LOCAL CONTROL
A belief in greater local control and a confidence in an independent community's ability to shape and form its principles of education, finance, and measurement of its students is the foundation of Nick's approach to leading.
Nick would love for the community to decide how much it is willing to invest in public schools as the vast majority ( >80%) of operating fund decisions are driven by revenue received only from Lansing. While fairness and compassion for those less fortunate is a key character trait not only for individuals but for communities, the fact that the decision in Rockford to provide our teachers with compensation worthy of their skills is driven primarily by what Lansing sends us is disappointing. In most cases witnessed over the last eight years, Nick is not willing to sacrifice programs for teacher compensation. However, Nick's position is any additional balance in our operating funds goes to our educators first. Rockford Public Schools is not a bank and within reason our fund balance should be managed as it is now - with a reasonably low balance for emergencies.
