Important Primary Election in Wisconsin - February 16

Brothers & Sisters,

Tuesday, February 16, is an important primary election in Wisconsin.  There are, currently, 7 (at last count) candidates for the Superintendent of the state's Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

This is a very important post in our state government whether your children go to a public school, a parochial or private school, or even for those who home school.  The state department of public instruction touches all of us who are about the education and formation of young people in every format.

The information available is relatively thin, but there has been some fora which have revealed answers to significant concerns which may give some insight into the candidates' attitude towards non-public education generally.

Here is an article which may be of interest from the Wisconsin Examiner and an overview from the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS).

Having reviewed these, as well as 

The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC-the state teacher's union) is recommending Dr. Jill Underly.  I have serious concerns about her platform.  Here is a link to her League of Women Voters questionnaire.

A regional educational professional who has been very friendly to Catholic education has said that Deborah Kerr has worked very well with him in the past.  There isn't a lot there to suggest she would be a "friend" to Catholic education or home schooling, but (and this is significant to me) there are not the red flags one finds on the websites and the news articles about many of the others.  Here is a link to her League of Women Voters Questionnaire.  I would point out she is the only candidate with bi-partisan support.

Another possibility is Shandowlyon Hendricks-Williams.  She has some good qualities and positions.  Here is her League of Women Voters Questionnaire.

None of these are perfect, but a couple of them are better than the rest, possibly even helpful once in office.