Schumaker Touts Student Achievement, School Finance in Campaign

Editor's note: This week Dexter Patch will profile each of the four candidates running for school board on May 3. Today we will feature incumbent trustee Julie Schumaker.

With the May 3 general election a month away, Dexter Patch met up with the four candidates running for the two open seats on the Dexter Community Schools Board of Education. Incumbents Richard Lundy and Julie Schumaker will face opposition from challengers Shawn Letwin and Amy Luczak.

Candidate: Julie Schumaker

Office Sought:  Dexter Board of Education trustee

Residence: Webster Township

Occupation: Business owner/consultant for Evaluation Associates

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan; Master of Arts in guidance and counseling from Eastern Michigan University; Master of Arts in educational foundations, administration, policy, and research methods from the University of Michigan; doctorate degree in educational foundations and policy from the University of Michigan.

Previous Elected Office: Dexter Board of Education trustee since 2003.

Two Key Issues:

1. Student achievement

A key challenge facing our district is how to continue to provide the quality of education that our community expects in an environment of unstable financial support from the state.

Our primary focus as a district is to improve the achievement of all students.  Due to the combined efforts of our staff, parents, community and students, Dexter students perform very well compared to their peers in the state on standardized assessments. 

More than 90 percent of students in grades 3-9 meet or exceed expectations in math, reading, science and social studies on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test.  The Class of 2011 ranks 24th in the state in meeting college readiness benchmarks in English, math, reading and science on the ACT.  

Our students also have won numerous district, regional and state competitions in debate, forensics, Science Olympiad, and Ocean Bowl, and our band and orchestra programs consistently achieve top ratings at regional and state festivals.  While we are very proud of our students’ accomplishments, we recognize that to compete in a global environment, we must do an even better job to ensure that all students are well prepared with the skills, knowledge and competencies needed in the future.  

In the past several years, we have added a Young 5's program, piloted a new Freshmen House program, increased the number of Advanced Placement classes at the high school, and expanded technology integration throughout all classrooms as well as online learning opportunities.  

Our district is also exploring many new programs to continue to keep Dexter Schools at the forefront of education.  These include offering foreign language beginning at kindergarten and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. 

At the high school, a new Focus House program for upper-class students to allow them an opportunity to explore potential career paths and the International Diploma Programme are under consideration.

2. Financial stability

Unpredictable and insufficient funding from the state is the biggest challenge facing all school districts.  

Local district revenue is based upon per-pupil funding from the state known as a foundation grant.  Given the budget crisis facing Michigan, projections for next year are that Dexter Schools will need to reduce spending by approximately $2 million (about $700 per pupil) – roughly 6 percent of our current budget.  With this reduction, Dexter School’s per-pupil foundation grant will be reduced to pre- 2005-06 levels, which will pose a serious challenge to our district’s finances.

Over the past eight years, we have made a series of important changes to ensure the long-term fiscal viability of our district.  We have tried to keep budget cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.  Administrative and non-instructional cuts have been made.  We now operate with fewer central administrative and building and grounds staff.  We have moved to a single-tier bus system for students. Food and Nutrition services for Dexter and Chelsea school districts are now cooperatively managed.  Athletics and Community Education are now consolidated as one department with the goal for being self-supporting in a few years. Energy costs have been reduced through both changes in behavior and improved efficiency, and since 2006 we have participated in cooperative purchasing of electric and gas utilities.  We have also privatized the contracting of paraprofessionals and substitute employees.

While we have made significant cuts as a district, we know that what attracts families to our community is the quality of our educational system.  For this reason, we will continue to balance budget reductions with a focus on enhancing students’ education.  

How do you plan on addressing these issues?

As a parent with children in Dexter Schools since 1996, I am familiar with our schools and have a long-term perspective and commitment to the district.  As a school board member, my role is to represent the community’s interests, not my own personal agenda.  In making any decision, I always consider two questions, “What is in the best interest of all students?” and “What does the community want?”  I listen to the many perspectives of community members, and although some decisions – especially budget reductions – are difficult to make, I strive to keep the best interests of all students at the forefront of decision making.

I have always advocated for our district with our state legislators. I will also continue to keep the public informed and am happy to talk to community members who have questions or concerns.

I value the perspective of my board colleagues, along with the perspective of the district’s administration, employee groups, and community members.  By working collaboratively in the spirit of mutual respect, we are able to make better decisions than any of us could working alone.  Having served on the Finance and Negotiations Committees for seven years, I am aware of the financial implications of board decisions.  I strive to think of both the big picture of how all the pieces fit together, as well as the details, and to as ask questions to understand the implications of decisions.  

It is through the combined efforts of all groups – the board, administration, staff, parents and the community – that we can best ensure the success of all Dexter students.

Public Service: Dexter Board of Education (2003-present); member of various Board of Education committees: Negotiations, Finance, Communications, Policy, Strategic Planning, Superintendent Search, and Superintendent Evaluation; Michigan Association of Schools board certification; certified board member (2005); Award of Merit (2006); Dexter Schools volunteer, (1998-2002); among others.

Community Involvement: Dexter Rotary Club member; Dexter Educational Foundation 100 Grand Club member; active member at St. Joseph Catholic Church; Christmas in April volunteer; NEW Center Daycroft Montessori School Board of Directors; Day Care Ad Hoc Committee, Day Care Licensing Division, Michigan Department of Social Services.