Helping Students Learn with Less Money

Editor's Note: Nine candidates are vying for former Board Director Gail Morrison's spot. On Thursday night, the group was subjected to an extensive, three-hour interview with the sitting member of the board of Education. Over the next few days, Patch will release portions of this interview question by question. The finalist will be chosen on Aug. 18, when the board will put the matter to a vote.

Board Director Paula Teiken: One of our most important goals is to increase student achievement. In a time of declining resources, what do you see as priority and what experience and insight can you bring to the board as we enter a year of difficult choices?

Sheryl Burkhardt: As you address this the method you need to use are test results. Currently the students are taking state and an Iowa Basic Test in elementary school. We need to use these to show where they are successful or where the help is needed and find the populations that need the most help. Our district has become quite diverse, socioeconomically and (with those for whom) English as a second language. As you fund those programs there needs to be follow up, though. When you look at the math scores in high school it’s kind of frightening: You need to look back and see where that gap happened.

Steve Dove: Data needs to be a part of the decision making process. We need to get stakeholders participating, get the parents and teachers involved. I think people are amicable to listening and group decision-making processes.

William Randall: We need to evaluate the effectiveness of our programs and see how they affect test scores. Then we need to look at funding from state level. I plan to introduce a tax levy if appointed.

Seema Pothini: I think one of the things to look at when we’re considering student achievement is not just underachievement, but we also need to look at what is effective. We need to make sure we’re meeting the needs of students who are achieving, who are in the middle or who are over performing, not just looking at what is tied to the achievement gap. We also need to try to find funding from other sources, grants or other avenues, that would give us money we can reallocate. That would open up more of the general fund.

Caryl Beecher: I think we should talk to students and parents see what their needs are and what interests them. Find out what kind of education they wish to pursue — vo-tech, two-year, four-year. It should be a massive fact-finding mission.

Steve Cherney: (Spoke of the district’s deficit) Where are we going to get that money? One of the insights I would bring forth is to find good money at low interest rates. That is one huge issue in order to keep the ship afloat. Then there are the demographics, the makeup of the district: 63 percent are Caucasian and 16 percent are language-challenged. We need to encompass all those folks. Probably the third-most important thing is that I noticed while reading through the state’s district report card that there are some inconsistencies. We need to bring more consistent proficiencies together to raise that up. It starts with the dollars and how well do we spend the dollars we have.

Mark Korman: One way to help with student achievement is to get more parents involved. I go to school events a lot (on behalf of his three children) and I see the same faces all the time. Also I think we need to go back to basics. Instead of having so many classes we have to narrow it up a bit. You don’t have to use as much money for different areas if you focus on that. We have to find a way to get most bang out of our buck.

Clynt Reddy: I think an approach to that question has to take on two avenues: External and internal. Achievement is a loaded term and it’s important to understand what we mean by a word like that. I view the board as a vehicle for collaboration — to bring parents, students and teachers together. Internally we should look at budget, where the funds are allocated and see what works and what doesn’t. Externally we should look at other districts, and what can we learn from them. Also we should look at what can businesses, foundations and non-profits in our area could help.

Bob Vandenboom: I read this question as a funding proposal. I know the district touches a lot of people and we need to focus on the core: Does (this program) help students learn? Does it help teachers teach more effectively? Does it build the brand or detract from it? Then I think we have an obligation to look at short and long-term health of the district.