School Board Candidates Sound Off on Education Issues at Forum

A crowd of about 50 members of the Rochester community turned out Monday night to hear what candidates for three Board of Education positions had to say.

Candidates , , and were in attendance for the forum, sponsored by the Oakland County chapter of the League of Women Voters. Candidate was not in attendance, and he did not respond in time to be included in the League's candidate questionnaire.

Candidates answered questions submitted by audience members during the one-hour forum. Here are some excerpts from the candidates' responses.

Candidates' opening statements

Nielson: "We live in a great school district, but I believe we can do better ... they (students) should all be ready for college. Our schools budget is not spending our tax dollars wisely.  They are spending more money than ever before.  We will work together ... to get our kids ready for college."

Pierobon: "We (she and her husband) have been highly pleased by the district.  I will not sit by and watch all that has been achieved fall away.  I have been an active member in the PTA and in the military."

Piskulich: "Our son Zeke has just left for college.  I am running because he got a great education in our district.  The world is becoming hot, flat and crowded (and maybe angry) ... we need to be competitive.  I would like to contribute what skills I have."

Talbert: "I believe we can do more. We have established a vision."

Talbert pointed out all the district has done recently to set ACT benchmarks, achieve savings through teacher-shared healthcare premiums and implement the My RCS student portal.

About online learning

Nielson: "I believe in educating all our kids. We are a school ... aren't we here to teach kids?" (the question may have been misunderstood by the first two candidates)

Pierobon: "Some of these changes are things we don't have to worry about right now."

Piskulich: "I guess they're coming. I think there is an upside and downside. I'm not sure that I want an entirely online environment."

Talbert: "A mix or hybrid might be more effective in optimizing student learning," she said, noting that the two school districts which are online have no assessment of student achievement.

On charter schools and schools of choice legislation

Pierobon: "We don't know exactly how it's going to work.  We'll have to see what's in the legislation."

Piskulich: "I am against charter schools.  There should be some local autonomy but that is probably a pipe dream."

Talbert: "There has been a rush to reform education. The information I read on charter schools is mixed.  The larger concern: one-size-fits-all is not what is best for us. I would not support that."

Nielson: "Charter schools are not a threat for us. International Academy?  The rest that don't get into the IA are not being served in our district."

On tenure legislation

Piskulich: "I can't speak to the specifics of the legislation. Tenure has a place, post tenure review ... I support that. Tenure shouldn't be a free ride."

Talbert: "I support the legislation ... I think it goes just far enough, but I don't think it is a threat.  I would be against removing tenure all together."

Nielson: "I support the tenure changes. Good teachers have nothing to fear.  We have a lot of bigger issues to fry in our district; 62 percent our of kids are not going to be college-ready in our district."

Pierobon: "I do support the legislation. Excellent teachers have nothing to fear and the teachers who need some remediation can get it."

On board collaboration and communication

Talbert: "I am big supporter of collaboration ... good decisions are made that way.  I think we have greatly improved our communication but there is still room to improve."

Nielson: "I support a diversity of ideas. Our school board doesn't take time for much discussion at the board table."

Pierobon: "I think the school board has to be a team. You should be organized, succinct and to the point.  I love the RCS portal. It has been great. I feel very in touch with everything."

Piskulich: "Social media, email blasts, the Pathway document ... I don't think communication is an issue in the district."

On privatizations of busing and other services

Nielson: "This is the trajectory we are on. Would I support outsourcing?  Everything is on the table. Can we get more value for our dollar?"

Pierobon: "It is the last resort. It takes two sides, and they have to meet in the middle. Everything has to be on the table."

Piskulich: "I think privatization drives down quality. No, I don't like it. But, there can be no sacred cow. Privatization of teaching ... no way!"  

Talbert: "We have done a really good job with balancing the budget we have.  We have to look at that (privatization) but we need to make sure the service and quality stay the same for substantial savings."

Programs for gifted students and the arts

Pierobon: "I feel like we can do more ... we really need to support our talent. I would love to see more advanced levels in elementary schools."

Piskulich: "At the K-5 level, we could probably do more. Exploring those opportunities is important to me. I prefer to tie budget to performance." 

Talbert: "The arts are a real strength of our district.  I would not ever support anything that would diminish that. More needs to be done there (for gifted students)."

Nielson: "I support challenging all our kids. The school board has cut millions that fund programs. I would fully go for those program."

On affiliations with public unions

Piskulich: "I am an agency member but last year I split with my union (could not go along with the strike)," said Piskulich, an Oakland University instructor.

"I don't see a problem.  Unions built the middle class in this country.  We need to work together with the union ... come to the table and cooperate."

Talbert: "I am a member of the AAUP," said Talbert, who is a faculty member at Oakland University.

"I do support my colleagues. No, I don't think that is a conflict of interest. I have looked at privatization ... I am able to differentiate and make some difficult decisions."

Nielson: "I am not a member of the union. It seems like it is a conflict of interest. I will be negotiating with these folks."

Pierobon: "I am not a member of a public union.  These are the people who are the major source of talent who are in front of our kids.  I want all of your support and recommendations."

On saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools

Talbert: "I don't know why we wouldn't want to.  I am all about the pledge."

Nielson: "I absolutely support saying the pledge.  We should be encouraging it."

Pierobon: "We all should have done that this evening. I think our students benefit from learning what it means."

Piskulich: "Absolutely, the pledge is appropriate.  I worry that we have less in common as a country.  If we start taking apart education ... it really worries me."

International Baccalaureate program

Nielson:  "I am a supporter of the IA program (International Academy curriculum which results in an International Baccalaureate diploma). There is a high demand for advanced education in our district."

Pierobon: "It is a wonderful opportunity. To bring a whole IB program? I don't know what it would cost." 

Piskulich: "My kid got in ... it was one of the best days of my life.  I am a big supporter of the IB ... I don't know what it costs.  It is a jewel in Michigan.  Curriculum is more that just courses ... it sounds very expensive."

Talbert: "I am very supportive of the IB curriculum.  I like that students are exposed to cultures around the world.  That's something our district should look at."

On volunteering and community work

Pierobon: "My kids have always been in public schools." She added that she also volunteers in the schools and at church.

Piskulich: "I do a lot out in the community, and help local governments through the OU incubator."

Talbert: "My two children attended public schools in Rochester. I volunteered in the classroom ... now I am a member of the Rochester Community Foundation and volunteer at church."

Nielson: "My son attends public school. I have been attending the board meetings ... I have adopted a road in Rochester Hills and go to many Republican activities."

On rewarding 'best practices'

Piskulich: "The school district just got more money ... $100 per student. The ball keeps moving. The push is to consolidate, find economies of scale.  It is a delicate thing."

Talbert: "This has monopolized a lot of the board's time; 85 percent of the budget is labor. Where you have to look is people ... can we be more efficient?  We have preserved a fund balance which we need to maintain for an emergency."

Nielson: "Our school district is spending more money than ever before.  How much is enough? Let's start looking at best practices implemented by other districts. Stop looking at just cutting but do innovative things."

Pierobon: "We did pass four of the five best practices. I think the district will continue to do that ... long-term strategy. There has to be something done. Personnel does have to be looked at."

Closing statements

Talbert: She addressed the statement that our students are not prepared for college. 

"More than 90 percent of our students attend college."

Piskulich: "It's a tough time to be a teacher in Michigan. My preference would be that we work with instead of against teachers.  I have always respected public education."

Pierobon: "Tough times are ahead of us ... we can weather the storm with pride and dignity; do our best."

Nielson: "I want to earn your vote for one of those seats.  If elected, I will ask the question ... what's in it for our kids?"