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Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
See below for questions on
charter schools,
special needs students,
proficiency tests
Click on a name for other candidate information.
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1. What effect would the community (charter) schools have on the public schools in your district?
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Answer from Jeffrey Paul Biddle:
I am not sure that charter schools will be an issue in our district. Hopefully, due to the smaller size of our district compared to urban districts our schools can address special needs within existing structures.
Answer from Sandy Stephens:
At this point charter schools would simply deplete those dollars from a district which continues to improve. When a district like Southwest has had so many of its schools, nationally acknowledged, charter schools would likely not address d that are not being met by Southwest programs, or private/ parochial school where tuition is manageable.
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2. Evaluate the adequacy of support services, beyond state standards, presently provided for special-needs students in your district.
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Answer from Sandy Stephens:
It is a delicate subject, especially when these needs are so individualized. Carter Cordes has done well at a difficult job of balancing government mandates with local and state funding. Inclusion is taken seriously and county services are utilized whenever possible to augment existing programs and personnel.
Answer from Jeffrey Paul Biddle:
Again, I would say that the smaller size and nature of our district provides for more personal attention. Improvements can always be made in any area, but I believe we are doing the utmost possible.
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3. Has the use of proficiency tests in your school improved the education of students?
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Answer from Jeffrey Paul Biddle:
Our district's proficiency scores are improving, so one would have to say education is improving. I am concerned that we don't get to a point of teaching just what is needed to pass the test.
Answer from Sandy Stephens:
Though proficiency tests seemed early on to be just "another mandate" for public schools, it has caused some needed change in public education. By establishing testing at both elementary and secondary levels, it has encouraged articulation in the curriculum. Teachers understand that they don't have to teach to a test, but that they must use everything at their disposal to assure each student meets expectations. Consequently, there's better communication among teachers, and with parents.
Additionally, intervention, in the way of tutoring, has involved business partners, college students, and other community members.
We know we have good schools whose personnel care deeply for our children, regardless of our test scores, but testing has helped us to recognize and address problems before they become "issues".
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League, but formatted for Web display.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
