USD 501 board candidates share thoughts

The Topeka Capital-Journal reached out to candidates this past week in an effort to help residents decide whom to vote for in the Nov. 5 elections.

The newspaper posed three questions to each candidate for seats on the Topeka City Council and the board of education for each school district that includes Shawnee County. Most were contacted by email, with letters being sent by regular mail to candidates for whom the newspaper had no email address.

This article shares the responses received from candidates for seats that are up for a vote on the Board of Education for Topeka Unified School District 501.

Those are TJ Brown and Lalo Munoz in District 1, Position 4; Sue B. Bolley, Tracy Routsong and H. Dean Zajic in District 2, Position 5; Melanie Stuart-Campbell in District 3, Position 6; and C. Richard Bonebrake, Brent Hall and Keith Tatum for Member At-Large:

In coming days, articles will be published sharing responses provided by candidates for other area school board seats.

Here's what the candidates in USD 501 had to say:

District 1, Position 4: TJ Brown

Why are you running?

I believe strongly in the importance of quality public education. Every child from pre-K through high school graduation deserves an equal opportunity to receive the best education possible in order to set them on a path for a successful, productive and happy life. Public education has always been and must remain a cornerstone to the success of our country.

I believe I can offer strong vocal leadership, a valuable personal perspective as well as a lifetime of experience and knowledge as a board member for the benefit of the students, parents, teachers, administration and everyone concerned with the success of the school district.

My goal will always be to serve the best interests of the students, parents, teachers and the district. I will be actively involved in any and all issues impacting our students and their education. I will at all times advocate for the betterment and improvement of the school district including its policies and practices.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

I have a lifetime of dedicated public service. I served our country in the United States Army for over 29 years. I retired as a master sergeant in 2009. I have served in numerous leadership positions. I have led, supervised and managed personnel, buildings, infrastructure, equipment and financial resources in large complex organizations in both my civilian and military careers. I have previously served on the Topeka City Council. I currently serve on the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. I have been involved with numerous other public service organizations over the past 10 years in the Topeka area. It is up to the voters to decide if I am the “best” candidate for this position. It's not my decision. If I am elected I will work hard to prove they made a wise choice. I take that responsibility very seriously. My opponent and I are friends. We have known each other for several years. We have worked together on community projects in the past. He is a good and decent man. I have a great deal of respect for him.

What do you see as being the key issues in your school district's election?

Communication and cooperation — One of my goals will be to work toward the best possible communication, cooperation and collaboration possible between Topeka Public Schools administration

and teachers as well as other supporting staff. Professionalism and mutual respect must be a starting point for a successful partnership always working in the best interest of the students and their parents.

Equity — Every child deserves a quality education. I will work to ensure that we are providing the same educational opportunity to every student served regardless of where within the district they may live.

Transparency — I will work to ensure that in every way possible we are transparent and communicate clearly to everyone what decisions are being considered and made. That all voices are valued and heard. That everyone understands how to contribute to the decision-making process.

District 1, Position 4: Lalo Munoz

Why are you running?

I’m running for school board because I believe we need of a new generation of leaders to connect with our 501 families. As the parent of three small children I’ve been involved as a volunteer for years.

I believe the parent perspective is an important voice on the school board. Parents see firsthand our educational system in action and how policies and procedures work and in some cases don’t. I’m also running because I believe local school boards play an important role in ensuring that our students, teachers and schools have the resources necessary to be successful. That requires school boards to be strong voices for our community to ensure class rooms are fully funded and teachers are paid what they deserve. Lastly I’m running because as a 501 graduate I’ve seen classmates go on to do great things at home and away. I’ve also seen classmates fall through the cracks. I believe that we have to make progress on addressing student inequity. Every student matters and the future of our community is tied together with every student in our school system.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

I believe I am the best candidate because I have dedicated my time both professionally and in the community toward progress for the common good. Professionally I work in social service helping struggling families during difficult times. In the community I recently finished serving as chair of the Washburn Tech East campus, a $4.5 million investment in East Topeka. It took bringing diverse groups of stakeholders together, working through difficult issues and creating a trustworthy process in order be successful. I believe it is critical for leaders to be willing to listen to even the most critical voices and to hear concerns. I believe I can help to open communication to parts of our community that historically have not been engaged and create momentum that works toward students being successful.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election, and where do you stand on them?

