During the primary campaign we asked candidates running for the Madison Board of Education the same five questions to understand their vision for education in Madison. For the general election, we took a different route and asked the candidates a set of questions to understand where and how they would focus their energy if elected.
The election for Madison Board of Education takes place Tuesday, April 2.
Candidates responded to our questions through email or over the phone. We only publish direct quotes from candidates responding to the following questions:
- What is the biggest challenge facing Madison schools?
- Why are you qualified to help fix this problem?
- When it comes to fixing this problem, what’s more important to your vision: finding consensus (making everybody happy), reaching compromise (everybody gives up something), or sticking to principles?
Click through the grid below to explore where candidates stand on these questions.
When it comes to one hot-button issue in the Madison School Board race, Christina Gomez Schmidt is in favor of maintaining the status quo.
“I support the SRO’s in our schools,” Gomez Schmidt said, referring to school resource officers, the Madison police officers whose contract has been controversial over the past several years. “I see their role as to build relationships with students and staff so that they can de-escalate conflict.”
Contributing reporters:
