than constructive? That is a line Stegeman crossed long ago.In his recent op-ed to the Star, he once again launched into his typical diatribe against TUSD, a perspective that the Star’s news section often parrots. Although his op-ed was incredibly self-serving, given that he is running for re-election, the Star ran it anyway, not giving the same space to the other candidates. By doing so, the Star allowed Stegeman to once again spread his twisted story about TUSD. Why is the Star giving so much weight to an individual who has worked so diligently to harm an institution that must succeed for the health of our community’s children and economic development? 

Failure is not an option for our public schools. Yet Stegeman is trying to ensure that it happens. In that way, he has much in common with Arizona’s state Legislature. I could counter his arguments point by point, but facts are not really what matter to Stegeman. He also shares that trait with anti-public education legislators. 

It’s all about selling a story. So, here’s how Stegeman’s story goes: TUSD is horribly screwed up. I’m really important because I constantly point out how horribly screwed up TUSD is. Although I’ve done absolutely nothing to fix what I constantly point out as being horribly screwed up, you should re-elect me so I can keep telling you how horribly screwed up TUSD is.

So, TUSD voters, is this really someone you really want to re-elect? This circular narrative really doesn’t do anyone any good – it’s a disservice to our community’s children who attend TUSD schools.

FosterforTUSD

Kristel Ann Foster explains -- "Opt-In" or "Opt-Out"

Kristel Ann Foster was asked...The Arizona State Senate refused to hear SB 1020, which would have made sex education opt-out rather than opt-in. Can you explain why this seemingly small change would have made such a big difference?

She answered..."The main difference between opt-in and opt-out has to do with what is the “norm.” If we have to get permission from parents to teach specific content through opting in, it’s as if that particular curriculum is not the norm. This insinuates controversy and taboo, something you have to get permission to do. Knowledge of how one’s body works and how to keep it safe and healthy should not be controversial or taboo. When a set curriculum is the norm and certain parents choose to opt out, well then, it’s the prerogative of the parent to perceive the content as controversial, but the standard understanding is that it is simply normal. Imagine if we had students opt in to saying the Pledge of Allegiance. We don’t, because we hold that as the norm for all to recite at the beginning of every school day. There is nothing controversial or taboo about that. Certain parents, however, decide to opt their children out of this practice, and the opinion of whether or not the Pledge is controversial lies with them, and doesn’t affect the majority of people who consider the Pledge to be an appropriate and normal routine to practice every day." Thank you Planned Parenthood for endorsing Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD! FosterforTUSD.com

Parents support Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD

TUSD Makes the National Honor Roll!

TUSD makes the National Honor Roll! We are one of only three districts in Arizona recognized for increasing access to Advanced Placement courses for our minority students and also for improving the rate at which our AP students earned scores of 3 or higher on an AP exam.

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-district-honor-roll-6th-annual.pdf

Kristel Ann Foster's remarks on Comprehensive Sex Ed in TUSD

Kristel Ann Foster was asked....TUSD recently voted to include comprehensive sexuality education in its classrooms. What would you like this new curriculum to look like? 

Her response: "Like many school districts, TUSD has a sex-ed policy with the word “comprehensive.’’ But this word is often up for interpretation. We revised our policy to define the word “comprehensive” so that we are clear that our classes provide medically accurate, age-appropriate information about anatomy and reproduction, teach students about the risks of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and empower students to make decisions for themselves about their bodies and relationships.

We have appointed a committee of community members who will come together and review current curriculum, and possible new curriculum to adopt, to make sure these materials cover this definition of “comprehensive,” and do so in a way that respects the diverse opinions and perspectives in our community."

Thank you Planned Parenthood for endorsing Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD!

FosterforTUSD.com

Teachers are posting all over Facebook to vote Foster for TUSD

Students, Teachers and Education Advocates Help Re-Elect Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD

You may have gotten a call from a student this week, a young person calling to tell you about the TUSD Governing Board race. Teachers have been calling too. They’re supporting Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD and are walking door-to-door, posting on social media, and calling voters...because the election starts...TOMORROW! Yes, people will start voting on their early ballots in Tucson this week! We have to wait untill November 8th to see who wins...but on your mark, get set....start voting!! 

