Newcomer Laura Simkin, who distanced herself from her rival as a supporter of policing schools, will join the Madison School Board after winning the district's only contested race in Tuesday's election.
But Simkin said Tuesday night he did not think reinstating school resource officers would be contacted by the board in the near future. Instead, she plans to spend some time looking at what has been done so far with respect to school safety and to find out what options there are to address the issue.
"I feel like work is about to begin," Simkin said.
Simkin's rival, Shepherd Janeway, who was behind by a significant margin in preliminary results, did not rule out a future race for public office.
“Congratulations to Laura Simkin. It was a wonderful opportunity,” said Janeway. “I am incredibly pleased with the results, and I look forward to using the community connections I have built and strengthened and learned in the future Using the lessons learned." Candidates aligned on a number of issues and controversial stands facing the district. By previous boards, except one: to remove school resource officers from four of Madison's main high schools in June 2020 Voting unanimously.
Janeway expressed support for the decision to remove police from schools, while Simkin told the Wisconsin State Journal in March that she wanted to see the reinstatement of SROs in Madison's four main high schools.
But on election night, she took a cautious tone on whether she would involve the school board on that issue.
"I plan to work with the school board as part of a seven-person team, and I will work with the school board to decide what issues we are going to work on," she said .
Simkin said he believes his 30 years of experience in child care and as the parent of a Madison student had affected voters.
"When I talked to people, they were seeing the whole picture," she said.
Over the next few days, she said she plans to rest and educate herself on the issues facing the board before taking oath on April 25.
Other board seats
Board chairman and first-term incumbent Ali Muldrow, who was endorsed by Dane County Democrats, will retain seat 4, easily defeating registered write-in candidate and conservative blogger David Blaska.
Muldrow's long-term plans include expanding access to dual-language programs for students, ensuring that students are ready to vote - with a driver's license - once they turn 18, as well as Make art a part of the core curriculum at the primary level.
“I am very grateful for our community,” Muldrow said, and thanked his supporters, his partner and Madison teacher Sandy Wellander, and their three children. "It is such an honor to serve and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity."
Nickel Nichols, a former District Administrative staff member and parent of four Madison alumni, ran unopposed and will join the board later this month. She told the Wisconsin State Journal in January that her main concern is the lasting effect of staffing shortages on the morale of teachers, staff, and students.
“I look forward to joining this board and starting to focus on strengthening my district,” she said.
The three members will be administered the oath during the regular board meeting on April 25.
Around the county
In Mount Horeb, Adam Mertz, Carly Fischer and Leah Lipska won school board seats after the election season, heated by controversy over COVID mitigation policy and K-12 curriculum, brought out 11 candidates ahead of the February primary.
A field of candidates were narrowed down to 11 – making it the largest school board race in Dane County in the February primary – with the top six vote-getters, including newcomers Mertz, Fischer, Joel Craven, Jeff Shields and Kristen Karz. , as well as Leah Lipska, who previously survived a COVID-19-related recall effort.
Voters for the school districts of Barneveld, Belleville, Cambridge, Columbus, Deerfield, DeForest, Evansville, Lodi, McFarland, Middleton-Cross Plains, Milton, New Glarus, Pecatonica, Poynette, River Valley, Sun Prairie, Verona and Waunaki also elected board members. Tuesday.