Madison School Board election: Media roundup

UPDATE: On Tuesday, April 9, Wayne Strong conceded the final school board race to Dean Loumos. 

UPDATE: TJ Mertz won the race for seat 5 and incumbent James Howard won the race for seat 4. The seat 3 race between Dean Loumos and Wayne Strong was too close to call.

As the school board races for the three Madison Metropolitan School District seats draw to a close, the candidates have become increasingly present in the city’s press.

Tuesday, April 2 marks the date of the general election, in which two contested seats and one recently uncontested seat will be filled.

Dean Loumos and Wayne Strong are competing to fill seat 3. Greg Packnett is challenging current School Board President James Howard for seat 4. T.J. Mertz is the sole contender for seat 5, though Sarah Manski, who dropped out of the race after finishing first in the February primary, will appear on the ballot.

The candidates have been answering questions from why they decided to run to their thoughts on high-profile issues like the achievement gap and budget cuts. Here is a roundup of some of the top stories from around Madison, including some of the candidates’ own articles arguing for Madisonians’ votes.

Race coverage combined

• “John Nichols: Sorting out Madison’s School Board races” – The Cap Times
• The Capital City Hues covered the issues of the achievement gap, parental involvement and charter schools, among others, for all candidates but Packnett in its “Decision 2013” post.
• “School Board candidates discuss diversity and collaboration in education at Centro Hispano” – Madison Commons
• The issue of race was present throughout the School Board races.
  • “Madison School Board election exposes racial divisions” – The Wisconsin State Journal
  • “Madison’s Racial Divide: The school board race causes an outcry over white political power” – Isthmus

Seat 3: Wayne Strong v. Dean Loumos

• “Wayne Strong: I will work for safety and achievement in schools” – Candidate Wayne Strong, The Cap Times
• “Dean Loumos: I’ll oppose privatization, encourage achievement” – Candidate Dean Loumos, The Cap Times
  
• “Madison school board candidates Dean Loumos and Wayne Strong discuss why they are running, the achievement gap” – Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidates Dean Loumos and Wayne Strong discuss charter schools, teacher evaluation” – Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidates Wayne Strong and Dean Loumos discuss Walker’s budget, voucher schools” – Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidates Wayne Strong and Dean Loumos discuss superintendent Jennifer Cheatham, collective bargaining” – Isthmus
• “MMSD School Board Candidate Wayne Strong: Quiet Presence for Children” – The Capital City Hues

 Seat 4: James Howard v. Greg Packnett

• “James Howard: Experience, knowledge make me best for School Board” – Candidate James Howard, The Cap Times
• “Greg Packnett: My goal is to strengthen public education” – Candidate Greg Packnett for The Cap Times
• “Madison school board candidates James Howard and Greg Packnett discuss why they are running, the achievement gap” – Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidates James Howard and Greg Packnett discuss charter schools, teacher evaluation” – Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidates Greg Packnett and James Howard discuss Walker's budget, voucher schools” – Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidates Greg Packnett and James Howard discuss superintendent Jennifer Cheatham, collective bargaining” – Isthmus

Seat 5: T.J. Mertz

• “T.J. Mertz: I’m progressive, passionate, prepared to serve schools” – Candidate TJ Mertz, The Cap Times
  
•  “Madison school board candidate TJ Mertz discusses why he is running, the achievement gap” - Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidate TJ Mertz discusses charter schools, teacher evaluation” - Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidate TJ Mertz discusses Walker's budget, voucher schools” - Isthmus
• “Madison school board candidate TJ Mertz discusses superintendent Jennifer Cheatham, collective bargaining” - Isthmus

The race for seat 5 created a significant stir after Sarah Manski, who won the most votes in the February primary election, dropped out of the race soon after winning. In doing so, she effectively excluded Ananda Mirilli from the general election ballot. Mirilli decided not to launch a write-in campaign, leaving T.J. Mertz as the sole candidate for the seat.

• “Three candidates square off for Madison School Board primary” – Madison Commons
• “Former school board candidate says she knew need to drop out was possible” – Wisconsin State Journal
• “Extra Credit: Paul Soglin: I asked Sarah Manski to run, but didn't know she might move” – Wisconsin State Journal
• “Blame for vote stretches past Manski” – Wisconsin State Journal

Polling hours extend from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2. Click here to find your polling place in Madison.