As voters prepare to pick Carroll County Board of Education members in Tuesday?s primary, The Examiner asked the candidates to discuss their platforms.
The five candidates, including two incumbents, will be narrowed to four Tuesday. In November?s General Election, voters will pick from those four to fill vacancies.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am very passionate about supporting quality public education for every child. I?ve been working in the Carroll County Public System for 31 years.
I believe that my education, experience and practical knowledge as a 27-year elementary school teacher and … trained teacher leader give me a strong foundation in school leadership.
What are the most significant challenges facing Carroll schools?
The most significant problems are acquiring appropriate funding to meet student needs (human and material resources); not meeting all our students? education needs (need to expand career and tech); teachers and retention; and attraction of all front-line education professionals, especially in critical subject areas.
What makes you the best candidate to tackle those challenges?
I understand first-hand and will be most sensitive to these problems and what is required to resolve them. I?m a respected educator, leader, partnership builder and team player.
How should the school system deal with losing $5 million this fiscal year because of state spending cuts?
We must continue to provide solid data to our commissioners, making a strong case for adequate funding of the only 100 percent proactive community service the county and state provides.
We must continue with the development of the education foundation, encouraging private industry and businesses to contribute.
Why are you running for the school board?
I have enjoyed serving the public and feel that my past experience and knowledge from being on the board will benefit the school system and community. I would like to follow through on the programs and initiatives which we have been working on. Also, with two of my children still in the school system, I want to ensure that we stay headed in the right direction.
What are the most significant challenges facing Carroll schools?
The most significant problems I foresee are the impending budget constraints; testing for No Child Left Behind and the High School Assessment graduation requirements; and the renovation and modernization of our older schools.
What makes you the best candidate?
The understanding of the board of education that I have gained over the last three years, my involvement with the Maryland Association of Boards of Education and its leadership program, and my desire to fulfill the board?s vision,mission and core values will all make me the best candidate.
How should the school system deal with losing $5 million this fiscal year because of state spending cuts?
We need to ensure that the school system is even more diligent in excising excess spending while preparing the budget so that we can keep the existing resources and high academic standards for our students.
Why are you running for the school board?
I believe very strongly that performing voluntary community service is a civic duty. I see this board seat as an opportunity to continue my community service.
As a parent and a volunteer, I have witnessed first-hand the impact of our school system on the lives of my two children, who have flourished. I would like to be a part of the organization responsible for overseeing their continual progress.
What are the most significant challenges facing Carroll schools?
Improving our master plan development processes for mapping the growth and changing demographics in our county?s neighborhoods.
Recruiting, retaining and rewarding the best talent for teaching, administration and support staff, and challenging our educators and students with curriculum.
Community involvement with the schools, the board and the commissioners. I feel the board needs to focus time and effort on community outreach.
What makes you the best candidate?
I have a great deal of professional training and practical experience with long-term decision-making that is driven by data ? facts and figures ? to develop various courses of action. Those skills, combined with my consensus-builder leadership style, is an excellent fit for the role.
How should the school system deal with losing $5 million this fiscal year because of state spending cuts?
The schools system generally takes up roughly half of the county budget, and I think it would be safe to assume that schools would have to tighten their belts. I would probably favor the operational budget, over the capital budget.
Why are you running for the school board?
Education has always been an important part of my life. It is now an important part of my children?s lives. It?s something that impacts everyone.
I am a hard-working, dedicated individual, and for that reason, I want to apply my knowledge and my love of education.
What are the most significant challenges facing Carroll schools?
Class size is a problem here. I know that even in the newest of high schools, there are classrooms that were built for 25 students, which currently house 35 to 40. We?ve just gone through a time of tremendous growth in the county. At the present time, growth is slowing. This is the time to capitalize on that and catch up.
What makes you the best candidate?
I have been a student, a teacher and a parent. I have also worked out of the central office of a school system. I hold an Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate and a master?s in school administration and supervision. I am able to view issues from all perspectives.
How should the school system deal with losing $5 million this fiscal year because of state spending cuts?
Now, more than ever, we need to start being more creative with ways to fund projects. Business partnerships and grants are two examples.
I also think this is an important time to work closely with ourcommissioners to find a way to attract businesses to build our tax base, while still maintaining the quality of life that keeps all of us here.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am running for the board so that I can see programs that I helped put into action. These include reducing class sizes and better management of our facilities.
Our financial resources are limited. I would like to continue to work to see our tax dollars directed to classrooms and not lost in the educational bureaucracy.
What are the most significant challenges facing Carroll schools?
Keeping resources directed to the classrooms. Money is tight and getting tighter.
Student achievement. While Carroll County?s test scores remain above average for the state, when we compare our scores with similar communities, we do not fare as well.
What makes you the best candidate?
Two children in Carroll County Schools and a county resident for over 20 years; over 20 years experience in the Littlestown, Pa., schools. This enables me to analyze problems, both as an educator and having seen many of the same problems addressed in another state/school system.
How should the school system deal with losing $5 million this fiscal year because of state spending cuts?
It is important to note that the $5 million cut is a reduction in the anticipated increase of $6 million to $7 million expected from the Thornton legislation. There will be programs that will not be able to be expanded and some cuts that will need to be made.
