School Board Election

BBME Interview:

 

BBME: Why did you decide to step up and run for the school board?

Mueller: When you see your classmates and teachers struggling you want to help them. His teachers often have to work two or more jobs to make ends meet. Over the five years since he was in middle school the class sizes have gone from 30 to 40 students per teacher. They are also dealing with a teacher shortage, often giving up their prep time to cover classes. He feels that  one way this could be fixed is by increasing teacher salaries. 

 

Regarding his classmates, he finds it concerning that the S.H.A.R.E. program does not talk about LGBTQ students until the 9th grade. Data shows that the LGBTQ community has a significantly higher rate of suicde. He worries without those students being recognized and made to feel they have a place in our schools.

 

BBME: Do you feel that you will be a part of the leadership that will listen to parents and honor their right to be involved in their education? 

Mueller: Yes Parents have a right to be involved in their child’s education and I will definitely listen to what parents have to say.

 

BBME: What is your stance on politics and divisive curricula in WCSD?  

Mueller: I believe that teachers should not talk about their political positions,  but students should be able to have those discussions amongst themselves. 

 

BBME:Do you believe you will be able to set personal opinions and feelings aside and act on behalf of your constituents through tough topics? 

Mueller: As a Trustee, I will be able to put personal opinions aside and be able to listen to my constituents. I am  open to hearing from all voices and would try to work with people even if they have different opinions or beliefs from my own.

 

BBME: What is your stance on politics and divisive curricula in WCSD? 

Mueller: I have not seen divisive curricula. I feel that CRT is an alarmist tool. I do  believe that systemic racism exists and that it needs to be taught so it is no longer allowed to persist. I firmly believe this can be done by teaching an honest history, for example, that red lining existed and the remnants still cause problems today with pockets of disadvantaged living in poor neighborhoods getting much less funding than the richer whiter areas.

 

BBME: Should parents have full access to all curricula taught to their children? 

Mueller: Yes. Parents should have full access to their child’s curricula.

 

BBME: How do you feel about data being collected and distributed on our students? 

Mueller: I will do everything I can to protect student data. I believe the District is doing a pretty good job now, working closely with local Microsoft. I agree that data should be deleted within a few years of a student’s graduation, giving students time for  retrieval of information that they may need for college. However, anytime a student wants their data deleted they should just be able to fill out a form and it will be done. 

 

BBME: How do you feel about accessibility to board meetings?  Do you believe they have been fair, accessible and transparent?  

Mueller: They are not accessible because they are held at 2:00 pm.  I do not know how anyone attends. Students are in school and most people are working; it is just a really bad time of day for people to attend.  I also believe that the meetings are not very transparent as there is no opportunity for conversation.. However, I have reached out to some Trustees and a couple responded to him and were very nice.  

 

We would like to extend an acknowledgement to Mr. Mueller for stepping up to public service at such a young age. We recognize the commitment it takes at any age, and applaud him for doing so. We share his feeling that all students should be made to feel welcome in our schools.