I see inequity as a key issue in our district. We have to ensure that all children are staying on track to doing well on testing and ensuring that all young people are graduating. Not simply graduating but with a plan to enter a four-year university, two-year technical school or straight into the workforce. This takes ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged, including parents, universities, technical schools and local employers. We also can’t ignore the disproportionate effect race and income have on success. Only by taking on these issues head on can we begin to make progress in a meaningful way.

District 2, Position 5: Sue R. Bolley

Why are you running?

I am running because I want to continue to make a difference in the education of our children in our community. I taught in Topeka Public Schools for 21 years and when I retired I knew I wasn't done giving back to students, their families and our education family. Working in this organization for 21 years has given me an insight into the  concerns in the classrooms, the buildings and the many departments in the district. Who better to be on the school board than a teacher that has worked within the system?  

Why are you the best candidate in this race?

I have spent many years working in Topeka Public Schools. I have worked in the Service Center preparing curriculum to send to our teachers. I have worked in the classroom and know the struggles that teachers have in educating students. As an instructional coach for the district at the building level and at the district level, I know the challenges every teacher has in their room. My educational background is in education and I have a Bachelors of Education from Washburn University and a Master of Science in Building Leadership from the University of Emporia.  Knowing how to read a budget and the complexities of Title 1 funding gives me a great advantage in this board position. The Kansas National Education Association Topeka  PAC has recommended my candidacy because they know that I'll support the concerns of our district educators. Because of the buildings I have chosen to work in I have had the opportunity to work closely with state-level coaches to help school buildings become more successful in educating all students no matter what their address. I have received excellent training from TPS and I feel confident that I can move into this position on the school board with the knowledge needed to do a great job for our district and our community.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election and where do you stand on them?

1) I believe we need to have early childhood education for all children no matter what their parents' income. The best intervention for student and district success is early childhood education for all parents that would chose it for their child. This idea would also help the budgets of many of our families in our city since child care is so damaging to a young families' budgets. 2) Our teachers are asking for help in their classrooms with disruptive behaviors. We need to find the support these teachers need to allow them to be the educators they would like to be, which leads into No. 3.  3)  Mental health support in all buildings in the district is needed to help students with trauma. This would be beneficial to students, families and teachers. We need to expand partnerships with agencies that could help with these concerns. 4) Teacher shortages and teacher retention of quality and fully licensed teachers for every classroom is a concern for every district. The board needs to create partnerships with all area universities to supply our classrooms with fully licensed and qualified teachers. 5) Our district needs to create equality across the district for every student to receive all the advantages in education. A student should not have to live in a certain area code to receive training in STEAM or the arts.  We must create equal education opportunities across every buildings to give all of our students the best education possible. That is what all students deserve.

District 2, Position 5: Tracy Routsong

Why are you running?

My son is currently at Topeka High School, and I firmly believe parents need to have a voice on the board. Academic rigor, college and career readiness, and district policies on things like technology use in the classroom will differ for high school students.

I have had the opportunity to work with numerous students during my years volunteering. As they make decisions about their future, it is essential that we help guide them; whether technical programs or a four-year degree, military, or directly to a career, they deserve to know that they have people in their corner to help them navigate their path.

For close to a decade, I have served USD 501 by being on the District Citizen’s Advisory Council (the liaison group between the school board, superintendent and PTOs), PTOs and being an active volunteer. Knowing that the board was transitioning, I felt this was the time to step up from being a person who makes recommendations to being a part of the conversation in implementing recommendations.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

• Current parent of USD 501 high school student.

• Active USD 501 volunteer, supporting classrooms, buildings, programs and the district. Over 1,200 hours of volunteering for USD 501 over the past 12 years.

• Member of District Citizen’s Advisory Council for past several years. This group researches programs and issues in the district, as well as special topics of interest serving as a liaison between the parents, schools, the superintendent and the USD 501 school board.

• Served in leadership roles (secretary, VP and president) for both PTOs and DCAC.

• Earned a Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication. I understand the importance of effective communication, transparency and feedback.

