Both responded to the questions. Each of the candidates are showen below exactly as they provided. Feel free to reach out to one or both.
Take a moment to let them know you appreciate that they shared their views.
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Marie Wedaege
Phone 360.975.1528
Email Schooldistrict3marie@gmail.com
1.Given the poor student test scores, what are your proposals to improve learning and outcomes?
As well as certified teachers, para educators should be in classrooms to help identify and help struggling students.
To help with test scores, I feel teachers can:
Make sure students are well nourished the week before testing and well hydrated during testing. They are able to identify their students’ specific strengths and weaknesses. The teachers know where they need to concentrate their attention.
Developing Tutoring clubs
After-school team meetings. Teachers across the curriculum participate in the additional meetings.
Curriculum connections. The entire school worked to enhance math and language arts skills.
Rewards and incentives. Student and teacher accomplishments are regularly recognized. Students receive pins and a special breakfast for good grades; incentives for teachers include everything from plaques to notes posted on classroom doors and candy bars in mailboxes.
“I would say the greatest catalyst is constant effort to remind and convince staff and the student body that we can do this! Staff and students feel a sense of accomplishment now, and next year should be even better.”
2. Given that an estimated 50% of the entire state budget goes to K-12 education, what are your thoughts about improving efficiencies in local spending?
Evaluate the outcomes of spending and allocate state monies for Woodland schools.
3. What’s your position on Parental Rights?
I am an advocate for parental rights. I feel parents have the right to know about the behavioral and learning style of their child.
4. Should parents have the right to choose public or private education for their children?
Yes, parents should have the right to choose their child’s education. Parents can choose between public, private, or homeschooling options for their children. They have the authority to determine the subjects their children study and the extracurricular activities in which they participate.
5. What’s your position about transgender crossover in sports? I do not agree with transgender cross over in sports.
6. Yes, school district negotiations with unions should be public to ensure transparency and accountability, allowing the community to understand the terms being discussed and their potential impact on education. Public negotiations can also foster trust between the school board, unions, and the community, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and engaged in the process.
7. I agree with DEI concepts which are intended to support people who come from varying backgrounds and give them the resources they need to thrive in the workplace. DEI frameworks take into account factors like race, gender and sexual orientation, so teams can find ways to help employees from marginalized groups succeed. However, I do not feel DEI concepts should be used, in any way, as discriminatory to any person.
8. I agree that children need to learn about the history of slavery and discrimination in the U.S., but not that the country is inherently racist.
9. I do not agree with mandated pronouns
10. Yes, I feel that school boards should play an active role in running the school district; school boards play a critical role in ensuring students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for lifelong success. School boards help shape the educational vision and policies of a district. Their primary responsibility is to set a direction for local schools that reflects the needs and goals of residents, educators, and students.
11. What are the top 3 issues you think need to be addressed in your school district and what would you do about them?
a. Parental rights and Proactive Family Outreach
b. Enhanced Community Engagement
c. School Safety
As I mentioned earlier, I advocate for parental rights for students and schools need a family outreach program to talk to families and help reduce school truancy. I feel school board members should talk and listen to their community partners. Safety for all students is of highest importance and police and or security guards should be a presence at schools.
12. What other topics or issues would you like to address?
Quality education is the foundation for success in adulthood. “The youth of today, for our children’s tomorrow” is the heart of my campaign. I believe strong family outreach and meaningful community engagement are essential to the continued success of Woodland schools.
As your representative, I will listen to the voices of parents, teachers, and community members—and I will bring your concerns to the board with dedication and integrity.
Thank you again for believing in this mission and supporting our schools.
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Stephen Blum
Phone 503.488.9691
Email wildscottishblum@yahoo.com
Q1: Given the poor student test scores, what are your proposals to improve learning and outcomes?
As a school board member, it is my duty to hold the administration accountable for results. I do this by insisting on explanation when data shows lack of improvement or lower than anticipated outcomes. The board approves administration requests to fund new teaching tools, my questions are always; “How will this benefit the students? And How will the improvement be measured and tracked?”
Q2: Given that an estimated 50% of the entire state budget goes to K-12 education, what are your thoughts about improving efficiencies in local spending?
Woodland does a good job driving spending efficiency by partnering with other, local small districts to increase buying power, an example is the KWRL (Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, La Center) bus cooperative. There are other examples, such as contracting for special education services with the larger Vancouver school district.
Q3: What’s your position on Parental Rights?
I believe that parents are the ultimate authority for decisions regarding their children.
Q4: Should parents have the right to choose public or private education for their children?
Yes, of course they should, however the responsibility for paying for private education should rest with the parent if they choose that for their children.
Q5: What’s your position about transgender crossover in sports?
If a child has begun or gone through puberty or begun hormone treatment, they should compete as gender assigned prior to augmentation.
Q6: Should school district negotiations with unions be public? Why or Why Not?
Since the district is negotiating how to spend public tax dollars, yes there needs to be as much transparency as legally possible. I am not sure if there are legal restrictions on public attendance at labor negotiations, but at the least a summary of the results should be public.
Q7: What is your position on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)?
I believe diversity is the state of things in America, we are after all, a melting pot. The American dream is that everyone has the opportunity to achieve all their dreams, life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, this to me implies that we all have an equity stake in our collective success. To me inclusion means that none are excluded. Should a disabled child be excluded from PE because they cannot run fast? OF course not, accommodations are made, we all need some type of accommodation or another, that is fairness.
Q8: What is your position on Critical Race Theory?
Critical race theory is a theory of systemic racism that arose in legal academia, law schools at universities. I have never seen concrete evidence of the concepts being taught in K-12 public education. As a public school board member my concern is K-12 public education. That said I believe children should be taught the full depth and breadth of American history. Some of this has to include topics such as; treatment of native Americans (trail of tears, Wounded Knee massacre), slavery in the American South, The Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s etc. While these are not pleasant topics to learn about, especially for white children, these things happened, and I am a firm believer that those who do not learn from history are likely to repeat it.
Q9: What’s your position on Mandated Pronouns?
I think the first amendment to the constitution guarantees us all the right to refer to ourselves with any pronoun we wish. I do not believe that any government entity has the legal authority to tell someone how they should refer to themselves.
Q10: Should school boards play an active role in running the school district or should the board hire a superintendent and let them run the show with minimal board input?
These options are two extremes, opposite ends of the spectrum. The Woodland school board does plan an active role in running the school, however it is not our full time job. We are concerned citizens that care and want the best education possible for all children. The superintendent answers to the board, we determine her success or lack thereof and essentially write her review. I think this is a happy medium that works well.
Q11: What are the top 3 issues you think need to be addressed in your school district and what would you do about them?
First, I think that education quality is utmost. I believe there is an over reliance on passive learning through technology. In other words I think there needs to be screen time limits and more focus on hands on, old school learning.
Second, I think that parent engagement needs to improve. I encourage all parents to be involved, come volunteer, it’s great fun and it tells your kid more than anything that you are invested in their success.
Third I think we can do better making sure disadvantaged children can overcome this and other barriers. Case in point, free breakfast and lunch at the High and Middle schools has very low utilization among children who qualify. I think this is due to the stigma, no kid wants to stand out for being poor. I want free meals for all the kids, which I think would erase the stigma. No child can learn to their fullest with a growling stomach.
Q12: What other topics or issues would you like to address?
I can’t think of any other, thank you for your time.
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