Q&A with Iowa City School Board candidate Lisa Williams

Lisa Williams is running for the Iowa City School Board. She is an incumbent. Here are her answers to a survey we sent to all of the candidates.

Occupation and Employer: Assistant United States Attorney, Department of Justice

How and who should determine curriculum?

I believe we should continue to utilize our current process to determine curriculum. We have divided the curriculum into fourteen primary areas and employ a curriculum area coordinator (teacher who specializes in the subject matter) to oversee each area. The curriculum area coordinator oversees the day-to-day operations of determining curriculum for the subjects and conducts regular professional development with the teachers in the subject matter area.

Each of the fourteen subject matter areas are placed on an eight year review cycle. During the review process, the District forms a self-study committee composed of administrators, teachers, parents, and community representatives. The review process includes surveying teachers, administrators, parents, and students to identify program components and satisfaction with the program. We also conduct an analysis of student achievement and program data. From the data analysis, strengths and limitations are identified and recommendations are made to address limitations, and an improvement plan is written which outlines procedures for accomplishing the recommendations over the next eight years.

The District also employs a high reliability school model, which divides our teachers into grade-level and subject area collaborative teams. These teams meet regularly, collaborate, and align curriculum to state standards.

I believe this process incorporates input from all of our relevant stakeholders (teachers, students, parents, community members, administrators) while relying primarily on the expertise of our teachers.

Why do you want to serve on the school board? What relevant experience do you have?

Serving on the Board is incredibly rewarding both professionally and personally. The work we do on the Board is challenging since the issues we address are often complex with numerous competing interests that must be reconciled. During the next four years we will undoubtedly continue to see actions by the state legislature that seek to weaken public education and encroach on the judgment of trained educational professionals. It is critically important to have Board members ready and willing to fight to keep our district strong, healthy, and resolute in our commitment to serving all students to the best of our ability.

My professional and personal experiences that make me a good Board member include my service to the Board for the past four years (the past year as its Vice President). I have learned so much in this role speaking to teachers, staff, parents, and administrators about both the successes and challenges facing our District. My experience as a Board member during COVID taught me the importance of transparency and making data-driven decisions. I also have two children who attend Penn Elementary (3rd and 5th grade) and my husband, Jason Schumann, has taught at City High School since 2013. I also have served as an attorney coach for the City High Mock Trial team for the past several years, working directly with high school students. My background as an attorney allows me to approach problem solving thoughtfully and analytically and my past service in the military gives me insight into effective administrative practices.

How would you describe your attendance at past school board meetings?

As the current Board Vice President, I regularly attend all board meetings as well as committee meetings. I can’t describe my attendance as perfect, because as the wife of a teacher, we travel heavily during the summer months so I typically miss a meeting in July or August. But when I cannot attend meetings, I make sure to watch the recording so I am up to speed for our next meeting.

What are your three top priorities for the school district? What will you do to address them?

First, I want to see the 4-year-old preschool pilot program extended to every elementary school and to ensure that 4-year-old preschool is accessible to every single family in our District. Data shows investments in early childhood education are the most effective methods at closing the opportunity gap and creating sustained pathways to educational success. I will continue to work with our municipal and community partners to create a pathway towards universally accessible preschool.

Second, I want to protect the District to the greatest extent possible from the negative impact of ESA accounts (vouchers) by advocating for innovative new programming (e.g. at our middle schools and the Tyler Building). Offering robust curricular and extracurricular options will allow us to maintain our competitive advantage relative to what private schools have to offer. With this in mind, I want to expand our Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings and ensure that every single student who graduates is prepared for the next stage in their life.

Finally, I want to continue our efforts at ensuring that our schools remain safe and secure places to learn and work. This includes investing in infrastructure and technology that help deter, identify, and protect against physical threats. School safety also includes recognizing the District’s obligation to safeguard the personal identifying information of our employees and students and guarding against, to the greatest extent possible, cyber attacks, which are increasing in frequency. School safety also includes caring for the mental and social emotional health of our employees and students so that our school environments are safe and welcoming for all.