• Teaching at the college level I see the impact of educational policies.  

• Earned a Center for Teaching and Excellence in Learning certificate for the past five years, as well as the certificate for Inclusive Teaching. I have also served as a C-TEL Teaching Fellow and a Community Engagement Fellow.

• Helped revamp our university teaching consultation program to help mentor and encourage faculty.

• Served as the college liaison for the dual credit public speaking course working with high school teachers and students.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election, and where do you stand on them?

We, parents and guardians, teachers, administrators and the school board, are here for the students. Student success is a complex, but critical, issue. Ways that we can address student success include the following:  

• Readiness — Expanding preschool and increasing academic rigor.

• Opportunities — Enriching students through fine arts, dual language and STEM.

• Understanding — Addressing the mental health needs within our district.

• Teacher retention and recruitment — Identifying issues and increasing support.

• Streamlining — Examining new methods to increase course availability at high schools.

• Ongoing — Promotion of Pathways, TCALC and College Prep Academy.

• Networking — Collaborating with community for internships and services.

• Goals — Increasing graduation rates, decreasing class sizes, preparing students for their future.

District 2, Position 5: H. Dean Zajic

Why are you running?

I have lived in Topeka for more than twenty years, and like so many in our community, I  owe where I am today to the caring support and attention that I received in a public  school.  I have three young daughters enrolled in Topeka Public Schools, and I want to  ensure that they, and all children, have the same access to the kind of inclusive, quality  public education, that my wife and I had.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

I believe I would bring a tremendous amount of experience in education, innovation, and  leadership to the board.  I serve on the Kansas Council for Developmental Disabilities, and am a recipient of the Kansas Association of Special Education Administrators' "Kids First Award".  I

support local, early education by serving on the board of directors for TDC Early Learning  Centers, a non-profit early-learning organization dedicated to meeting the needs of kids from all  backgrounds, aged birth through five years old. Nationally, I work to expand education opportunities for all students through my service as  president-elect of the National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education Act State

Program Administrators (NAESPA) and as a board member for the the Association of  Educational Federal Finance Administrators (AEFFA),

I have a proven track record of improving education opportunities for children across the state and that's why I am honored to be endorsed as the preferred candidate by the Kansas Families for Education PAC.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election, and where do you stand

on them?

Universal access to early childhood programs for all 3 and 4 year olds.

Access to quality preschool has been shown to dramatically improve the long-term success of both students and their families.

More opportunities for families to give input and shape our schools to meet their  needs.

Families should have the opportunity to be partners in the education of their children, and  have the ability to provide meaningful feedback to district administration and the board throughout the school year in ways that convenient for them.

Coordinate with other public agencies and organizations that support the common good.

Supporting efforts that reduce stress on the family will improve results for our children and our community.

Support the use of evidence-based, not Pinterest-based strategies and interventions.

When you go to the doctor, you expect to receive treatment that is grounded in research.  We must demand the same standard for the education of our children.

Ensure that staff are given appropriate time and support for professional development  and classroom planning.

In order to meet each child's needs, teachers must be given access to quality professional  development, and provided sufficient time throughout the school year to reflect, plan, and implement.

District 3, Position 6: Melanie Stuart-Campbell

Why are you running?

I'm running for school board because Nelson Mandela was correct when he stated, "Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." I believe it is the vital duty of our public schools to develop prepared leaders of tomorrow and to level the proverbial playing field for all races and ethnicities, providing access to ALL students to an education that prepares graduates to be successful and thriving members of our communities. Schools are microcosms of society and are, therefore, the most important environment for creating social justice and responding to not only academic, but also emotional and social needs. USD 501, Topeka Public Schools, is one of the most important school districts in the country because of its historic role in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka landmark desegregation case. In this framework, it's critical that our district continues to strive toward not only racial equality, but equality in all other social and academic contexts for its 13,500 plus students.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

