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Four vie for District 1 School Board position
Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008 |
Four candidates are vying for the District 1 at-large School Board seat.
Besides their biographical information, the candidates provided answers to two questions: “What would you do as a School Board member to ensure that the school district is spending its money wisely?” and “What programs and services would you like to address?”
Janet Clark
Janet Clark of St. Petersburg has been a vocational education teacher at Meadowlawn Middle School, a teacher at Morningside Middle School, an assistant to a head research librarian and involved for more than 20 years in the restaurant business, including managerial experience.
Community activities, committees: R’Club, vice president; School Board representative on the Homeless Leadership Network; Louise Graham Regeneration Center board member; RCS Grace House Advisory Board; Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, children’s RE chair; High Pine Elementary School, mentor.
Education: College of Charleston, Bachelor of Science in special education.
On spending money wisely: The most pressing issues the district is facing at this time are the current cuts and indications that further reductions will be forthcoming. Declining student enrollment, rising energy and fuel costs, and falling tax revenue all contribute to our current budget woes.
While there is little we can do about those causes locally, we can take a proactive approach to how we prioritize and spend the money we do have. I suggest we rethink our budget process and build our department budgets from the ground up, funding positions and purchasing only what is budgeted for. I also suggest the board hire an auditor who could give an independent financial perspective when needed.
Programs and services: I will continue to work toward more financial oversight and accountability by the board. I will continue to focus on improving our middle schools because they are the missing link in solving our graduation rate challenges. I will continue to work and advocate for every child in Pinellas County.
Jennifer Crockett
Jennifer S. Crockett, who lives in St. Petersburg, has 14 years of business experience as an office manager, legal assistant and other work.
Community activities, committees: School Advisory Council, executive board member; parent teacher association, executive board member; school ambassador; classroom volunteer; PTA liaison; St. Petersburg Junior Woman’s Club, past president; children’s ministry at First Baptist Church.
Education: Crockett has a business degree from Florida Southern College.
On spending money wisely: My business-legal perspective has provided me with an analytical and logical approach to problem solving. We need board members who have a clear understanding of budgets and finance. We also need board members who take the time to research those budget options that will yield the greatest results while holding our classrooms harmless.
When 85 percent of an operating budget is personnel, we are forced to look at positions, but we also must look at the bigger cost items. Transportation is a huge expense to our district and with re-evaluation of the school assignment plan the board would see a significant savings in the budget. It’s time for a hard look at what is necessary in order to live within our means. We must be held accountable to the taxpayers.
Programs and services: We must build better foundations for the future which includes keeping children in school and engaged. Along with more relevant and rigorous options, our children need strong relationships in order to create opportunities for better communication and understanding to help them stay engaged and build the foundations they need for the academic high school offerings as well as post-secondary schooling or careers.
Second, we need consistent discipline. Students thrive on routine and specific expectations. The classroom teacher needs to be supported by the district administration and school administration so that our employees and students feel they are in a safe and productive learning environment. Third, we need a better connection between the board and the school level. Next term, we may not have even one board member with a child enrolled in our public schools.
Max Loden
Max Loden has been an assistant principal and coordinator of the Criminal Justice Academy magnet program at Pinellas Park High School and has 35 years of experience as a teacher, coach, human resources supervisory and assistant principal. He lives in St. Petersburg
Education: Loden has a master’s degree in education, University of South Florida; bachelor’s degree in education, University of South Florida On spending money wisely: There are several questions a School Board member should be asking each time a proposed expenditure is presented for board approval. Does the expenditure meet the criteria of supporting highest student achievement, does the expenditure improve or ensure safety for students and staff, and does the expenditure promote more efficient operation of school district?
Another question that board members should ask, especially during times of limited budget, does the expenditure or the proposed program actually fall under the responsibility of the school system? Because not all expenditures require School Board approval, board members must also ensure that the superintendent and staff continue to demonstrate fiscal responsibility with district funds under their control.
Programs and services: Recent articles and discussion concerning the initiative for the school district to emulate the Okaloosa County model for de-centralization and site based management of schools has produced healthy debate regarding the future direction of our school system.
The opportunity and the challenge for Pinellas County Schools should not be to emulate any other school district or program. The goal should be to build upon the successes we have experienced, utilizing our talented and capable staff, seeking input from both within and outside the education community and then build a Pinellas County schools model of efficient and effective operation that other districts will be talking about and trying to emulate.
Individual schools and staff should have the resources and the flexibility to enhance the learning experience for their students. Pinellas County is not Okaloosa County, but in the same respect Dixie Hollins High is not Palm Harbor University High. The needs are different and the solutions may be different.
Grant Smith
Grant Smith is president of Valid Results Inc., a business intelligence and research firm. He also has been vice president of a similar firm, a high school teacher and University of South Florida graduate research assistant.
Community activities, committees: Pasadena Fundamental PTA; Southside Fundamental Middle School SAC; Lakewood High School PTA; Lakewood debate coach; Southwest Little League coach; Azalea Elementary soccer coach; Old Pasadena Neighborhood Association.
Education: bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Ph.D. in measurement and statistics, Florida State University.
On spending money wisely: Wise use of resources comes about two ways; as part of a well constructed strategic plan and effective management in implementing the plan. The strategic plan must specify and prioritize the objectives of the district and all expenditures must be justified based on their contribution to realizing the objectives.
Utilization of resources is a dynamic process and as such requires continuous monitoring to assess the efficiency, or in the case of monetary expenditures, the return on investment. As a School Board member I would advocate greater accountability throughout the system in the form of periodic reporting of measures that detail not just expenditures but performance relative to the objectives. In this manner, inefficiencies are objectively identified and may be addressed.
In summary, determine what’s important and budget accordingly, measure performance and adjust as indicated. With accountability for performance, employees will be more inclined to scrutinize expenditures by asking: “Do we need this?” Programs and services: My primary focus in education is increasing achievement among all students.
To accomplish this I believe we must:
1. Clarify and prioritize the objectives of education 2. Identify the barriers to realizing the objectives (including policy review)
3. Develop and introduce intervention strategies to remove barriers 4. Measure performance and work continuously toward improvement.
By clarifying objectives and adopting a systematic approach for increasing achievement, accountability and consequently, efficiencies will increase.
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Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008
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