Tyler A. Smith

Candidate Name: Tyler A Smith
Age: 36
Candidate for [Elected Position]: East Lansing School Board Trustee
Candidate Website:
Candidate Contact for Public: tyler.smith.schoolboard@gmail.com
Are you registered with any party? If so, please share your party affiliation:
Please share all your social media accounts
Please include a high quality photo of the candidate.
1. What motivated you to run for the position you are seeking election to?
I want to ensure the East Lansing school district was providing the students and families of East
Lansing the highest quality of service reasonably possible.
2. What is your vision for the public body you want to serve on?
I think the Board is doing a good job at present, but there is always room to improve. One area I
would like to focus on would be clearer messaging and engagement with the community.
3. How does your vision differ from that of your opponents?
Despite searching, I can find very little publicly available information on my opponents’ visions
or specific policy preferences.
4. Funding for schools has been a consistent concern for nearly three decades. Proposal 1,
passed in the 90s was supposed to level the playing field in funding assuring that
districts with distressed property values would receive comparable per pupil funding.
That has not been the case. If elected, how will you address the under funding of
schools?
As an initial matter, I believe the reference is to Proposal A, rather than Proposal 1? In any
event, I do not feel that the district in which I am running is underfunded. I do support reform of
school funding at higher levels, though the authority of school board trustees does not extend
that far.
5. Has school choice, which allows students and parents to apply for and attend a different
school district than the one they live in, been a success? Why or why not?

I believe it has been a success, in that it eased the geographical boundaries that otherwise
could create differential educational attainment based on ZIP code, and other unjust outcomes. I
do have concerns about school choice favoring wealthier families, as it is not often possible to
provide bus transportation to students coming from farther away, and it may not always be easy
for families to maintain reliable transportation.
6. Proposals in Michigan have long sought to use public dollars to pay for private school
tuition and costs. Do you support vouchers for private schools? Why or why not?
I do not support school vouchers. Those who would prefer to send their children to private
schools are certainly entitled to do so. However I do not believe that diverting public funds to
private educational institutions is a proper use of those funds. Also, I have concerns about the
quality and rigor of the education some private schools provide. Focusing on providing a high-
quality public education is not only more sensible, but also benefits the community at large,
rather than a subsection of it.
7. If vouchers are approved, public schools may see a decline in enrollment. How would
you close the funding gap by a reduction in per pupil funding?
If this series of events were to play out, shortfalls would likely need to be made up, whether
through grant, bonding, millage, or other funding source. However, I believe East Lansing Public
Schools provide an education at least as good as that offered by private schools in the area.
8. Educators have been under scrutiny over LGBT youth support, LGBT history, the
American history of communities of color and more. In addition, school libraries are
pulling books off of shelves in public school libraries and public libraries.
a. Please share your perspective as you pertains to providing safe schools and
education for LGBT youth.
It is not acceptable for students to be mistreated or disparately impacted on the basis of
their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, or any other
fundamental characteristic. I believe ELPS has done well providing safe schools by
providing counselors and student advocates, and the curriculum has improved
significantly with regard to representation of LGBT people and perspectives.
b. Please share your perspective about integrating the history of communities of
color into curriculums in the public schools.
The ultimate goal is to fundamentally remake curricula so that the history of communities
of color is baked in from the start. History as it has been taught has been biased, often
intentionally the farther into the past we look. There needs to be room for some hard
conversations, especially at the middle and high school level. And as much as possible, I would
want to hear from students on how their history is being taught, whether anonymously or

publicly, as each student may prefer. The idea would be to meet students where they are and
build from there, ideally achieving a broad and syncretic historical education.

c. Do you support the removal of books some find objectionable from public school
shelves and public libraries? Why or why not?

I do not support removal of books from school libraries on the basis of content some may find
objectionable. I have confidence that educators and librarians in ELPS would not include a book
in the collection if it did not have educational value. The proper response to encountering a book
you find offensive is ask why, analyze the perspective of the book and its author, and to
hopefully achieve a greater understanding in so doing.

d. If you support such removals, at what point does the purge of objectionable
books stop? When it is the Quran? When it is the Torah? The Nag Hamadi? The
Bible? What policies will you put in place to monitor and assess removal of
books?

This question is a good example of the line-drawing problems book removals create.
e. If you do not support the removal of objectionable books, what policies will you
support to stop the removal of books from public school libraries?