I bring a wide scope of perspective to the school board.  I have over 25 years experience in education, in a variety of settings. I've been a teacher in USD 501, New York City public schools, an international school in Ecuador, and an international school in the Republic of Congo. I was an education consultant at Kansas State Department of Education, a teacher trainer at Emporia State University, an  adjunct instructor at Fort Hays State University and at the University of Kansas. I am currently an instructional specialist for the Kansas Migrant Education Program, serving migrant students in several school districts in Kansas. In all of these education-related roles, I've developed a 360-degree angle of how educational institutions function. I have two children attending Topeka Public Schools, a son at Landon Middle School and a daughter at Scott Dual Language Magnet, so I also bring the parent perspective to the school board.  I speak Spanish and French, in addition to my native English, allowing me to connect with Topeka families from linguistically-diverse backgrounds. I am a person of action and seek solutions, understanding the importance of listening to others' ideas to find the best possible answers. I deeply care about kids, their families and all district staff being supported by our school district. I want the most optimal learning environment for all students and the most optimal working environment for all district staff.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election, and where do you stand on them?

I'm a staunch supporter of our district's award-winning Dual Language program and applaud the tremendous efforts made by many to make it the success that it is.   want to ensure that it continues to prosper in the secondary years, cultivating bilingual and bi-literate graduates who are better prepared to participate in our global economy. In order for the Dual Language program to continue to thrive, we need to explore more ideas on effective recruitment and retention of Spanish-speaking instructors. Our students would also benefit greatly with more racially and culturally diverse staff, that better reflect our diverse student population. Moreover, I would like to see all of our district's English learners have access to language-support services at their neighborhood school. And finally, I'd like to see fair salaries for the talents of our classified staff, in addition to certified staff.

I truly appreciate this opportunity to express my qualifications, ideas and passion for education. Thank you to all who are invested in our future by paying attention to the importance of public education and the value and integrity of the school board.

Member At-Large: C. Richard Bonebrake

Why are you running?

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Life’s most urgent and persistent question is what are you doing for others.” Having retired, I have time to give to my community. I have lived in district 501 for 40 years. I practiced medicine for over 38 years, and delivered over 10,000 babies. I would like to use my experience, judgment and commitment to education to help make our schools relevant to the students, satisfying for educators and valuable to the public.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

In addition to being a physician and a father of four successful Topeka High graduates, I have served on the Kansas Medical Peer Review Organization (Kansas Foundation for Medical Care) for 21 years, Stormont Vail board for 11 years and a founding board member for Health Access that provides health care for Shawnee County's indigent population. As a physician I have learned that in order to treat a symptom, one must know the cause before you can identify the disease. Only then can the disease be effectively treated. I have a unique perspective as there are parallels between medicine and education particularly with increased costs and regulations. In education we need to examine causes in order to discover long-term solutions. I advocate inquiry in order to find ways to best use our education funds to achieve a quality education for our most valuable resource, our students.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district’s election, and where do you stand on them?

Student success is my priority issue. Children are our greatest natural resource. I believe that a democracy’s very existence depends on an informed and educated public that knows how to analyze, not just memorize. Education should inspire learning, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and caring. School should be fun.

My second priority is the safety of our students. Topeka Public Schools has developed a safety plan. We need to continue to support that plan as well as remain alert and encourage the community to say something if they hear something.

My third priority is teacher appreciation. District 501 has given teachers an increase in starting salary, but more needs to be done. Teacher salaries still lag far behind their professional peers and have not kept pace with their value and importance.

My fourth priority is to assess outcomes. Let us find out what our students are doing after high school. What percent of our students got a job, more training or furthered their education. What careers did they select and why? Did their education affect their choices and their ability to be successful? We need to find out what worked and why. Ask our most valuable resource, our students.

Member At-Large: Brent Hall

Why are you running?

I’m running for the Topeka 501 School Board for three reasons.

First, my daughter, Claire, is 3 years old and will be attending the 501 public school system soon. There are obstacles to overcome here in Topeka schools to become an elite educator for our children. We must benchmark other regions like Massachusetts to see the reasons why their system works so well. Then it is the application of those findings that will pay dividends for our students. Looking at how I want the best for my daughter led me into the passion to bring the best for the 13,601 other students in the 501 Topeka schools.