FosterforTUSD.com 

More Foster for TUSD Supporters!

More Foster for TUSD supporters out and about this weekend! 

FosterforTUSD.com 

FosterforTUSD.com

FosterforTUSD.com

We do this work ourselves! Friends for Foster for TUSD!

We put up 20 big Foster for TUSD signs all over town tonight. Early ballots arrive in people's mailboxes on Wednesday!!  -- and we want to make sure they know about and understand their choices! 

Thank you for your help!!

   

FosterforTUSD.com

FosterforTUSD.com

FosterforTUSD.com

Foster for TUSD Supporters!

Our supporters are spreading the word -- show us your shirt! 

FosterforTUSD.com 

Education Leaders Support Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD

Thank you to former TUSD Board members Bruce Burke, Lolly Almquist, MaryBelle McCorkle and Thomas Castillo for hosting such a lovely event for my re-election campaign. There support means the most, because they've been in my shoes and understand the struggles, surprises and joy associated with serving on this Board. 

I also want to thank former superintendent Roger Pheuffer, Dr. Alan Storm, JTED Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent Ross Sheard for joining us and supporting my campaign.  

Many other former and current TUSD administrators joined us and support my work moving forward on the Governing Board. Again, their support is very telling to what we've accomplished, are committed to and hope to keep moving forward.  

FosterforTUSD.com

Foster for TUSD and a room of public school advocates!

The Ray Davies Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon is such a wonderful community event. I love a packed room full of EEF supporters and public education advocates. Here are a few of my favorites! Thank you for your support, Dr. Clement, Dr. McCorkle and Dr. Jurich!!

FosterforTUSD.com

Tucson supports Kristel Ann Foster for TUSD!

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and all six Tucson City Council members support Kristel for TUSD! 

FosterforTUSD.com

Foster for TUSD - Together We're Better!

Collaborating with other campaigns and organizations is the foundation of our race. It also describes my personality and work ethic. I know that this election can't be done alone and I know my Board leadership can't happen alone. I depend on others to inform and challenge my understandings, share their experiences with me and bring their perspectives to the conversation so I can learn and grow in my role. 

FosterforTUSD.com

Kristel Ann Foster's 3 Ways to Improve TUSD

Good working conditions are good learning conditions: 

I advocate for teacher centered, site based professional development to bring more autonomy to the educators who know how to improve student achievement. I advocate for our teachers to be involved in curriculum and assessment development. I respect the professionalism of our educators and from first hand experience, know that the right and responsibility to make instructional decisions is the biggest form of respect we can show our teachers. I appreciate that different sites are at different points in developing this, but this is the direction in which I guide my feedback to district leadership.

We have more work to do with student behavior. We have embraced the work to intervene the school to prison pipeline by setting goals to reduce our suspension and expulsion rate for all kids. We are educators, in the business of teaching kids, and this means helping them learn how to control themselves and behave in stressful situations. We can’t help them with this when we push them out of our schools by suspending and expelling them. As one principal said to me, “They will come back, and then what?”  She would rather work with her faculty and staff to help kids to behave differently rather than punish them with time away from their classroom. 

I recognize this is a big cultural shift. Not all of our teachers and principals know what to do or how to help the most difficult kids at their sites. We have invested in professional development in PBIS (Positive Behavior Incentive Systems) and Restorative Practice & Conflict Resolution. I also advocate at every chance I can for more counselors, social workers and therapists. We can’t get our most severely misbehaved kids the help they and their families need if we don’t have the personnel with the professional knowledge and skill to do so. 

Lastly, we must have Board members who commit to building trust with our community. No one will vote for a bond or an override to fund our schools if they don’t trust the district. With the current legislature, the state is not funding public education, so we must find ways to fund our schools here in our community ourselves. This is critical because we are the oldest district in the state, which means we have the oldest buildings which need the most repair and work. Refurbishing our sites to modern 21st century buildings is the right thing to do for our students. They deserve the best facilities and setting all the right conditions in place to fund this starts with a school board our community can trust. 

FosterforTUSD.com