Sue Maus’ two youngest children are in Catholic School.

Monday, September 13, 1999

Sue Maus’ two youngest children are in Catholic School.

She said she is pleased with the public school education received by her two oldest children, one a senior at Austin High and one a college sophomore. But Maus said she likes the parochial education for its "structure and nurture."

It’s that structure and nurture that Maus wants to bring to the Austin Board of Education. Maus’ aspiration to be part of the school board is the result of many conversations with her friends.

"We talk about the school board all the time," said Maus, whose husband is an attorney.

Running for one of four open seats on the Nov. 2 election is Maus’ attempt to "put up or shut up," she said.

"There should be 50 people running if what everybody is saying is true," she said. "I just felt I wanted to be an agent for change."

As far as Maus is concerned, the current school board has not lived up to its nurturing potential.

"It has a reputation for being too aloof," Maus said. "People don’t feel they can talk to the board.

"I’ll keep an open dialogue from day one."

Maus works in the children’s department at Younkers. Maus has attended school board meetings in the past and is an avid reader of the minutes of the school board meetings.

As far as structure, Maus believes in what she’s coined a "trickle-up" theory. By that she means 1. fund the classrooms first, 2. recruit, recognize and retain quality teachers and support staff and, 3. No pay cuts for teachers.

"You start in the classroom, with the physical needs and the educational needs, and what’s left over goes to the top," Maus said.

Maus vehemently opposes the extra-curricular activity fees, which were as much as doubled at Ellis Middle School earlier this summer.

"This is the ’90s," Maus said. "We need kids being active in everything they want to be in. Do you think kids are going to ask for scholarships if they can’t afford an activity? That’s naive."

Finally, Maus, who has taken part in both the Packer Backer Booster Club and the Academic Booster Club, is in favor of fostering a more positive atmosphere. She wants to help shift the emphasis from expulsions to a safe, "quicker to praise," environment in the schools.