Liz Evans

Candidate Name: Liz Evans
Age: 40
Candidate for [Elected Position]:
Mason School Board Trustee
Candidate Website: (facebook) Liz Evans for Mason School Board
(4) Liz Evans for Mason School Board | Facebook
Candidate Contact for Public:
lizevans66@gmail.com
Are you registered with any party? If so, please share your party affiliation:
No party affiliation. School Board Elections are nonpartisan elections.
Please share all your social media accounts
Facebook, Twitter @lizemsu2004, and political link as above.
Please include a high quality photo of the candidate.
1. What motivated you to run for the position you are seeking election to?
a. I ran 6 years ago for Mason School Board, and successfully have served my
community for that entire time. I have found that this level of service is
something that I deeply value. I see how the work of our board, together with the
Central Office Staff, Building Leadership and Staff, and the Community are
creating a safe and positive environment for our students to learn and grow. Our
students are graduating with a readiness for what the next steps are for their
lives. I believe that despite having to make some difficult decisions over the past
6 years, I have thought of all students and families in our community when
making decisions. I hope to continue to serve Mason as a voice for all students,
families, staff members, and community members.
2. What is your vision for the public body you want to serve on?
a. My vision is the vision of the District. As 1 of 7 Board Members, it is important to
remember that a collaborative approach to decision making is key. We work
together to make decisions about academics, curriculum, policy, extra-curricular
activities and so many more areas.

3. How does your vision differ from that of your opponents?
a. I know that there are 9 candidates for 3 open seats for the Mason Board of
Education. I am the incumbent with the longest time served. I know that I am
not running for re-election because of one topic or one item. I am re-running for
a Board seat because I see the whole picture of the workings of the Board. I do
not come to the Board with a partisan view or voice as this is a non-partisan
public service position. It is important for candidates to know all of the work that

goes into service on our School Board. Coming into a position such as this, with
a biased viewpoint and an unwavering stance, does not do service to all that we
serve. I hope that while there can be disagreement on decisions, I have
respected community members throughout the past 6 years.

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?
a. Due to the fact that I have already served for the last 6 years, I have regularly
been in contact with both my Representative and my Senator. I have voiced my
thoughts, desires, wishes, and perspectives as a seated School Board Trustee. I
have had email correspondence as well as phone calls with each. They are
responsive to hearing the needs of our school district as well as understanding
that these needs stretch throughout our beautiful state. I know that I cannot
make law, or change the Public Education funding directly, but I believe receiving
my communication has helped my elected officials to bring our needs to the
House and Senate Floors.

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?
a. Mason Public Schools has an open window for School of Choice applications
each school year. Our Central Office is very mindful of each grade level
availability and possible impact for these students to enter Mason Schools. Each
year, the applications are reviewed so that our buildings and classrooms are not
pushed to roster numbers that are unattainable for an appropriate education of
the classroom. I believe that Mason is very mindful and thoughtful with the
school of choice numbers that we have.

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?
a. As a Public School Graduate and a Board of Education Trustee for a Public
School System, I support a strong and flourishing school system in every
community. A strong Public School System helps a community grow and thrive.
A strong School System helps property values, local businesses, and cohesion
throughout the population.

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?
a. At this time, I am not aware that this has been brought to our State House or
Senate for vetting, discussion or proposal.

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.
i. In all Public Schools throughout the entire State of Michigan, every
student deserves the right and ability to safely and securely obtain a K-12
education without risk. All young persons should be able to attend school
without being concerned that they do not have access to what they need
to succeed. If a student does not feel accepted or cast aside for any
reason, this is not providing a safe and secure educational environment
for this or other students. Discrimination towards edcuating our students
in Mason, or throughout the State should not be allowed. It is our job to
make sure that every student enrolled in our District has the same
opportunities, access, and support needed to succeed.

b. Please share your perspective about integrating the history of communities
of color into curriculums in the public schools.
i. As a mother of bi-racial young men and wife of bi-racial man, it is
important that we regularly discuss the history of our family. It is
important that Public Schools teach the true facts of the history of events
or times in our community, our country, and our world. We are not
preparing our students for life after K-12 education if they do not know
true facts of what has occurred before them. It may not be easy and it
may bring about emotions, conversations, and at home discussions, but
through these feelings and actions we help teach acceptance for all and
respect for others' experiences.

c. Do you support the removal of books some find objectionable from public
school shelves and public libraries? Why or why not?
i. I believe that prohibiting topics that are uncomfortable or difficult for some
to read are not reasons to remove books from Public School libraries. I
believe that the offerings in a school building library and in a public library
are different. I do not agree with banning books but I do believe in
making alternate offerings in situations where families are uncomfortable
with a selected novel for ELA work. Just because a piece of literature
pushed us and our students to think outside of what we know or believe,
does not make it inappropriate.

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 Hammadi? The Bible? What policies will you put in place to monitor
and assess removal of books?
i. As a Public School System, we need to remember that we are not
religiously affiliated. We are not driven by a religious doctrine or guide.
We are to be open and accepting of all persons. World History in both
MIddle School and High School teach the history of world religions as well
as the impact each had on shaping the world cultures. History does not
discriminate or show preference to one religion or the other.

