Deborah Sue Wolf

Candidate Name: Deborah Sue Wolf
Age: 71
Candidate for: School Board for Williamston Community Schools, Partial Term
Candidate Website:
Candidate Contact for Public: deborahswolf@gmail.com
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1.What motivated you to run for the position you are seeking election to?
I am a champion for children. I have nearly 40 years in education as a teacher and principal
which gives me foundational knowledge about how schools function. I have a personal interest
in preserving and improving the excellent quality of our schools. Serving on the Williamston
Community Schools Board of Education has enabled me to continue to serve children, but in a
new role. I share my time and talents, working collaboratively as a team, and I represent several
different groups in the community. I have the time and motivation as well as the understanding
to serve on the board. I strive to create stronger ties between the school board and other
stakeholders, and I believe in quality education for all current and future students.

2. What is your vision for the public body you want to serve on?
My vision for the School Board of Williamston Community Schools is to continue to be focused
on the board’s vision and goals, on student achievement, to be accountable, to be collaborative
and informed for every decision, and to be respectful of the other board members, the staff,
parents, and the community.

3. How does your vision differ from that of your opponent?
My vision is in line with the current school board in Williamston as well as with the Michigan
Association of School Boards and is aligned with the purpose and role of school board
members.
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?
School boards are advocates for the adequate funding of schools. We continue to work with
our superintendent to adequately fund our educational programs. In the past, Williamston has
had financial difficulties but has managed to increase the fund balance without decreasing
funds for educational programs. We are fortunate that our state government has increased per
pupil funding this year to an unprecedented level.
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?
For Williamston Community Schools, the number of Schools of Choice students has been
increasing. Currently one out every five students come to our schools daily from other districts.
We have 400 families that drive their children to school each day. Each student brings more
state funding to the schools so in that respect, it is a success. More housing in Williamston
would result in less Schools of Choice students and would add more value to our community.

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 vouchers for private schools. Michigan voters have defeated voucher
proposals at the polls time and time again and for good reason. Vouchers would directly drain
money from public schools. In the case of vouchers for parochial schools, this is a clear
violation of the separation of church and state and would be unconstitutional.
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?
Our board would scrutinize the budget and make cuts that would least affect the educational
programs to balance the budget.

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.
I believe in the First Amendment. Our students need to have a wide variety of information
available to them to be successful in today’s world. Students seeking to better understand
themselves and how they fit into society may want to read material about what it means to be
LGBT, to be from a different ethnic group or religion, or have a disability or other differences
and will seek to find as much information as possible. It needs to be available to them. In
addition, it is the role of the school to provide a safe environment to learn for every student.b. Please share your perspective about integrating the history of communities of
color into curriculums in the public schools.
The history of communities of color as well as all facets of American history need to be taught.
Students need to be educated in history as it happened and be able to understand how the
information from our past affects us today.
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. I believe in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and I do not believe in
censorship.
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?
I do not support the removal of books from libraries.b. Please share your perspective about integrating the history of communities of
color into curriculums in the public schools.
The history of communities of color as well as all facets of American history need to be taught.
Students need to be educated in history as it happened and be able to understand how the
information from our past affects us today.
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. I believe in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and I do not believe in
censorship.
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?
I do not support the removal of books from libraries.

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 supported the initial shutdown of schools because we did not know enough about Covid 19and how it would affect us. Also, we did not have the vaccine for it in the beginning it was the best for all concerned to follow the CDC guidelines.
b. There has been a marked loss of educational gain as a result of the shutdown.
How will you address this problem?
Williamston Schools have implemented a fully resourced Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
(MTSS) structure throughout the district to provide support to each student exhibiting a need.
In addition, the district provides customizable academic, social, and emotional support to
students.
c. Did you support face masks? Why or why not?
Yes, I support face masks. Research has shown that face masks are very effective in helping to
prevent the spread of all viruses. It is especially important for everyone who has been exposed
to Covid 19, is immune-compromised, or is in days 5-10 after being infected by Covid 19 to
wear a mask. I believe in following the CDC guidelines.
d. Do you support the COVID-19 vaccine? Why or why not?
Yes, I believe that the vaccine is a good way to boost one’s immune system and again, I follow
the CDC guidelines.e. Do you support vaccination for all students in public schools? Why or why not?
Schools already require many immunizations for students. It is an effective way of preventing
the spread of infectious diseases. (see above)
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 fully support the efforts of the school board to address this issue. The Williamson Board of
Education has included as one of its 2021-2023 goals, “The District will provide customizable
academic, social, and emotional support to students.” The end goal is for every student to
receive a relevant, progressive, and evidence-based educational experience with appropriate
individualized support based on data and best practice. I will support necessary funding for
these initiatives. Students in grades 6-12 will take part in a new program, Trails. This research-
based program improves youth access to effective mental health services by training existing
school staff in evidence-based practices that are appropriate for the school setting, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. These skills-based techniques help
students navigate common academic and social pressures and also reduce symptoms of more
serious mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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?
Williamston has a Board goal to “Maintain and continuously improve the safety and security of
all schools and facilities within the District for students, staff, and community members. Within
that goal are the strategies to “Enhance staff readiness, improve emergency preparedness, and
upgrade physical security.” The end state is that the District facilities will provide a more safe
and secure learning environment. As a Board member, I have voted to fund this goal. As a
Board we support our Superintendent and the Administrators and Staff for their efforts in
making the schools a safe environment to learn and work.
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, because I believe that our elections are run fairly and give clear, honest results.
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, for the same reason as above.
c. Much has been made about the 2020 election. Do you believe Donald Trump
won the election? Why or why not?
No, because he did not have enough votes to win.d. Do you believe there was widespread election fraud? Why or why not?
No, I do not because I was trained and worked on the 2016 election and saw firsthand the
careful and precise strategies to ensure that ballots were handled correctly and accurately.
e. Do you believe leaders in Washington are involved in a secret pedophilia ring?
Why or why not?
No, because I have not seen any credible evidence to support that.
f. Do you believe the Jan. 6 Capitol incident was appropriate in light of the
election? Why or why not?

No, it was not appropriate to attempt to overturn our democracy. Lives were lost and many
people were injured because our 45 th president could not admit that he lost the election.
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 - No
d. Any Democratic Candidate for Office (I have donated small amounts of money in the past)
e. The Republican Party - No
f. Any Republican Candidate for Office - No
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 have been an educator for 40 years as a teacher, elementary principal, coordinator for K-12
Gifted/Talented programs and international principal advisor. I have a bachelor’s degree in
Special Education (Emotionally Impaired), a Master’s degree in Special Education (Learning
Disabilities) and an Educational Specialist degree in Special Education (Gifted & Talented). I also
hold an Elementary Principal Certification.
I am a community volunteer as a member of the Williamston Sunrise Rotary, the Williamston
United Methodist Church (I serve at our Open Table free meal every Wednesday night), and I
am the organizer of three community groups: The Williamston Eclectic Book Club, an
International Dinner group, and a Euchre group. Also, I am an administrator for the Lansing
Area Spark in the Dark group on Facebook and I am the General Meeting Director for HELO
Club, which is a Lansing area women’s social club.
I was appointed to the Board of Education for Williamston Community Schools on March 16,
2022 and I serve on the Communication Committee. I have not missed a meeting and I attend
each meeting prepared and ready to serve.
Above all, I have always been a big advocate and champion for children!