By Amy Vogt

A forum showcasing the two candidates for AASA president-elect Saturday highlighted the similarities and minimal differences in the candidates’ positions.

Mark Bielang, superintendent in Paw Paw, Mich., and Ed Hatrick, superintendent of Loudoun County, Va., discussed their leadership visions for AASA during the hour-long forum.

Both stressed that AASA must have a strong voice in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

“AASA is the strongest national voice for education,” said Hatrick. “The reauthorization of ESEA is critical for the future of public education.”

The renewal of ESEA presents an opportunity for AASA, said Bielang. “We have an opportunity to control the agenda and be more proactive in how we set the legislative agenda.”

The candidates also discussed the importance of increasing membership and member involvement in the association.

“We have to provide relevance as an organization to the day-to-day activities that we’re all involved in with our districts,” Bielang. He added that the association must engage new members more quickly and involve more members in leadership positions within the association.

Hatrick agreed. “We need to better understand the needs of current and potential members,” he said. “We need to ask, ‘What are we doing to nurture superintendents so they have an opportunity to grow?’”

Hatrick called on AASA to “eliminate silos” to expand opportunities to collaborate with other education organizations. “We have to find new and better ways to work with other groups within our profession who have a similar goal: to improve public education for students.”

Bielang said AASA should use a member orientation to attract more leaders to the National Conference. “We need to ask people, ‘What is it you need from us to get you here?’”

AASA will mail ballots to all members during the week of Feb. 25. Completed ballots are due to AASA headquarters on or before March 22.