Nowiski, Dan - Lansing School District
Are you an incumbent?
Yes
Brief Intro of Candidate
I'm currently serving on the Lansing School District Board of Education after being appointed in April to fill a vacancy. I am a former teacher & coach, statewide faith community leader, professional registered parliamentarian, experienced non-profit board member, and recently certified board member through the Michigan Association of School Boards.
Endorsements
I have not received or sought endorsements at this time.
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
I am not accepting contributions, nor am I spending funds on the campaign.
facebook.com/dnowiski
How would you engage and include parents, caregivers, community members and students in decision-making in your district around things like curriculum, budgeting and district policy?
I have been an active participant in the district's Parent Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) and Superintendent's Parent Roundtable and would encourage people to attend and participate in these monthly meetings during the school year. I have participated in school improvement teams and family-teacher organizations at schools my foster and adoptive children have attended and will continue to encourage family and community members to engage in these groups. I would also promote school board and school board committee meetings for public comment. I'm also willing to meet with community groups at their request or host community forums to listen to questions/concerns and gather feedback.
What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?
I am strongly supportive of implementing restorative practices in place of punitive measures that take students away from relationships and instructional time. As a foster parent I learned about discipline as teaching desired behavior versus punishment only addressing undesired behavior and it helped me to be a better parent. I'm pleased that the Lansing School District has trained some staff on restorative justice concepts, but it does not seem that administrators and staff have fully implemented the training with consistency across the district. I would like to see all staff trained on restorative justice and would like the district to provide support and accountability for administrators and staff to fully utilize restorative practices in response to student behavior. Parents and community members also need to be educated on restorative practices so they understand how school discipline is being handled and can support students and staff outside of the school building.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
I think the school district can help to improve student mental health by ensuring that students have access to arts, music, physical education, library, and other "elective" courses and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, so that they have feel connected to the school community and build relationships. For students experiencing adverse childhood experiences it is vital to have positive supportive adults and cultural connections to build foster resiliency in response to trauma. Additionally, the district can ensure that assessments are standards based so students are not competing for grades and report cards are using positive language with clear guidance for improvements rather than focusing on deficits. The district can also assess the built environment and seek to make changes that align with research on what surrounds best enhance learning such as natural light, fresh air, plant-rich environments, thought stimulating colors, and ergonomic furniture.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
I think research is clear that the classroom teacher has the most meaningful impact on student achievement, so we need to make efforts to hire qualified and effective teachers who reflect the student population. The Lansing School District needs to continue efforts to hire more black teachers and needs to ensure that all teachers are receiving training and support to recognize and address implicit biases and fully implement district policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion. I support efforts already starting to implement a multicultural curriculum in the district so that educational materials and instructional methods can better reflect and connect with all students in the classroom. In support of the classroom teachers we need to encourage volunteers of all backgrounds to mentor, tutor, coach, and wrap-around our students and staff to foster a welcoming and positive school environment that includes, values, and honors all.
What are your thoughts on how to ensure that all students and their families, regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, religion, income status, etc., feel safe and included in your district?
District policies must clearly state that all students and families are welcome and valued and any behavior that harms or targets people will be confronted. Staff and students must be trained on how to report and respond to any incidents of marginalization or aggression against groups of people. All reports must be taken seriously and responded to quickly and firmly with restorative practices. Curriculum and instruction materials and methods must be regularly evaluated to ensure that teaching and learning methods are inclusive for all and provide for differentiation that can meet learners where they are.
What are your thoughts on how to recruit and retain staff, particularly staff of color, in your district with regard to pay, benefits, and working conditions?
In an ideal world we would pay educators and other service professionals much more and direct far less money to entertainers and corporate executives. Personally I would supportive greatly increased minimum wage standards and/or universal basic income, health care for all, reliable retirement income, and minimum sick and vacation leave for all workers along with a maximum wage or higher taxes on high wage earners. As a school board member it would be my responsibility to advocate and lobby for increased state and federal investments in education to allow districts to provide better pay and benefits and help to cover the costs of teacher training through scholarships, loan forgiveness, signing bonuses, etc. At this time I think the Lansing School District can continue promoting grow your own and other alternative certification programs and look for additional benefits to offer through public-private partnerships such as free or discounted child care for staff, health and wellness services, and discounts from local businesses for school staff. All involved with education must continue to articulate the importance of public education and work to build a positive, supportive climate so people want to work in the education field.