A Clear choice of philosophies

4/1/2001
provided by Wisconsin State Journal

State Journal Staff

Idealogies clash in the race for state schools superintendent, where spending by special-interest groups has turned the nonpartisan race into a heated battle between political interests.

Linda Cross, a Hortonville teacher and member of the Republican Party, is up against Elizabeth Burmaster, a Madison principal and member of the Democratic Party. This is Cross' third run for the post and Burmaster's first.

The superintendent heads the Department of Public Instruction, which governs public schools statewide, distributes state and federal aids and offers professional guidance to teachers and administrators. Incumbent John Benson is not seek a third, fourth year term.

Cross lists her priorities as ensuring safe schools, transforming the DPI into a user-friendly agency and advocating reform, "rather than hindering it."

She is an unabashed proponent of private-school vouchers and supports state-imposed revenue caps that limit what public schools can spend. She has the backing of many Republican legislators and Wisconsin Right to Life, and the state Republican Party is airing radio ads critical of Burmaster.

Burmaster says her priorities would be strengthening children's reading skills, working toward smaller class sizes and making sure there are enough qualified teachers. She is cool toward vouchers and wants to find a way to give local school districts more flexibility in what they spend. She is endorsed by prominent Democrats and the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union.

The winner will be paid $99,354 annually when she takes office July 2.