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Community Input. I support the New Hanover County Board of Education's participation
in public forums and meetings, in addition to the ones sponsored by the New Hanover County Council of PTA's.
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Diversity. In a perfect world, neighborhood schools would be the best choice; however,
we do not live in a perfect world. Neighborhood schools are tantamount to segregated schools.
I do not support teaching our students that segregation is an acceptable choice. Although these
words may not be spoken out loud, sometimes the things we do not say are heard the loudest.
● Higher
Teacher Pay. Teachers have one of the most important jobs of anyone in our country as the future
is literally in their hands. Their pay should be commensurate with what is asked of them. If
we finally started paying teachers what they deserve, then we would naturally attract more and better qualified teachers,
which would greatly benefit every child in the school system.
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Mission Driven. The children of New Hanover County deserve a Board of Education that filters every decision through its
mission statement: to provide a high quality education that prepares all students to be productive and contributing citizens
of a global society. Engaging in this process may not make the answers easy, but it will make them clear.
● Quality
education for all students. Because of the No Child Left Behind Act and teachers having to teach so often to
End of Grade tests, we are in ways not preparing a number of our students for life after graduation. With
regard to gifted children, we are not challenging them, risk losing them to boredom and, therefore, are failing our future
leaders. With regard to children who are not college bound, we need to provide better vocational training.
My husband’s company services the pulp and paper industry and has great difficulty finding skilled machinists,
welders, etc. These men and women earn salaries in excess of a number of college graduates and provide
services that are of vital importance to our economy. If elected, I would like to explore the possibility
of creating a central center for all high schools students where academically gifted students can take Advance Placement (AP)
classes and where vocational students can come and learn in a state-of-the art machine shop, etc. This
would allow the county to get the biggest bang for its buck with regard to staffing, tools, technology, and the ability to
offer a wide range of course offerings that it would not be able to duplicate at each of the individual high schools.
● Reduction
in the drop out rate. New Hanover County and the state of North Carolina have a serious problem with children dropping
out of school. Last school year in North Carolina, 5.24% of the high school population dropped out. Currently the age at which students can elect
to drop out of school is 16. Clearly, the age needs to be raised to 18.
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School Uniform Policy. I support the adoption of a school uniform policy.
Multiple credible studies credit school uniform policies with helping bring about a sharp drop in crime in schools,
including reduced numbers of drug cases, sex offenses, violence and theft. A dress code would help prevent
gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school and help school officials recognize intruders who come to the
school. If the Board makes all its decisions through the intrinsic lens of what is best for our children,
and I contend that it should, then voting in favor of adopting a uniform policy is the right choice to make. Uniforms
put everyone on a level playing field and create an atmosphere where the children are ready to learn.
● Strategic Planning.
Our community deserves a Board of Education that is proactive in its mission to education our children.
Doing so requires our Board to adopt a strategic plan. The current Board has identified six worthy
goals (see http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/policies/series1000/1100.pdf), but how is it going to get there? We need clear cut and measurable
objectives and strategies to make certain our school system is on the right path to achieving its overall mission.
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Traditional and Year Round School Calendars. I support both traditional and year
round school calendars. I respect the decision of parents to send their children to year round schools.
However, it might not be the best solution for every child and family in our community. My children,
for example, need the break and enjoy the peace and quiet of our summer months. However, some children
lose too much ground over the summer and spend an inordinate amount of time catching back up academically and, therefore,
are better suited for a year round school calendar. Access to childcare is limited for some working parents
and year round school assists them in that way. My next door neighbors' child is profoundly handicapped
and year round schools give their son the continuous therapy and care he needs; he would not receive such care if he went
to a school following a traditional calendar. As a result, I support our school system having schools with
both traditional and year round calendars.
● Bond Referendum.
I support a bond referendum. A cursory look at
some of our existing facilities and knowledge of the continued growth of our school district confirms the need for additional
monies for facility maintenance and new construction. However, given the fact I am not privy to the same
information available to a current board member, I do feel compelled to communicate the thought process I would go through
in order to reach the decision whether to ask the voters for a measure that would increase their taxes. The
decision to ask for a bond referendum, as with other major decisions that affect the community and our children, cannot be
made on a whim. It is one that should be carefully and thoughtfully considered.
To begin, I firmly believe it
is incumbent upon the New Hanover County Schools, as well as any county department,
to keep a close eye on its budget, cutting any unnecessary spending. Staffing must be thoughtfully streamlined
and maintenance of public buildings must be increased. County officials, elected and otherwise, must be
good stewards of the money entrusted to them by the taxpayers.
If elected to the Board of Education, I would strongly
urge my fellow Board members to start at square one: the creation and adoption of a strategic plan. Our community deserves a Board of Education that is proactive in its mission to education our children.
The current environment of the Board appears to be one that is largely reactionary. We all know
there are times that will call for the Board to put out fires but, to take the next right steps, we need clear cut and measurable
objectives and strategies. We need to know how we are going to get from “point A” to “point
B” and clearly communicate that to our stakeholders- our teachers, parents, and community at large.
In developing our strategic plan, the Board needs to solicit the input of and listen to the stakeholders.
The Board must be prepared to answer the tough questions. This honest communication will help build
a foundation of trust which is so desperately needed given prior actions that have shown at times a lack of fiscal responsibility.
I am very hopeful that the time has come for change on our Board of Education. I
see no reason why we cannot have an exemplary school system. Engaging the community in the strategic planning
process, open communication, and fiscal responsibility – in short, building trust - will ensure the success of any bond
referendum the Board of Education proposes in the future.
