School Board Candidates View Bautista Case

How are candidates for the Ann Arbor Board of Education in the June 12 election reacting to the Mildred Bautista case? Has it affected their campaigning? (Miss Bautista was fired f rom the joint jobs of assistant to the superintendent and school board secretary following confirmation of charges made by The News that her academie credentials had been falsified.) Nancy Brussolo comments it is blatantly obvious that the Bautista case has affected the Ann Arbor community and that most people have indicated they are not satisfied with School Supt. R. Bruce McPherson's response and want more explanation. (McPherson is scheduled to make a further response tomorrów.) "One woman asked me if I thought McPherson's style would change now," said Mrs. Brussolo, who feels that many people don't understand the way in which the superintendent implements his decisions for change. "Change isn't ever easy for anyone," she said, "but people seem to dislike his approach in some instances." Mrs. Brussolo added she did not make the Bautista case an issue in her campaign because voters should look at a candidate for his expertise, and goals for the education of children. One of the major concerns of Ann Arbor voters as expressed to her, Mrs. Brussolo said, are those pertaining to budget priorities. She noted that since more than 80 per cent of school funds go for salaries, it is difficult to make people understand that cutting a budget involves people. Another concern is that of change and the meaning of decentralization. Numerous questions about the middle schools and new community high school have also been posed to her as a board candidate, she reported. "Many people have misconceptions about these new programs and fail to realize that the middle school concept had been studied here numerous years ago. McPherson's whole pattern is different in terms of the kind of responsibility he has as a new administrator and this is what people don't understand." Mrs. Brussolo added there are occasional concerns about discipline and ty in thé sthóols, but these aYe mosüy isolated incidents. As an incumbent seeking re-elecüon,! board President Cecil Warner has been involved in resolving the investigation of the former board secretary. "I have received numerous telephone calis and letters pertaining to the case but I have tried to treat the issue as a board ber and not let it interfere in my campaign for re-election," he said. "I am faced with a responsibility as a board member and I must make rational decisions and not put this issue into the political arena." Other important issues for the schools, according to questions Warner has received, are: How will the schools be financed in view of the reduction of state aid? What about discipline and safety in the schools? Will the community high school become a dumping ground? Library funding and the elemination of department chairmen are other voter concerns, he said. Clarence Dukes says the Bautista case has changed his perspective about school officials who, before now, had generally been considered above reproach. He said the Bautista issue, however, detracts from the real issue: "What is the future of our schools?" In a matter of time everyone will have forgotten about Miss Bautista, he said, but the problems in the schools will remain. One of the concerns he has heard from the community is that teachers need to have more say about the system. And that administrative offices should be more supportive of them. "There seems to be a definite communications gap between teachers and administrators," he noted. Lettie Wickliff said that during one of her campaign visits the first thing she was asked was: "Have your credentials been chécked?" Most of Mrs. Wickliff's questions, however, have been concerned with-teaching and students. Most parents, she said, don't feel that their children are actually learning in the classroom. They are also concerned about disruption in the schools. Questions about the middle school concept and new community high school were also frequently asked. "I don't feel that people knew enough about the community high school before it was adopted, it was presented a little late," Mrs. Wickliff said. "Right now, however, we need to forget the Bautista issue and ill feelings (over please)