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. Our school system works collaboratively with many layers of leadership if
there is a concern about a book or a display of a book. We have policies
in place to protect and review literature that is available in our libraries.
ii.

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?
i. Mason Public Schools was sent home along with the community in March
of 2020. We quickly made alternate plans to get through the end of the
school year. Very quickly, our district transitioned focus to an online
platform for our learning that would continue actually teaching and actual
learning. Our students, unlike many districts around us, had live
instruction from their own assigned teachers, each and every school day.
This was trying on teachers, the students, and the families, however, our
district did not suffer as much academic regression as other districts
because of the higher level of teaching and learning provided through this
time. There were also appropriate and safe accommodations made for
those most vulnerable students that required in person learning
throughout this time. .

b. There has been a marked loss of educational gain as a result of the shut down.
How will you address this problem?
i. We as a District have implemented a new curriculum that works on
building skills that may have fallen behind. Our teachers have more
resources through curriculum, additional applications for further
implementation of a topic, social/emotional supports throughout all
buildings, and other ways of working filling the academic gaps that may
exist.

c. Did you support face masks? Why or why not?
i. Throughout the pandemic, I have stated that I am not educated as an
epidemiologist, virologist, or other medical education. As a Board
Member for a Public School System throughout this time, we were tasked
with securing the safety, health, and welfare of all students and staff of
our District. My duty was to listen to those professionals in Public Health
that have the education, knowledge, and experience with this topic. This
is no different than trusting professionals that are educated in their
specific areas for any other decisions for the schools. We as a Board and
a District trusted the decisions of the Public Health Officials and followed
the guidance and recommendations that were executed.
d. Do you support the COVID-19 vaccine? Why or why not?
i. Throughout the pandemic, I have stated that I am not educated as an
epidemiologist, virologist, or other medical education. As a Board
Member for a Public School System throughout this time, we were tasked
with securing the safety, health, and welfare of all students and staff of
our District. My duty was to listen to those professionals in Public Health
that have the education, knowledge, and experience with this topic. This
is no different than trusting professionals that are educated in their
specific areas for any other decisions for the schools. We as a Board and
a District trusted the decisions of the Public Health Officials and followed
the guidance and recommendations that were executed.

e. Do you support vaccination for all students in public schools? Why or why not?
i. Throughout the pandemic, I have stated that I am not educated as an
epidemiologist, virologist, or other medical education. As a Board
Member for a Public School System throughout this time, we were tasked
with securing the safety, health, and welfare of all students and staff of
our District. My duty was to listen to those professionals in Public Health
that have the education, knowledge, and experience with this topic. This
is no different than trusting professionals that are educated in their
specific areas for any other decisions for the schools. We as a Board and
a District trusted the decisions of the Public Health Officials and followed
the guidance and recommendations that were executed.

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?
i. As a District we have already implemented behavioral health and
social/emotional work into every building in our district. We have Mental
Health Counselors as well as the School Counselors to support the
students who require this support.

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?
a. I have served on our Mason School Board for the past 6 years. Over this entire
time, making sure that the buildings have as many safety measures as possible
has been a top priority. This includes upgrades to our systems, procedures, and
training for staff and students to ensure that all are prepared for an unplanned
scenario.

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?
i. Win or lose, the voters speak. I will absolutely accept the results. The
process that our elections officials go through to make sure that the
process is secure and accurate is legally followed by those Clerks Elected
to do so.

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. I do not know if i would ask for a recount, that would have to depend on
how close the vote numbers are. I would accept the result.
c. Much has been made about the 2020 election. Do you believe Donald
Trump won the election? Why or why not?
i. Due to the fact that this seat is nonpartisan, I choose not to discuss an
election and the outcome from 2 years ago. As stated above, I believe
that the Clerks and Election Officials are held by law to follow a process
and procedure for certification of an election.

d. Do you believe there was widespread election fraud? Why or why not?
i. Due to the fact that this seat is nonpartisan, I choose not to discuss an
election and the outcome from 2 years ago. As stated above, I believe
that the Clerks and Election Officials are held by law to follow a process
and procedure for certification of an election.

e. Do you believe leaders in Washington are involved in a secret pedophilia
ring? Why or why not?
i. Due to the fact that this seat is nonpartisan, I choose not to discuss an
election and the outcome from 2 years ago. As stated above, I believe
that the Clerks and Election Officials are held by law to follow a process
and procedure for certification of an election.

f. Do you believe the Jan. 6 Capitol incident was appropriate in light of the
election? Why or why not?
i. Due to the fact that this seat is nonpartisan, I choose not to discuss an
election and the outcome from 2 years ago. As stated above, I believe
that the Clerks and Election Officials are held by law to follow a process
and procedure for certification of an election.

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
d. Any Democratic Candidate for Office
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
i. I have never been a member of or donated to any of the above listed
groups or any other political group. School Board seats are non-partisan.
13. Please share with readers and voters your qualifications for the position you seek.
a. I believe that the topics above show that I have proudly served all of our
students, families, and staff for the past 6 years and, if elected, I would continue
to do so.