The candidates for Knox County School Board Second and Fifth District met in a League of Women Voters sponsored Candidate Forum at the Magnolia Avenue Campus of Pellissippi State Community College on Tuesday February 2, 2016 at 6:30 p.m., the crowd was dominated by teacher labor union members and supporters of the five candidates.
Ryn Dupes, President of the Knoxville League of Women Voters introduced WVLT News Anchor Alan Williams who moderated the forum.
Rynn Dupes, President of the League of Women Voters of Knoxville introducing the Moderator.
WVLT News Anchor Alan Williams the Moderator of the Candidate Forum.
The candidates for the Fifth District are Lori Boudreaux, Susan Horn and Reuben “Buddy” Pelot. The candidates for the Second District are Jennifer Owen and Grant Standefer. The candidates were seated in an order determined by a drawing of numbers and each candidate was allowed to answer the questions.
First question was regarding a disproportionate number of expulsions and suspensions for students of color and special ed.
Boudreaux spoke to her experience as a guidance counselor in the Knox County School system, as a board member she will work with the board and Administration to see the numbers.
Standefer, through hos work with the non profit he runs they work with low income and disadvantaged schools. When he volunteered as a Principal of the day, Amy Bruce pointed out that there are 12 different countries are represented at the school.
Owen, since 2007 the board has been discussing the issue and has put it off again, the school staff needs cultural competency training.
Horn, training is a good place to start, believes they should look at similar districts and how they address it and find best practices.
Pelot, it is incumbent of the board and board members to listen to concerns that are brought to the board.
Lori Boudreaux, Fifth District and Grant Standefer, Second District Candidates.
Question about state testing
Standefer, the best balance must be achieved by listening to teachers and students, the school district must have a way to measure outcomes.
Owen, said that testing has been on a extreme basis and should be more balanced. she says testing should be miniscule.
Horn said the district needs to assess but that she has heard that currently there is too much time away from instruction to test
Pelot said the state has alot of requirements that locals have to implement, board must be attentive to teachers concern and time schedules.
Boudreaux said the state requirements do exist and there is little the board can do, in her research she has learned that 2% is a good amount of time to assess students. We have to know what we are testing the kids. We don’t have standardized kids and must accommodate their needs. There is college and Career ready, we are not making clones.
Second District Candidate Jennifer Owen and Fifth District Candidate Susan Horn.
What priorities do you have for working with the funding body.
Owen said have a good relationships, must work professionally and open with one another.
Horn said that she knows the Commission and Mayor look at everything with open eyes and hopes School Board could as well.
Pelot said #1 establish good communication, it is a two way street, both bodies need to work toward same goal of excellence for all in education.
Boudreaux said both bodies must ensure all funding is appropriate and prioritize. No wasting of dollars as has occurred in the past and be open and transparent.
Standefer said it is all about relationship, Trust and Goodwill. Locally in Knox County we have just reached the TN average in funding. We need to have an honest conversation with the Mayor.
Fifth District School Board Candidate Reuben “Buddy” Pelot.
Given limited funding, which do you support smaller class size or expanded equipment for students.
Horn siad smaller class size will allow a focus on individual needs, strive for a high school class size of 15
Pelot said class size is very important, he did say he did not like the mutually exclusive choice of either or, because technology is critical.
Boudreaux said in a perfect world we would have 10 in a class and technology in ever hand. she would like smaller classes, but her research has found that is not cost effective.
Standefer said we need more funding, he agreed with Buddy and Lori about it being a question that is mutually exclusive, without having technology the kids are limited.
Owen said we have a great deal of technology that is not being utilized, the school district needs a inventory and know what the district has and the technology help for it.
The next question was have you seen and talked to someone about the teacher evaluation rubric.
Pelot said he has heard about it, can not speak to it, but will learn more about it.
Boudreaux said he was familiar with it, had to redo an evaluation tool for guidance counselor the current rubric is not an accurate assessment of teachers.
Standefer said he was aware of it.
Owen said she was in a TAP school, rubric has a lot of good things that does not apply to the teachers and class. the rubric is subjective.
Horn said I hear numerous things from it because standardized testing weighs to their evaluation, pre-school and high school rubric is the same.
Would you feel comfortable expressing a difference of opinion to the TN Department of Education
Boudreaux said that she has no problem expressing a difference of opinion, she would start with a letter and follow the procedures for expressing those opinions.
Standefer said I would feel comfortable expressing a difference of opinion as an elected official they can’t fire me.
Owen said as an individual would be comfortable. As a board member if the board has a position I would follow the boards position.
Horn said I agree with Jennifer Owen, if we had a position take it to the legislature.
Pelot said as an individual in his legal career, I argue with people everyday, in his role as a board member he would be happy to do that.
How would you ensure all students have equal share when the district is already disproportionate?
Standefer said this is near and dear to my heart, our non profit works with disadvantages. The reason I am running is because of the iniquities in the second district and with the complaint and investigation of the OCR.
Owen said as a board it’s important we get in to all the schools.
Horn said she thinks that is absolutely true.
Pelot said he would look into it.
Boudreaux said that she had spoken with the Farragut High Foundation President for 7 years. The misrepresentation that Farragut has it and that is not true. Farragut High lacks technology. The district needs fairness.
How to improve Special Ed and Parents involvement
Owen said community school model ensure IEP’s are being followed with parents involvement
Horn said it is important to have inclusion of regular and special education students.
Pelot said as board member his attention to parents that bring concerns, he believes his background in law could help the board.
Boudreaux if you are in the school building we see it, she cited that is what she has done as a counselor/teacher ensuring IEP’s are followed. I would rotate through the schools in my district and will be open and listen to parents and she will ensure implementation is followed.
Standefer talked about his son was diagnosed with reading comprehension but not until he was a Junior in High School. His wife and he work with disability ministries, there is a 87% divorce rate with parents with Special Ed child. It is unfortunate and is so easy to push those with disabilities to the margin.
What is the next thing the next two years can Knox Co Schools implement to have kids college and career ready?
Horn said restore time taken from teachers
Pelot avoid the disruptions to the classroom, money, technology. reduce classrooms.
Boudreaux said Technology helps kids be college ready, but not all kids will or are going to be college ready
Standefer expand the community schools
Owen the schools need to quit making them college and career ready, we need to make them society ready
Closing
Pelot we are all concerned about schools, he said that he brings a different perspective and using skills from his professional career to help the board.
Horn highest priority is academic, emotional well being. What every child wants they should get.
Owen said teachers never talk about money.
Standefer the board needs a consensus builder, collaborator and that is what he will be for the board, because that is what he has done his entire life.
Boudreaux said when she first started in education she wanted to save the world, but kids in the classroom came with society issues. Her life in educational experience and work experience makes her uniquely qualified. Boudreaux has a Bachelors, 2 Masters and a Doctorate in Education (ABD)
My thoughts:
Fifth District: Lori Boudreaux is the one with the educational background, the professional work experience and the life experience as a Mom and Grandmother to be the best School Board Member for the Fifth District. Buddy Pelot is a strong second choice.
Second District: Grant Standefer is the only candidate that is ready on day one and is the best representative of all the people of the Second District, parents, kids, teachers, support staff.
Jennifer Owen and Susan Horn repeatedly agreed with one another. Both are part of a small anti McIntyre regime that are wanting to be on the school board to advance a rubber stamp group to cater to the labor union of teachers and the vocal minority of opposed to any and all because of who presents it, in my opinion.