What do you see as strengths and weaknesses of the school district?

This year, US News and World Report recognized West High School as the top ranked public school in Iowa and ranked our other two comprehensive high schools (City High and Liberty High) in the top twelve. I believe this recognition is a testament to the tremendous educational opportunities that exist in our District. Our elementary and junior high schools contribute tremendously to this success by preparing and developing our K-8 students. Top to bottom, our teachers and staff, curriculum, and extra-curricular opportunities provide the very best educational experience for our students.

An area of improvement Iowa City Schools is committed to working on is ensuring our District is equitable—meaning it works for every single student we serve. We see disproportionalities in our student achievement data as well as our disciplinary data and we must continue the work to address and dismantle these disparities. We must ensure intervention systems are in place pre-K through 12th grade to serve every student effectively so we can achieve the goal of 100% graduation rate.

Are there any curriculum concerns you have with the district? Why? How should the school board address these issues?

I am proud of our curriculum and know careful thought and deliberation is put into how and what we are teaching everyday in our classrooms. I am concerned about the state legislature increasingly dictating what topics and books can and cannot be taught in our classrooms. Our educational professionals (teachers, administrators, and staff) are trained and certified experts in the art and science of teaching. Curriculum decisions should be led by the experts. The District has a formal process in place for parents, students, and community members to voice any concern they may have regarding curriculum. We welcome these concerns knowing we are in a partnership with the families we serve. This process acts as an adequate check on the liberty afforded teachers over the curriculum in their classrooms. Through this process, concerns about curriculum can be brought before the board. The Board should address these issues collaboratively, working with any concerned families, any teachers involved, and the curriculum area coordinators.

If you were required to cut the district's budget, what areas would you look to for savings and why?

This past year the Board was tasked with cutting $8,000,000 from our budget. Through this process, I held two core beliefs: budget reductions would not be accomplished by a reduction in force or a removal of student programming. If re-elected, these two areas would continue to be budget priorities. I do not support budget cuts that reduce teacher preparation time or professional development opportunities. Likewise, I do not support budget cuts which negatively impact our student’s academic and social-emotional needs. Looking at ICCSD’s total cost summary for the past fiscal year, we are least efficient with our per student operational costs. If further budget cuts were required, I would first look to student operational costs to find potential savings.

What level of control do you think school boards should have?

I believe in the principle of local control. What works for Iowa City schools may not work for Cedar Rapids or Mount Vernon, and every school board should have the tools to be responsive to the individual needs and expectations of their communities. The state legislature and the Department of Education should adopt rules and regulations that give schools boards wide discretion to serve their communities.

However, I also believe that school board members’ primary roles are policy-making and oversight. The school board is responsible for enacting broad policies for the district, but it is the superintendent, administrators, teachers, and staff who are responsible for implementing those policies. The board should not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the District. Instead, board members should perform careful oversight, listening to various stakeholders, asking probing questions, and holding staff accountable to high standards so that the District effectively serves all students.

If the school district had additional funds available, what should they be allocated to? Why?

My priority would be to use additional funds to address important concerns, like growing class sizes. Specifically, I would recommend making adjustments to our WRAM (Weighted Resource Allocation Model) at the elementary level. I would also like to see us fully fund a full day preschool experience that makes preschool universally accessible for all children in the community.

What will you do to be responsive to parents, teachers and district staff? What types of communication should the public expect from you?

I think one of the most important responsibilities a board member has is being responsive to all members of the community (teachers, staff, and parents). I have had community members email, call, or schedule meetings to discuss topics that are important to them. If re-elected I would continue to keep these lines of communications open and be available to hear concerns. I also think it is important to visit our schools and attend community meetings. Showing up, being present, and listening are important components to being a good board member.