Quickly Fulfills Role as 'Activist State Superintendent'

By Joanne M. Haas
Eight days after her inauguration as state superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster lambasted University of Wisconsin System officials for balancing their budget "on the backs of students." Burmaster, who sits on the UW Board of Regents by virtue of being state superintendent, cast the sole vote against a tuition hike.

The next day, the superintendent made headlines again when she stood with Gov. McCallum as he pledged full funding of the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program. The program reduces class sizes in kindergarten through 3rd grade in targeted schools.

Three days later, Burmaster surrounded herself with the children in a LaCrosse hospital center as she challenged Democratic and Republican legislators caught in state budget negotiations to fund 4-year-old kindergarten programs.

That was just in her first 12 days in office. At her July 2 swearing-in ceremony, she pledged a "New Wisconsin Promise" aimed at narrowing the achievement gap among all students.

"And that new promise is to put our children and their education first by ensuring a quality education," Burmaster said in an interview with OnWEAC.

'Hit the ground running'

Burmaster said she didn't wait for her July 2 Capitol ceremony before working on the transition to superintendent from her job as principal of Madison West High School. The transition started shortly after her April victory when she captured 71 of Wisconsin's 72 counties and 60% of the statewide vote over Hortonville teacher Linda Cross. Burmaster, 47, succeeds John Benson, who opted not to seek another four-year term after serving in the position since 1993.

"We were very fortunate during this three-month transition period. I had a good transition team," Burmaster said. "I had the opportunity to spend many, many hours studying the agency, meeting with legislators and getting around throughout the state ... selecting a fine cabinet ... so that we could hit the ground running."

At the first agency staff meeting held in July, Burmaster detailed her priorities and goals, which call for repositioning the department to take the offense on behalf of public education. She re-established the Division of Reading and Student Achievement to address one of her top priorities – to narrow the achievement gap of students of poverty and raise all students' achievement.

Supporting quality teachers

"Student achievement is our No. 1 priority," she said. "And we do that by ensuring we have quality teachers."

Burmaster said she plans to continually praise the contributions teachers make to schools and communities daily.

Burmaster also is calling for a balanced use of standardized testing and daily assessments in the classroom. She received some national attention for her criticism of President's Bush "overemphasis" on testing. She turned Bush's phrase "No Child Left Behind" to "No Child Left Untested" and said Wisconsin now has a good balance of testing. Wisconsin has a statewide reading comprehension test in 3rd grade and statewide standardized tests in five subjects in 4th, 8th and 10th grades.

Another key area for Burmaster is increasing parental involvement.

"We know that parents are the first and most important teachers. And that they need to work in cooperation with teachers and build the kinds of partnerships" to enhance the education of children.

And, she said, she will continue to fight for small class sizes in the early grades.

Forceful advocacy for children

Burmaster's quick and decisive actions on SAGE, UW tuition and standardized testing demonstrate her willingness to advocate forcefully for children.

Her bold action to preserve SAGE was a prime example. Just one week after taking office, Burmaster called McCallum and asked him to reverse his earlier position in favor of cutting the state's previous commitment to SAGE funding. The governor's decision to do so was not just the result of Burmaster's request – there had been other discussions with legislators, WEAC members and officials, and other advocates – but she did play a significant role.

"I felt it was time to call the governor and ask him if he would join me in support of SAGE so we could relieve the anxiety (of) local school districts."

Two days later, the two of them stood before cameras announcing their support for full SAGE funding. The announcement was welcome in districts where teacher hirings were on hold pending a budget decision on SAGE.

Standing up for UW students and parents

Likewise, on the UW tuition issue, Burmaster showed her independence and strength of conviction.

"It was a very important vote because it was a vote protecting access and opportunity," Burmaster said. "It was unfortunate that the system would be balancing the budget on the backs of students."

No other regent joined her in her opposition, but Burmaster said she did get "a tremendous response" from students of all ages.

Her other state budget priorities included additional special education funding to assist districts struggling to provide for all children, preserving the state's commitment to two-thirds funding of school districts, and maintaining the state's school breakfast program.

The day after the Legislature passed the compromise state budget package, Burmaster was quick to applaud the bipartisan effort that resulted in the full funding of SAGE, continued two-thirds state funding of schools, and revenue cap flexibility.

But she blasted the package for failing to address special education funding and 4-year-old kindergarten funding. She also criticized a provision that forces districts to delay the start of school until after September 1, beginning next year, unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.

The state budget is pending before McCallum, where vetoes are anticipated.

Relying on input of teachers and support staff

Burmaster said she plans to "rely very heavily" on the input of teachers and educational support professionals because they are the ones who know best what works in the schools and the classrooms. She said she will work closely with WEAC to ensure she gets that input.

Her commitment to keeping in touch and getting around the state is "part of this activist state superintendent" that she said she'd be back in April.

A big part of that, she said, is "getting into the classroom and talking with parents and understanding the communities."

'I will always speak out'

Burmaster doesn't seem to be taking to heart the comments of Rep. Luther Olsen, the chair of the Assembly Education Committee. The day after her April 3 victory, Olson told the Associated Press: "I think that it's time now that she quiets down the rhetoric ... . You can't slam the door and be too outspoken, especially when the folks that you're bashing hold the purse strings."

When reminded of his comments, Burmaster said she has no intention of turning down the volume.

"I am the person who has the responsibility to be that chief advocate for our public schools and so I have to be out there in the field," she said. "I feel it is my responsibility to bring people together and put people first. And I will always speak out."

Posted August 6, 2001