I do not believe any book should be removed from school libraries on the basis of its content;
some management of which students can access some books may be permissible. A specific
policy safeguarding the educational interests of students may be advisable.
9. There has been a split on how COVID was responded to by schools, and other
government bodies. Please answer the following questions:

Yes. The shutdowns happened in accordance with the best practices and advice of
epidemiologists. Saving life takes priority over perhaps all other pursuits.

b. There has been a marked loss of educational gain as a result of the shut down.
How will you address this problem?

Identifying lost learning and ensuring students have the opportunity to catch up is a crucial step.
To the extent possible, resources must be made available for this task.
c. Did you support face masks? Why or why not?

Yes. They keep people healthier, and prevent sickness and death. The minor inconvenience is
nothing, in the balance.

d. Do you support the COVID-19 vaccine? Why or why not?

Yes. For similar reasons as I support face masks.

e. Do you support vaccination for all students in public schools? Why or why not?
Yes, with rare exceptions for students who may be immunocompromised, or who have other
legitimate medical reasons not to. They rely on the “herd immunity” of the rest of us to survive
and thrive. Getting vaccinated is a small thing, and provides a tremendous public benefit. Many
have forgotten that compulsory vaccination in order to attend public school has been the policy
at most schools for the better part of a century.

f. There has been a growing mental health crisis among our youth. It was present
before the pandemic, but experts warn it has gotten worse since the pandemic. If
elected, how will you address the mental health needs of our students?

ELPS is doing an excellent job at this already. Counselors and student advocates are available,
and self-care tips are adhered to the walls of the high school. Ensuring a close relationship with
Community Mental Health, and coordinating services for some of the most affected, are worthy
goals.
10. There have been a number of school shootings, with deeply tragic consequences for
students, teachers and administrators alike – as well as communities. If elected, what
will you do to address the school violence crisis, including school shootings?
Providing counselors and conflict resolution resources is key to this issue. I do not believe that
increasing security, or involving law enforcement, would be likely to help, and may harm
students’ interests.
11. Elections have become a serious concern for some voters. Please answer the following
questions:
a. If you lose your election, will you accept the results? Why or why not?
Yes. That is how representative democracy works. Any other position would be ludicrous
and would run counter to our country’s form of government.
b. If your election is close and you chose to pay for a recount, will you accept the
result of a recount? Why or why not?
Yes. The clerks of Ingham County and the cities, towns, and townships therein all work
very hard to ensure accurate counts. I have the utmost faith in them.
c. Much has been made about the 2020 election. Do you believe Donald Trump
won the election? Why or why not?
No, I do not. The Democratic nominee received more votes in the electoral college.
There are no legitimate doubts about the integrity of the election process.
d. Do you believe there was widespread election fraud? Why or why not?
No. There is no substantive evidence of any election fraud, other than instances
committed by those who complain most loudly about the same.

e. Do you believe leaders in Washington are involved in a secret pedophilia ring?
Why or why not?
I have not seen any evidence of this. To the extent any may come to light, I would
expect the prosecutor in the appropriate jurisdiction to take whatever steps they find
warranted. I have no reason to believe such a ring exists.
f. Do you believe the Jan. 6 Capitol incident was appropriate in light of the
election? Why or why not?
The Insurrection was shameful, ludicrous, and deeply alarming. I am pleased to see that
many who participated have experienced appropriate criminal sanctions, and I hope that
those responsible experience criminal consequences, after receiving due process and all
the rights the Constitution guarantees, of course. It was a warning sign that our country’s
form of government is at risk of compromise or entire failure. I am profoundly sad that we
are living through a time period in which anyone would feel doing such a thing was a
good idea.
12. Are you a member, or have you ever been a member or donated to any of the following
organizations:
a. Socialist party
b. Rock the Vote
c. The Democratic Party
i. Yes.
d. Any Democratic Candidate for Office
i. Yes.
e. The Republican Party
f. Any Republican Candidate for Office
g. The American Taxpayers Party
h. Any American Taxpayer Party Candidate for Office
i. The Heritage Foundation
j. People for the American Way
k. III Percenters
l. Proud Boys
13. Please share with readers and voters your qualifications for the position you seek.
I am a mid-Michigan native, licensed attorney, father, and disabled veteran. I support an
equitable and fair vision of public education, and I believe the East Lansing School District
Board of Education has set us up well as we move forward. I would be honored to have to
opportunity to contribute to our community as a board trustee.