School Board Candidate Interviews: Part II
Fri, 10/02/2009
District 4 of the Federal Way School Board has two candidates running for this position that share, at least minimally, some similar concerns about our school district.
The district has according to “Education Week” only 45.7% of its 9th graders graduating and has no Black or Hispanic that has attained “Level 4,” known as “Exceeds Expectations.”
Angela Griffin was appointed to her position upon the resignation of Tom Madden and has now served about one year on the Board.
She is an executive in the YMCA and has seen some of the poverty and culture issues that face this community.
Steve Skipper has run for the School Board in the past and has continued to be aware of the schools, and school boards’ actions for many years. In some cases I have, in brackets ( ) included some of my observations from 16 years of school board involvement including 7 years on the Board.
1. What do you regard as some of the most pressing problems for the school district? Other than financial.
Angela Griffin
Inequalities in the quality of teaching for students of color, lower than expected participation of students in rigorous programs and courses, and lower than expected parent involvement.
Steve Skipper
Mainstreaming. Fuzzy math. Too many projects. Too many distractions that are not academic in nature. If we take academics seriously, why can students take a pottery class, but there is no economics course offered? Communications between schools and parents. Lack of ideas that come from within the system for solution for problems. The board should not have to initiate ideas for improvement. Accountability. Who in the heck is responsible for the low graduation rates, poor academic achievement of so many kids and discipline?
2. What actions have you publically supported to address these problems?
Steve Skipper
Ran for school board before.
Angela Griffin
Publicly talk about college preparatory programs and courses, as well as the data showing less than adequate achievement of students of color. (Where will these talks take place that will be addressing these populations?)
3. If elected what would you publically introduce to improve our schools?
Angela Griffin
Expectations for all students, with an emphasis for students of color, expectations of parent involvement in the academic process at all grade levels and better ways to use the advisory period.
Steve Skipper
Demand some solutions, which mean changes, from the administration, principals and teachers. If they cannot find solutions, then the board must do it.
4. What do you believe is the function of a school board with respect to improving our schools?
Steve Skipper
Set policy and oversee the application of that policy. Members should be in the schools inspecting. “Don’t expect what you don’t inspect.”
Angela Griffin
Set high expectations, vision and strategies for the district. Holding the superintendent accountable to meet the above.
5. What do you believe that the school board has accomplished in the past two years?
Angela Griffin
I can only attest to the past school year. Our current school board has supported the superintendent in balancing the budget this past school year, and despite state budget cuts our board supported a new budget that has low teacher reductions and expanded program opportunities to support student achievement. We have also approved the addition of Vista volunteers to expand parent involvement across the district. In our recent teacher contract negotations, we have been very clear about our expectations to hold each teacher accountable to increasing the academic achievement of all students.
Steve Skipper
Built buildings that were started by the last board.
6. The Board has now embarked upon “Policy Governance.” How do you believe this will enhance the education of our students?
Steve Skipper
Not sure it will since the board is actually tasked under the RCW’s of our state and is responsible to the electorate for setting policy by making sure there are solutions to the problems.
Angela Griffin
It sets very clear expectations for how the board will provide governance in the district, including high expectations of our superintendent to ensure achievement of multiple priorities.
7. Education Week reports that only 45.7% of our students graduate from our high schools. What programs would you publically attempt to start to change this?
Angela Griffin
We currently have programs in place to change this (FWPA, TAFA, Cambridge, AVID, IB, AP, 13 year plan, Choice, etc.). We need to make sure the mass majority of parents and students are aware of and enrolling in these programs. We also need to make sure school staff are tracking students into rigorous programs rather than schools based on boundaries. We need to make sure every classroom is using rigorous teaching strategies to ensure students are prepared for high school and earning the credits necessary for graduation. We need to make sure our advisory period is being used effectively to help students understand where they are academically, providing guidance and motivation to ensure graduation. We need to put more emphasis on early learning and all day kindergarten, which studies show increase student achievement. We also need to pay attention to the success of coaches in schools and determine if we should increase our counseling staff instead (with expectations that they are providing equitable guidance towards academic success, rather than behavior management). (Very good!)
Steve Skipper
Segregate the classrooms. This can be done academically, culturally, and/or by gender. This may not work, but what we are doing now doesn’t, so let’s try something.
8. Do you believe that the board is correct in limiting public comment to 3 minutes per meeting instead of the previous 3 minutes per issue up for adoption as per the RCW?
Steve Skipper
No.
Angela Griffin
Please site the RCW, because I have not found it nor has anyone else been able to show it to me. I do have the following recommendation from WSSDA, which our board has used:
Public comment sections at board meetings are a tradition in many districts that serve the district and community well. They are not required by law but is appropriate and the board should be diligent in assuring public comment takes place at appropriate times in board meetings. Public comment should enhance, rather than hinder, the effective transaction of the district’s business. Holding a meeting that conforms with the OPMA means conducting the district’s business in public, not having the public conduct the district’s business.
I have been public in asking that our board plan opportunities for the community to have open dialogue with the board. We are in the process of scheduling those meetings.
(Check RCW 28A.320.015 and Policy 1441 of the District for the real situation this has been brought to the Boards attention several times with no response.)
9. There is an abundance of research that positive parent involvement is critical to improving achievement. What steps would you publically want the board to take to get the reluctant parents involved in their children’s education?
Angela Griffin
We need to continue to expect every school to improve upon their outreach to parents and expectations of parent involvement. The board also needs to hold the district accountable to increase the communication to parents, via all communication channels, that their involvement is critical to the success of their students. I believe the new VISTA volunteer program will be a great resource to increase parent involvement. I also expect the family partnership office to continue to expand its outreach to parents.
Steve Skipper
A parent should be present at the school when any important academic decisions are being made. (Schedules, schedule changes, programs – IB, Cambridge or “I just want you to take care of my child during the day programs.”)
10. There is a great deal of evidence that our secondary schools include a great deal of distractions from learning. What steps would you publically support to improve the focus on achievement in our schools?
Steve Skipper
De-emphasize them. Minimize assemblies. Increase the academic period. Science teachers have a difficult time doing a meaningful lab in 50 minutes.
Angela Griffin
I am not aware of this evidence. (I am sure that many people could show you many examples of distractions in our secondary schools)
11. President Obama has stated in Seattle that “No amount of money can buy achievement.” Do you agree with this statement and if so what steps to you think the Board ought to take to improve our achievement?
Angela Griffin
I believe achievement comes from intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Students need to first believe they can be successful, and have a plan to achieve that success. Parents, educators and our school systems need to provide a high level of support, expectations and successful strategies to each student at every level.
Steve Skipper
Yes. Look to hire professionals in the field of study instead of teaching professionals.
12. The district’s information office has a policy of always emphasizing the “positives.” Do you believe that ignoring the district’s short comings will improve the support of the citizens?
Steve Skipper
It is important to know what the positives are, but it is difficult to get support for changes when the customer (parents) are told that everything is okay.
Angela Griffin
I have never heard of or seen this policy. I do believe there are a lot of positives in our district that we need to highlight. I also believe we need to be upfront about the shortcomings and do everything possible to make improvements. I do not believe it is beneficial to our district to have a lot of negative spoken about our district, especially without viable solutions. When the public shares attempts to share solutions to problems in our district they need to be realistic and proven to be effective. (This has been stated publicly by the Director.)
13. Previous boards have held open forums where citizens could ask, and receive, answers from board members. Do you believe that this should be reinstated? Should individual board members express their thoughts publically?
Angela Griffin
Yes, to both.
Steve Skipper
Yes. Yes.
14. What are your sources of information about education and how to improve it?
Angela Griffin
Several websites, the media, my Master’s degree in education with continuous learning opportunities, WSSDA, OSPI, educators, the public’s experience, and the experiences of my children in the public school system.
Steve Skipper
Former board members, “Education News” and EdWeek.