Comments on: Leslie, Mexicotte Contest School Board Seat

By: E. Johnson

E. Johnson — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:11:25 +0000

As a parent of AAPS students, I strongly encourage voters to support Deb Mexicotte for the Ann Arbor School Board. We are at a critical time for public schools, and we cannot afford to have intelligent board members who have the correct priorities voted off.

Deb has served tirelessly on the School Board for many years and has always kept the best interests of our children at the forefront. Over the years, I have been impressed by her leadership, integrity, vision, and her ability to focus on the true goals of public education.

As we continue to see public education decimated through the state
government, it’s more important than ever to have intelligent, experienced leadership on our School Boad, and Deb Mexicotte brings these skills to our schools. For the sake of all Ann Arbor children, please vote to keep this dedicated woman on our School Board. Please vote for Deb Mexicotte.

By: Maria Huffman

Maria Huffman — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 21:13:40 +0000

Deb Mexicotte has truly been a fierce advocate for all the children in the Ann Arbor Public School District. Her focus is on actualizing high achievement for all the children in the school district, and is an avid supporter of the arts and music curriculum. She is intelligent, engaged and energetic. As the financial turmoil in public education continues unabated, I believe we need her integrity, her commitment to quality education for all children,and her leadership on our Board of Education. I strongly support re-electing Deb Mexicotte November 6.

By: Ruth Kraut

Ruth Kraut — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:40:11 +0000

Thanks for the links, Ann Arbor Chronicle!

Before you cast your ballot, Chronicle readers, be sure to learn more about the multiple things on the ballot that could affect education, K-college.

In addition to school board elections throughout the county (about half of them are contested), there are Washtenaw Community College trustees to elect, and Schoolcraft College trustees if you are in the Schoolcraft district (Who knew Schoolcraft had a district? I didn’t know existed until I looked at the County Clerk’s website).

On a statewide level, there are several boards of regents–including UM, MSU, and Wayne State–and the State Board of Education.

Don’t forget the state Supreme Court, which may make some important rulings on education in the coming years. (Vote the nonpartisan judges part of the ballot in general.)

And then there are the proposals. Proposal 1 (emergency manager), Proposal 2(working families) and Proposal 5 (requirement that 2/3 of both legislative houses vote yes for *any* tax increase) all have major implications for education.

An educated ballot reader is the best voter.

By: Christine Stead

Christine Stead — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:48:43 +0000

I strongly support President Mexicotte for re-election. For those that have not worked as closely with her in the past, she is incredibly astute at Board leadership and focused on our students. She has the trust and confidence of the people that do work with her on a regular basis. She is a wealth of knowledge about our district and an excellent facilitator. She does the right thing and I’m very honored to work with her now. Please support her. We would be lucky to have her for four more years.

By: Jack Panitch

Jack Panitch — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 04:42:04 +0000

There may be no one more important to the ongoing mission of the Board of Education Trustees than President Mexicotte. She is a visionary leader with a demonstrated ability to work through the issues effectively and move the Board of Education forward in keeping with the Strategic Plan and in partnership with both the District and the Community. If she is willing to contribute her talent and energy to another four-year term, all I can do is express gratefulness. I won’t go so far as to say she’s irreplaceable: one of the best measures of a leader’s skill is building an organization that will do better than survive once the leader is gone. Other trustees could step up to the presidency and do a credible job. Emphasis on credible. Each would have to learn on the job, and it isn’t easy. These are all hugely talented folks with their own strengths and experience, and they all contribute selflessly and tirelessly to the good of students first and foremost always. I would expect to see some measure of net success under any one of them. But President Mexicotte is a natural: grace under pressure, unbelievable candle power, dynamism, judgment, wisdom, thick skin, approachability, selflessness, the complete package.

Anyone out there thinking we need change for change’s sake, I gotta ask, how well has that worked at the state level for education policy? Plus, the bit about the new “focus school” designation and the reliability and fullness of the state-level political acumen that went into its roll-out is a topic I would be happy to talk about in greater detail. It should suffice to say here that there is data, readily available on the MDE’s own web-site that clearly and unmistakably establishes the program as a simple shift in political emphasis akin to a caramel-coated exploded-corn-based substance.

By: Glenn Nelson

Glenn Nelson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:10:05 +0000

I strongly support Deb Mexicotte for re-election. She has demonstrated 1) a consistent focus on the education of students, 2) excellent stewardship of financial and other resources, and 3) strong and responsive leadership. She is a primary reason our schools remain excellent despite the financial and regulatory stresses imposed by state actions over the last decade. Our students need the benefit of her qualities on the Board of Education in order to continue to receive an excellent education. Glenn Nelson