Several educators are hesitant after President-elect Donald Trump announced his selection of Betsy DeVos as the education secretary on Tuesday.
While DeVos has experience in private schools, she has not had much experience with public schools, something that has several superintendents watching to see what she plans to do.
District 117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek said he will be watching DeVos as well, to see what she has planned.
“I’m highly concerned about having a secretary of education that does not have any legitimate education experience,” Ptacek said.
During her confirmation hearing, DeVos made several statements in support of charter schools and parents’ choice.
“I look forward, if confirmed, to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students,” DeVos said. “And we acknowledge today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them. And I’m hopeful that we can work together to find common ground and ways that we can solve those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them.”
Beardstown Superintendent Ron Gilbert said he is concerned about her strong stance on charter schools.
“I’m not a staunch supporter of expanding vouchers and private school enrollment and things of that nature,” Gilbert said. “Public schools are a good educational system. It’s the fact that we have so much red tape, it muddies the water as to what we’re really doing.”
By doing so, Gilbert said more funding for vouchers would be taking away more funding from the public school system.
“We’re already short on funding, so I can’t support something that would allow money to go out of the public school system into those areas,” he said. “But, I also can’t pass judgment on her, because I don’t really know that much about her to say that is exactly what they’ll be doing.”
Because of her background in the private sector, Gilbert said he feels she doesn’t have as much knowledge about the public school system and hopes she will look into it before she begins pushing any issues.
“I’m hoping decisions will be made based upon knowledge and not just an objective they are wanting to do,” Gilbert said.
Several community members are showing their support for DeVos’ views on private schools.
George David Large said she is a great pick.
”She’ll do awesome,” Large said on a Journal-Courier Facebook post. “Better than a politician. At least she understands public education is horrible (and) parents should (have) a choice to send their child to a private or charter school of their choice. Only reason teacher unions oppose it is it takes tax dollars out of failing public schools (and) they can’t (have) more money in their coffers from dues. Lol… unions are a joke anymore.”
Tom Merriman echoed Large.
“If public schools were educating correctly, DeVos would not even be an issue,” Merriman said.
Jessica Ward had other thoughts.
“Since our government is loading up with people who have ZERO qualifications, it shouldn’t be so hard for normal people to get a job,” Ward said.
During her questioning, DeVos also expressed support for local districts establishing their own rules regarding guns in schools.
“I will refer back to Sen. (Mike) Enzi and the school he was talking about in Wyoming,” DeVos said. “I think probably there, I would imagine that there is probably a gun in the schools to protect from potential grizzlies.”
Some groups have also expressed concern about her lack of knowledge about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
“The Ruderman Family Foundation is deeply concerned that Betsy DeVos’s responses at her Senate confirmation hearing to be the next United States Secretary of Education have demonstrated an unfamiliarity with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),” said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “IDEA is a federal law that guarantees access to free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities. Should DeVos be confirmed as Secretary of Education, it is crucial for her role to be not only aware of IDEA and its stipulations, but to fully embrace the right of students with disabilities to be included in public education.”
Sen. Tim Kaine asked DeVos whether she felt schools receiving government funding be required to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.
“That is a matter best left to the states,” DeVos said.
Waverly Superintendent Dustin Day said he is reserving his judgment on DeVos’ placement for now until he sees what she has planned and how it’ll affect public schools.
“I’m going to be reviewing her proposals and possible interests to see how it impacts our school and students,” Day said.
