5/4/2022 Who is Stuart Bulan?Below are the questions and answers that Stu provided us which were used in our determination to support him for the Board of Education. 1. There are many issues facing education at large and students in this district. What do
you see as the three most critical issues facing our district today? The biggest issue facing the district is making up for the learning loss do the pandemic. The second biggest issue is making the board more transparent in its decision-making process. The third biggest issue is making sure that the needs of all student are being met. 2. The board members that we elected last year have been more vocal and communicative with parents and the community as individuals. Will you continue this trend? Yes. 3. Many parents purchase homes in the district specifically for the education that Williamsville Schools are known for. With academic achievement in the district declining relative to other districts with similar socioeconomic makeups, what can the district do to put Williamsville "back on top?" The district must have a cohesive curriculum from k-12 that allows teachers to teach and students to learn to their fullest potential. The curriculum must integrate students’ social and emotional learning as well as pure academics, taking into account best practices. 4. How can we balance needing to discuss controversial issues with ensuring that all students and parents feel that they can be a part of the discussion? Classrooms need to be a place where students feel safe to discuss ideas and thoughts that not everyone agrees upon. A teacher’s job is to present all ideas and then allow students to use their critical thinking skills to help them form their opinions. The teacher’s role is to help guide the discussion but not present their opinion as the sole answer. A teacher can provide parents with many resources to help parents have a discussion at home. 5. New York State is proposing a sexual education curriculum that begins in kindergarten. Do you feel that the current sexual education that students receive is adequate, and what are your thoughts on the proposed curriculum? I am not aware of the proposed curriculum at this time. 6. Some districts are moving to a "culturally responsive" system that considers the ethnicity and background in student academic achievement and discipline in schools. Do you feel these policies are effective and appropriate? It is important to take into account a student’s background so they feel connected to learning. It is also important to look if the student is being punished based on his or her race or for their actions. 7. What is your stance on the role, benefits, and drawbacks to standardized testing? Standardized testing ends up teaching to the middle and moving froward will have less and less effect on a student’s educational journey. The drawback is it is not a true measure of student knowledge and takes away time from learning. 8. Board of Education transparency is a key concern for parents. There has been a lack of transparency around coaching decisions, staffing decisions, curriculum, and the school reopening. How will you win back the trust of the community for the Board of Education? Actions speak louder than words. How I will conduct myself on the board is the true test. I would always be open to input for community members and explain my decision. 9. The Williamsville school district is one of the most diverse districts in Western New York, but certain demographics continue to be underrepresented on the board, district committees, etc. How do you personally define diversity and inclusion, and what can the district do to make these bodies more inclusive? Make sure we have people of all backgrounds feel welcome. It is important to teach out to all communities to seek out their input on issues. We must encourage all people to be active in the school system and the process of making policy. 10. Many parents are concerned about DEI and SEL programs being used as vehicles for districts, buildings, or individual teachers to inject political views into the classroom. How do you balance the value of these programs with these concerns? It is important to understand the fears of parents of the classroom being politized. But at same time it is important to allow students to be exposed to as many ideas as possible. 11. The COVID pandemic has created serious issues with regards to mental health. How should the district remediate those issues, and in what way can the district better involve the community? The district must allocate more resources to the mental health issues of its students and use these resources effectively. 12. Many times in the last two years, parents have been looking to Board of Education members to be more vocal. What do you feel the role of a Board of Education member is as a leader in the community? Board members are leaders in the community. Their focus is on education and helping the superintendent make some decisions about the district. 13. If you don't win a seat on the Board of Education, do you plan to run again in the future? How do you plan to be involved otherwise? I really don’t know. I can’t foresee the future. But I will remain active in the district. 14. What are your thoughts on education for the sake of knowledge vs as it pertains to college preparedness and workforce readiness? It is the job of the district to help prepare students for the next level of education or job readiness. 15. Do you agree with the NYS Education Department that schools should teach students to be social activists? I believe that students have the right to speak up in what they believe in. A school’s job is to educate a student to become an engaged citizen of the world and his/her/their community. 16. Technology has become ubiquitous in the classroom. Do you think that technology is over/under leveraged, what skills do you think students may be missing out on due to the easy access to technology, and should parents be concerned? This is very hard to answer. Each classroom is a different milieu. We must prepare students to be able to use technology as they move forward but at the same time still stress all types of learning methods. 17. In the last decade and a half, the percentage of the district budget that goes to teacher compensation has gone from two thirds to three quarters, and if trends continue that number will be four fifths by 2025. What problems might this result in? The district may have to hire less expensive options such as younger, less experienced teachers. The district might be forced to cut back on extras such as sports and such. Some problems might be higher class size and could force teacher turnover. 18. Specifically pertaining to education, what individual (teacher, principal, coach, professor) has had the greatest impact on you, or do you look up to the most? The teacher who had the most impact on me was my 9thy grade history teacher. He is really the model I have used in my teaching career. He taught using story and getting everyone involved and feeling valued. 19. What is your vision for Williamsville Schools as a parent, community member, and potential Board of Education member? My vision is to have an inclusive environment where students can thrive and succeed academically, emotionally, and socially. |
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