Kurt Richardson

Name: Kurt Richardson

Age: 41
Candidate for [Elected Position]: Lansing School Board
Candidate Contact for Public: KurtsinRichardson@Gmail.com
Are you registered with any party? If so, please share your party affiliation: No
Please share all your social media accounts: Twitter- @MoTownKurtis
Please include a high quality photo of the candidate. (Attached)
1. What motivated you to run for the position you are seeking election to? I believe that we are at a
crossroads in our school district. Our teachers have kept a crumbling system afloat and sorely lack
advocates who can help continue to be a force for good in our community. Students and teachers need
someone in their corner who does not need the board to further other aspirations. I am someone who
comes from and looks like many of our most underserved students and know exactly what it takes and
what its like to use the Lansing School system as a springboard to a financially rewarding and purposeful
life.
2. What is your vision for the public body you want to serve on? To ensure that school is for everyone,
not just college bound students. In order to achieve this, we need to re-engage the public with parapro
opportunities and public-private partnerships that offer hope to students who are best served by a
pathway to success that may not include going to college.
3. How does your vision differ from that of your opponents? Point of view is my main differentiating
factor. None of the current board members or opponents come from the perspective of a black male
who is a product of the Lansing school system. I navigated the social, economic, and psychological
difficulties that many of our most at-risk students are navigating. My perspective is not theory, it is not
from a textbook; it is something that I have lived and helped dozens of others live as well.
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 underfunding of
schools? The school board can not address state level funding decisions, however (according to Fox47’s
Erica Murphy) the Lansing School District had a $40M surplus for 2022. It is the board’s duty to ensure
that all funding goes to use as expeditiously and prudently as possible. When there are opportunities to
advocate for additional funds, the board must do so as well, but as of right now there is a surplus in the
Lansing Schools budget.
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? Right now the product being
offered by the Lansing School District needs improving. We cannot restrict parents from making the best
choice for their children when it comes to education. My thoughts on this issue are that when we
improve the product, we will combat the attrition that comes along with schools of choice being a

reality. We can and MUST return the product to one that attracts students and educators. Parents will
follow our lead, and want to send their kids to local schools but they also want to a better product.
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? No. The nature and
title of “public funds”, to me, means that funding private schools with public dollars is beyond the scope
of the funding’s intended use. If private institutions want to take on public students through schools of
choice and waive their tuition, they are welcome to do so.
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? There are tough choices facing the board.
Until the product returns to its previous standing and our awesome educators can show the world that
Lansing Schools can return to glory, attrition will remain a part of the challenges that will need to be
navigated. As such, consolidation becomes a discussion point and that will bring new challenges (i.e.
transportation) but may allow us to create environments that are robust with resources and educator
talent by utilizing consolidation if that becomes the best option for addressing attrition.
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 pertain to providing safe schools and
education for LGBT youth. Schools should be a safe and welcoming space for all students. Ensuring that
the sexual orientation, or identity of our students does not inhibit their ability to feel safe and included
must absolutely be part of the board’s agenda.
b. Please share your perspective about integrating the history of communities of
color into curriculums in the public schools. America and its history are imperfect. Sharing lessons of
how the ghosts of our past have disproportionately shaped the environment for citizens of color is a
useful and necessary part of curriculum.
c. Do you support the removal of books some find objectionable from public school
shelves and public libraries? Why or why not? No, I do not support removal of books from school.
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?
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? My understanding of the “book”
debate is that these debates are being brought forth by members of the community. As a policy, I
believe the best policy is that the communities voice be heard, and then individual actions can be taken
based on the compelling nature of an argument. A broad-brush policy to ban or support books without
public input is not the best way to handle this issue in my opinion. If, for instance, a book was being
used to create tangible harm to our community, it should be debated and heard on its individual merits,
but I would expect the occurrence of those instances to be few and far between.
9. There has been a split on how COVID was responded to by schools, and other

government bodies. Please answer the following questions:
a. Did you support the shut down of schools during the COVID-19 crisis? Why or
why not? Yes, public health policy makers who know more about the best way to mitigate pandemics
were universally in agreement early on that a shut down made sense. As the pandemic aged, the district

(as far as I can tell) followed expert opinion as well input for involved parties including teachers and
parents.
b. There has been a marked loss of educational gain as a result of the shut down.
How will you address this problem? Learning from home during the pandemic was not the optimal, and
sometimes not even the safest, environment for many students to learn in. The school board must
create budgetary framework (including the use of ARPA funds) that accommodates for after school
resources (including IT, tutoring, and transportation access) that allow students to stay current in their
current academic year while simultaneously working to bridge the foundational education
gaps that were formed during the remote learning. The building block nature of learning
demands a plan be in place to assess and triage the gaps created through the pandemic.
c. Did you support face masks? Why or why not? Yes, as a general rule I follow the advice of
professionals.
d. Do you support the COVID-19 vaccine? Why or why not? Yes, as a general rule I follow the advice of
professionals.
e. Do you support vaccination for all students in public schools? Why or why not? As you may be able to
tell by now, I tend to not ever support anything that is absolute as “all”. I believe if a parent could make
a compelling argument why their student was not ready for (because of a condition like autism, student
age or health, etc.), or for other reasons could not receive the vaccination (religion), then we have a
duty to accommodate when reasonable.
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? A tangible action that local
schools could take to help address diversity, equity, and inclusion
of all students regardless of ability and other statuses is to teach basic social and emotional
intelligence skills at all levels. Research shows that students who receive instruction in social
and emotional intelligence are better behaved, more positive, and less disruptive than students
who don’t receive SEI instruction.
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? Our young people are
craving accountability and support. I look forward to looking at the pros and cons of the current tools
being used to address disruptive behavior. I fully believe that the use of parapros and public and private
partnerships can alter the pathway for many of our students AND alleviate some of the stressors on our
educators by adding resources for academic education as well as social and emotional intelligence
instruction and structure. These support systems may help students speak up about their feelings
and/or speak up about suspicious behavior.
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? Absolutely. The will of the
voter is tantamount to a successful democracy.
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? I will not elect to choose a recount in the event of a close election.
c. Much has been made about the 2020 election. Do you believe Donald Trump
won the election? Why or why not? Donald Trump did not win the 2020 election.
d. Do you believe there was widespread election fraud? Why or why not? I have not been presented
with evidence of election fraud.

e. Do you believe leaders in Washington are involved in a secret pedophilia ring? I do not have the time
nor inclination to educate myself on topics like this.
Why or why not?
f. Do you believe the Jan. 6 Capitol incident was appropriate in light of the
election? Why or why not? An attack on the Capitol is not acceptable form of protest in my view.
12. Are you a member, or have you ever been a member or donated to any of the following
organizations:
a. Socialist party? NO
b. Rock the Vote? NO
c. The Democratic Party? YES
d. Any Democratic Candidate for Office? YES
e. The Republican Party? YES
f. Any Republican Candidate for Office? YES
g. The American Taxpayers Party? NO
h. Any American Taxpayer Party Candidate for Office? NO
i. The Heritage Foundation? NO
j. People for the American Way? NO
k. III Percenters? NO
l. Proud Boys? NO
13. Please share with readers and voters your qualifications for the position you seek.
I am a 1998 graduate of the district who has used my personal and business success to
mentor and support over 200 Lansing students through my involvement with the Apex
Academy which has an unmatched track record at propelling our students into lifelong
success over the past ten years. I have had the privilege of mentor countless educators
through my work with the Galileo Institute for Teacher Leadership. I have two decades
worth of track record dedicating my time, talent, and treasure the educators and students
in the Lansing community.