Secondly, we need effective programs that produce the future leaders of Topeka.  Corporations when looking for a region to open their operation look at education as a means of finding qualified applicants.  Topeka is largely poverty stricken and one of the variables in the equation is lack of good-paying jobs. We are not the worst, but we should always look to improve conditions. My union work as a president has led me to the improvement of education for reasonable means to strengthen the working class.  

Finally, there are disparities in our schools that simple methods can bring equality and equity to our students. We must strive for equity in all our schools, not just a few across town. The trick is to provide jurisdictional equality without taking the equity away from the programs that have been put in place. This takes a deep-dive analysis of schools’ success rate and implementation in other areas where the scores are lower. I believe we can do this together in our democratic system we have in place here in Topeka.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

I have the experience and passion to do for others the best job possible. I have proven to rise to the occasion for my co-workers, when they have had issues that needed correcting. I have volunteered my assistance to others in the community and may not have had all the answers but always have shown the ability to find those answers through a network of point people that my path has crossed along my search to improve labor. Union apprenticeships have long been an option for workers, and I believe we can strengthen that option by strengthening educational prerequisites it takes to enter these programs. I have a connection to these unions that provide good-paying jobs for the community. I have been endorsed by the Kansas AFL-CIO, Topeka Federation of Labor, IBEW 304, Kansas Building and Trades, IBEW 53, LUINA 1290 and Plumbers and Pipefitters 441. I have personal connections to these unions and their affiliates. I also am a diplomat when dealing with local and federal agencies for the betterment of the people I serve.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election, and where do you stand on them?

Early childhood development — We must reach these children and have a profound impact on them early on to have success later in their educational career. Making sure the lesson is received and the thought process is applied by our students is critical to not letting students slip through the cracks.

Social and emotional development — School years can be the most difficult period in someone’s life. I think it is our duty to seek and identify issues that cause an obstruction in our students’ ability to learn effectively. Bullying situations, neglect at home, disabilities situations from the community are all real and disturbing factors.  It is important to go after the source of the issues and not just treat the symptoms.

A pathway to a career — It is important to set up our students for success after high school by putting the light at the end of the tunnel. A syllabus of classes that serve a purpose in reaching that next step, no matter what it will be. We need to look closer at the numbers five years post-secondary and push those numbers as the standard to improve upon. We need graduation rates to go up, but that is just a portion of the issues.  To improve the local economy and attract corporations, we need valuable success in the post-secondary sources.

We need to be able to make changes without passing the buck to the parents. In this economic climate we currently are facing we need to secure the equality in public education. I would like to thank everyone for this opportunity to serve on the 501 school board.

Member At-Large: Keith Tatum

Why are you running?

I'm running because I believe in the power of public education. As a father of children who go to USD 501 schools, I've seen this power at work in the lives of my kids. As a graduate of USD 501 schools myself, I have experienced this power firsthand. Now that I am a seasoned and accomplished professional, my drive is to use my skills and experience to help develop the district that helped to develop me. I plan to give back to my community by empowering the students of the Topeka school district through exemplary service on the USD 501 school board.

Why are you the best candidate in your particular race?

I am the only candidate seeking the at-large position of the school board who has over 20 years of experience in public service, public policy and community-based leadership. As a graduate of the University of Kansas' School of Public Affairs and Administration, I have the educational background and training to bring a working understanding of budgets and school finance to the board. As the director of training for KNI and as an adjunct professor at Washburn University, I have an excellent grasp of teaching strategies and curricula. Furthermore, I'm the only candidate in my race with experience in the Topeka school district, through my role as founding chairperson for the USD 501 Equity Council and as a member of the Sheldon Head Start Policy Council.

What do you see as being the key issues in your district's election, and where do you stand on them?

I believe the greatest existential threat to the viability of our district is the issue of school funding. Even though the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that school funding is now level across the state, most citizens don't realize the Legislature isn't beholden to that ruling. Without both strong advocacy and relationship-building with our lawmakers, legislators may be tempted to reverse course and drop funding to their previous levels. We need to continue to engage our legislators so they fully understand the impact of their school funding decisions. Once the resources are secured, we need to ensure they are delivered to each and every classroom where our students and teachers alike will be able to utilize them for maximum effectiveness. Our children are our greatest commodities, and we have an obligation to do everything we can to ensure their success for the future of our community and world.