By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
March 23, 2017
Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, the Southside Organizing Committee held a debate between Dr. Tony Baez and Jonatan Zuniga who are both running for the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) Board District 6. Baez's 40-year experience in education and being one of the foremost bilingual program creators for MPS showed that his credentials as a former Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Provost at the Milwaukee Area Technical College and a progressive social consultant on education will make a difference at MPS compared to Zuniga. Zuniga told those attending the debate that he believed that bilingualism was an ideology and would not impose it on all MPS students. In response, Baez confirmed that bilingualism was not an ideology, but a proven program that works and makes students more competitive in the field.
Zuniga focused on understanding how the MPS budget is spent and one of his concerns was how much money is spent on security for MPS, also how students are treated like criminals at highly secured high schools and wants students to work with businesses to prepare them for work skills after they graduate. Baez says, if elected, he will make sure progressive ideas in making MPS better should be implemented to allow students to succeed in education. He also stated, that he is not accepting campaign donations from big corporations and his vote is not for sale.
Baez previously confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) when asked if Hispanic students are being prepared to seek higher education, that today, MPS students are not currently being prepared with college bound courses and are not being encouraged to seek higher education as an option. Baez says, he will work to implement college bound courses to prepare students for college and universities.
Zuniga recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and doesn't seem to have a clear understanding about the complexity of the MPS educational system. Baez on the other hand, is anot independent Consultant on Bilingualism, Education and Latino Issues and former President and CEO for the Council for the Spanish Speaking (Centro Hispano) who has devoted most of his life in promoting educational change to create opportunities for students and certainly makes him qualified to become a school board member.
The MPS School Board election is on April 4th.
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