South Kingstown Election Profile: Michelle Brousseau

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Michelle Brousseau is running for the South Kingstown School Department. The 67-year-old Democrat has served on the committee since 2012.

Brousseau has bachelor's and master's degrees in mathemetics from the University of Rhode Island, and has completed post graduate coursework in computer science. She also has more than 225 hours of professional development for school committee members, including the RI Association of School Committees, National School Board Association, RI Attorney General's Office Training for Open Meetings Laws and Access to Public Records, Bryant University's Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership conferences and seminars.

Occupation

32 years as a public school Teacher/Department Chair Mathematics
Adjunct Faculty, Mathematics:
Community College of Rhode Island (18 years)
Bryant University (6 years)
Three Rivers Community College, Norwich. CT (4 years)

Campaign website

Facebook: Michelle Brousseau SK School Committee

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am currently serving on the South Kingstown School Committee, and I am running for re-election because I would like to see trust, transparency and more community input and involvement brought back to the South Kingstown School Committee. This community needs a School Committee that will listen to the needs and concerns of the community.
This community is severely divided, and I think the School Committee needs to work to bring the community together. I think the way to do this is to listen respectfully to the needs and concerns of each and every community member who wishes to be heard.
I feel that public education is the great equalizer, and our South Kingstown educators help to bring that to the students of our district.
All decisions must be based on student needs, and in what is BEST for the students of our district.

What do you believe should be done to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you do to lessen its economic impacts?

Everyone in our town, and within the School District must follow the guidelines put forth by the Governor and the Director of Public Health.
I firmly believe that the re-entry plans MUST include input from teachers, support staff, administrators, and families.
In the schools, we need to provide the support necessary to help students and families deal with the implications of the Coronavirus in their lives.
In addition, we need to support administrators, teachers, and support staff who may have underlying conditions which would impact their return to an in-person learning environment. Also, many of our students and educators might very well have persons with underlying conditions living in their households. These needs must be taken into consideration when planning for the 2020-2021 academic year.
As a School Committee, we need to consider the economic implications of approximately 12% of our population being unemployed. Many more families may need the support of the free and reduced lunch and breakfast program and other programs that they may have never needed before. Many children will be coming into our schools with needs that they have not had in the past and they may not know how to advocate for themselves. In addition, perhaps their parents/guardians may not know how to ask or who to ask for these services/support for their children, or they may be embarrassed to be asking for the first time in their lives. We need to be respectful and helpful to these children and families.

Do you believe systemic racism is a problem in America generally and Rhode Island specifically, and if so, what would you do to combat it?

Yes, I believe systemic racism is a problem which permeates our society and is a huge problem in our country.
I firmly believe that a systematic review of our curriculum is in order. The goal of such a review is to eliminate any incidents of implicit bias. All school department staff and the School Committee should undergo implicit bias and anti-racism training.

We should work to recruit and retain highly qualified educators and administrators who are committed to diversity and inclusion as well as providing the highest quality education for ALL students.

I plan to work on revision of some of the South Kingstown School Department Policies to address any possible issues of racism where it exists in these policies within the School District. I will also work to be sure that the existing policies that do not warrant revision are understood and followed by the administrators, teachers, support staff, and the School Committee.

One particular concern is that student absenteeism continues to be an issue in our district. Absenteeism impacts students' ability to be successful in school. We need to bring back the responsibility of building administrative staff to be in close touch with students who have high absenteeism rates. We need building administrators to reach out to students/families who have excessive absences and to work with them to overcome the barriers to these students attending school regularly and being on time for school. There should be a designated administrator or dean in each building to serve as this liaison to students/families.

Should the words "Providence Plantations" be removed from the state's name?

Yes

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have 8 years experience on the School Committee and 32 years teaching in RI public schools. I have served not only as a classroom teacher but also as a department Chair in the public schools. During my time in the public schools, I have served on committees involved in technology in schools, curriculum development and revision, as well as standards development and implementation and as testing coordinator. I have had responsibility for teacher scheduling and evaluation. I also served on the RI Statewide Mathematics Leadership Team.

As a School Committee member, I have participated in 225+ hours of Professional Development for School Committee Members, and I have a 90+% meeting attendance record.

I have consistently voted based on data and not emotion. My votes reflect a position of putting the children of the district first while keeping the needs/wallets of the taxpayers in mind.

I have opposed decisions of the majority of the current School Committee when I felt that the decisions were not in the best interests of the children and the community.

I advocated for budgetary changes in light of the current pandemic, but was opposed by the majority of the School Committee. I firmly believe that the existing budget is not respectful of the current unemployment rate in the community.

I make decisions at the School Committee table based on data and with a great deal of thought and research as I am well aware that any decision I make impacts the students, the teachers and the community.

One of the toughest votes I experienced with the current School Committee was when the majority voted to keep the Transition Academy at URI open despite the advice of Teresa Egan, the then Director of Pupil Personnel, as this decision would violate "least restrictive environment". This practice was "drilled" into me by my late uncle, Paul V. Sherlock, who was known as the "Father of Special Education" in the State of Rhode Island.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I wish to bring more community involvement and input back into the issues facing our schools and community. The School Committee needs to adhere to the existing policies or revise them. The Open Meetings Laws exist in the State of Rhode Island and must be followed.

The State of Rhode Island requires 6 hours of Professional Development for School Committees for all sitting School Committee members. With 225+ hours in 8 years, I have met and exceeded this requirement. All School Committee members should meet or exceed this requirement.

We need to revisit the Facilities Plan and make decisions based on what is best for the entire community especially the students in our care. We need to fully support the Dual Language Immersion Program, and work to redistrict our elementary schools to provide more equity in them.

There currently exist a divide in this community. The School Committee must work to heal this divide and bring the community together. The School Committee needs to work to come to a consensus on divisive issues.

If elected, I will work to reinstate "Community Conversations" 4-6 times per year. These Community Conversations will be structured around issues of concern.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am a product of the South Kingstown Schools as are my 2 younger children. I have spent 32 years teaching in public education, and 18 years in higher education.

I believe my School Committee voting record, meeting attendance record, and level of Professional Development for School Committees speaks for itself.

My votes have always been made based on data, research, community input, and not emotion.
I am more than willing to talk with community members, and invite them to contact me with questions and/or concerns.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Some of the best advice I was given by my parents was:
When you agree to take on a job or a responsibility, you should give that job 110% or don't take on the job or accept the responsibility.

If you have a job you love, you will never "work" a day in your life.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am passionate about public education as the great equalizer. I feel that EVERY student should be afforded the support necessary for them to reach their goals. All students should be encouraged to take high level courses, and should be provided the support to be successful.

Equity should exist in our schools. Every student should be provided with the support necessary to achieve at the highest level.

I know it is part of the district mission statement, but I firmly believe the ALL means ALL.

This article originally appeared on the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch