Knox County Board of Education
Board of Education District 2
Candidate Name: Jennifer Owen
Address: 2217 Fair Drive Knoxville, TN 37918
Campaign Phone: (865) 919-1998
Web Site: http://www.Owen4Schools.com
Email:
Candidate Name: Grant Standefer
Address: 5547 Beverly Square Way Knoxville, TN 37918
Campaign Phone: (865) 599-9661
Web Site: http://standeferforschools.weebly.com
Email:
Q: 1. Is the current funding for Knox County Schools adequate? If not, how would you work to correct the problem?
Jennifer Owen: Current funding is not adequate for Knox County Schools or any other public schools in Tennessee. The Legislature, which is responsible for funding state schools, has to understand their responsibility as well as the needs of our students. It is important for our local Board members to be able to explain our needs to our legislators and to hold them accountable for fully funding the programs and policies they mandate. For years, I have been following bills that impact our schools and looking at the fiscal note on each. When the fiscal note has been significant, I have worked to contact Representatives and discuss funding with them. I believe our Board will need to really pay attention to bills as they pass through the Legislature and ensure our voices are heard when programs are mandated without adequate funding.
Grant Standefer: Current funding is not adequate. The average per pupil expenditures for Knox County Schools falls below the Tennessee average and significantly below schools like Oak Ridge and Maryville. With the MOU between Knox County Board of Education, the Knox County Mayor, and the County Commission, we are unable to increase funding other than by increasing growth revenue. That doesn’t leave many options, and it will force us to think creatively and collaboratively. There may be opportunities to reallocate funds from ineffective programs, and I look forward to looking closely at the budget and hearing the creative ideas that will come from the principals and teachers.
Q: 2. If you are elected, you would be involved in choosing a new school superintendent. What are the most important characteristics you would look for in a candidate for the position, and what should, at a minimum, be a candidate’s qualifications?
Jennifer Owen: I believe a successful academic leader must have appropriate experiences and qualifications that exceed the those of the people he/she manages. As the instructional leader for the community, he/she must be fully qualified to lead at all levels.
Min. qualifications should include:
Professional teaching license
Professional administrative license
MS in education (PhD from accredited university pref.)
5yrs teaching & 5 yrs as a principal in a public school
5yrs as a district level leader
Experience in an urban public school district
Skills to enhance the flow of information between parties
A demonstrated commitment to a child-centered philosophy
Proven ability to develop, administer, and transparently communicate a comprehensive budget
Success in obtaining & maintaining funds to enhance instruction.
Experience integrating relevant technology into instructional plans & district budgets
Success recruiting, supporting & retaining quality employees & maintaining high morale among staff
Grant Standefer: I would be looking for a person who is committed to academic excellence for all of our children. Our new superintendent should be able to communicate clearly, cast vision, and work with others to bring about effective change to benefit every child. It is also critical that this person be someone that is able to listen, gather critical data and make difficult decisions regarding what is best for our children. In regard to a candidate’s qualification, certainly teaching experience would be important, however most candidates will not have been in the classroom for several years. Things change quickly in classroom instruction. This person, therefore, needs to be very aware of the issues facing educators and particularly knowledgeable about issues in Tennessee surrounding testing and other concerns expressed by the public. The candidate should have at least an Ed.S degree and preferably an MBA as well. The person we hire is also going to need a strong financial background.
Q: 3. The state is once again considering vouchers for low-income students. What is your position on vouchers?
Jennifer Owen: As a citizen, when I see my Representatives supporting and voting for vouchers, I see them abandoning public schools and their students. Public schools are already seriously underfunded by the state. Vouchers will strain local and county budgets as school districts try to make up the difference after millions are drained away from them. Regardless of claims that school costs will decrease costs for districts, this simply makes no sense. Removing 5% of the students from a building does nothing to reduce heating and air costs, building maintenance costs, and costs of staffing. Taking millions of dollars from public schools is not in the best interests of students. The only ones with real "choice" in these programs is the private businesses receiving the funds. Other states have had voucher programs for over ten years - and they have proven, again and again, that students remaining in their PUBLIC schools overwhelmingly perform better than those in the voucher programs
Grant Standefer: We have poured a great deal of money and effort into the schools with a larger percentage of low-income students, and the results have been anything but encouraging. Both those who support vouchers and those who oppose vouchers make valid and thoughtful points. What I can say with certainty is that I am willing to read, research, engage in lively discussions, and consider any approach other than maintaining the status quo for helping our low-income students get the best possible education. What we have been doing for years has not been effective, and we must consider every viable option.
Q: 4. At present, Knox County has only one charter school. What is your position about increasing that number?
Jennifer Owen: Knoxville's one charter school has not yet been in business long enough to evaluate its progress. It would be financially irresponsible to consider adding additional charter schools without a clear picture of how it may impact students.
Grant Standefer: We need to explore every possibility for providing a great education for our students. The charter school we have is a public school included in the Knox County School District budget. Knox County children attend this school and Knox County educators teach in it. I want them to be successful in every way. Within this charter school is a possibility to create an entirely different culture that brings about transformational change rather than just incremental change. I feel strongly that we should explore every possibility for Knox County students to get a great education. I’m not out recruiting others to submit an application for more charter schools, but I also know that if a legitimate application for a charter school is submitted that meets all the criteria and the Knox County BOE rejects the application, the State of Tennessee can overrule that decision and that school would then become the responsibility of the state. Local control of our public schools is the most desirable.
Q: 5. Who should set the educational policy and direction for Knox County, the board of education or the school administration?
Jennifer Owen: This is already laid out in Tennessee state law: School boards should be responsible for setting policy and the board-appointed Director of Schools should be in charge of the day-to-day administration of the schools, as laid out in TCA 49-2-301. In other words, the school board should govern the school system; the superintendent should administer it.
Grant Standefer: The BOE sets educational policy and direction for Knox County with the input and cooperation of the superintendent and the administrative staff of Knox County public schools.
Q: 6. The board of education will make decisions about building new or renovating existing schools. With population growth and our school capital funding limited by current obligations, what steps would you take to assure that tax dollars are spent wisely for school construction in the future?
Jennifer Owen: The decision to build a new school or renovate an existing one is a complicated matter that will be different with each project. It is important to carefully consider population trends, student access, and community needs, as well as whether renovating a current building may be more costly in the long run. Sadly, we have some buildings that have been poorly constructed and have been very costly to maintain. In some cases, it could be more cost effective to rebuild than to keep pouring funds into a building that isn't well-constructed to begin with. On the other hand, we have some buildings that are very solid and have been well cared for. In those cases, renovation could be a better option. To ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely in the future, I would ask for comprehensive assessments and comparisons of all plans and carefully consider their impact.
Grant Standefer: In district 2, Inskip Elementary has more portable buildings than perhaps any other school in the county. Action needs to be taken. The decision regarding Inskip or any of our other school buildings should be made on whether or not it is more cost effective and efficient to renovate or to build new buildings.
Board of Education District 3
Candidate Name: Tony Norman
Address: 3520 peachwood rd
Campaign Phone: 524-4301
Email:
Q: 1. Is the current funding for Knox County Schools adequate? If not, how would you work to correct the problem?
Tony Norman: The current level of funding is more adequate if properly administered.
Q: 2. If you are elected, you would be involved in choosing a new school superintendent. What are the most important characteristics you would look for in a candidate for the position, and what should, at a minimum, be a candidate’s qualifications?
Tony Norman: Minimums; 5 years classroom experience, 5 years building level experience, managerial experience with departments of the size totalling, at minimum, 20% of the size of Knox County Schools, significant experience in the development and administration of multi- million dollar budgets. On the personal level, the candidate would demonstrate and have a history of exceptional communication skills in group settings as well as one on one. A favorable review of candidates last 2 positions of employment including interviews with coworkers and with employees over which they have authority.
Q: 3. The state is once again considering vouchers for low-income students. What is your position on vouchers?
Tony Norman: All our public schools should function at the level of proficiency that vouchers are unnecessary.
Q: 4. At present, Knox County has only one charter school. What is your position about increasing that number?
Tony Norman: Although a charter school may function in some respect as r&d for KCS, I would contend that Charters generally pull funds from schools and drain those in low income areas of their best students and needed funding.
Q: 5. Who should set the educational policy and direction for Knox County, the board of education or the school administration?
Tony Norman: The Board of Education is designated by T.C.A.as the agent which has complete and absolute authority over the management and administration of Knox County Schools. School administration is the agent implementing the policies and practices dertemined by the board.
Q: 6. The board of education will make decisions about building new or renovating existing schools. With population growth and our school capital funding limited by current obligations, what steps would you take to assure that tax dollars are spent wisely for school construction in the future?
Tony Norman: We have administrative functions in place to assist in predicting where capital needs are. Each budget is an exercise in the prudent use of public funds. The current funding mechanism and the political reality of taxation in Knox County may require new approaches to how we develop budgets for Knox County Schools.
Knox County Board of Education District 5
Candidate Name: Lori Ann Boudreaux
Address: 10309 Tan Rara Dr. Knoxville, TN 37922
Campaign Phone: (865) 403-9493
Web Site: http://votelori.org
Email:
Candidate Name: Susan Horn
Address: 12705 Coral Reef Cr. Knoxville, TN 37922
Campaign Phone: (865) 607-9606
Web Site: http://votesusanhorn.net
Email:
Candidate Name: Reuben "Buddy" Pelot
Address: 9211 Colchester Ridge Road Knoxville, Tennessee 37922
Campaign Phone: (865) 539-1429
Web Site: http://pelotforschools.com
Email:
Q: 1. Is the current funding for Knox County Schools adequate? If not, how would you work to correct the problem?
Lori Ann Boudreaux: The current system in place with the Mayor/Commission provides an appropriate system of checks and balances. Lack of funding is often mentioned as a problem, but extra funding is not always a plausible solution. My priority with the school budget involves the transparent appropriation of funds. Funding must be prioritized to accommodate the classrooms, the teacher, the needs of the students, technology, support staff and etc. Since the board budget is limited, it is imperative not to waste or misuse funding. The strategic financial planning and budgeting process should include input from all the stakeholders. A partnership between the KCS System and the County Commission to set priorities will help the school system to achieve more. I have the education and experience of working on a team to mediate, facilitate and lead. This will allow the Knox County School System to advance educational priorities and achievements.
Susan Horn: Additional funds that go directly into the classroom are always needed. We must encourage the governor, the General Assembly, and the TN Department of Education to fully fund the BEP.
Reuben "Buddy" Pelot: While Knox County has an exemplary school system, it is apparent from what I have observed that the needs of the Knox County School system exceed currently available resources and offer students the best educational opportunities. The board must always be vigilant as stewards of hard-earned taxpayer funds. At the same time, Knox County wants to be able to offer compensation that will attract and retain the best educators. While there are factors at the state level that need to be addressed, I would evaluate whether any resources can be reallocated within the budget and work with members of Knox County Commission and the Knox County Mayor's office to determine if additional funding can be found to help Knox County recruit and retain the best teachers, increase access to technology for students, and meet the growing needs of Knox County's students.