Cynthia Lee Richardson Answers Questions

Candidate for
Board Member; Winton Woods School District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Hamilton County and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What effect would the community (charter) schools have on the public schools in your district?

There are no community schools in the Winton Woods School District at this time. I feel that the effects of community schools upon the public schools system in any district would depend upon how the schools would help to improve the quality of education of all students in that community.

2. Evaluate the adequacy of support services, beyond state standards, presently provided for special-needs students in your district.

The district does provide support for special needs students. However, as in most school districts, going beyond state standards raises issues of funding for staff and other enhanced support. Also with the number of special needs students consistently increasing, this will most likely continue to be a progressive endeavor.

3. Has the use of proficiency tests in your school improved the education of students?

The use of proficiency tests have initiated a greater concern for staff development and providing the students with the necessary skills to perform adequately on the tests. In improving the education of the students, however, I feel that there is more involved than just scoring appropriately on a written exam. Education also includes emotional and social development; and I think there needs to be just as much emphasis placed in these areas as there is in academics.