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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 04-24-97 SBAps PUBLIC INTERVIEWS OF SCHOOL BOARD APPLICANTS Thursday, April 24, 1997 - 6:00 p.m. 1. Calho Order. 2. Roll Call. City Council Chamber .. AGENDA 3. Invocation. Mayor David A. Bowers. 4. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America will be led by Mayor Bowers. 5. Statement of Purpose and Procedure. Mayor Bowers. 6. Interviews: 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7. Adjournment. H:\9CHOOL\AGENDA.WPD ~e M. Boone V,- B..WebsterDay ~ha W. Ellison ~J!l11 Hamidullah ~e~an P. Lea ~chael L. Ramsey 447 COUNCIL PUBLIC INTERVIEWS OF SCHOOL BOARD APPLICANTS April 25, 1996 6:00 p.m. The Council of the City of Roanoke held public interviews with four candidates for the position of School Board Trustee on Thursday, April 25, 1996, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chamber, fourth floor of the Munlc.;.,,,al Building, 215 Church Avenue, S. W., City of Roanoke, with Mayor David A. Bow.rs presiding. PRESENT: Council Members Elizabeth T. Bowles, Wendell H. Butler, John H. Parrott, William White, Sr., Linda F. Wyatt and Mayor David A. Bowers 6. ABSENT: Council Member Delvis O. McCadden 1. OFFICERS PRESENT: Mary F. Parker, City Clerk. SCHOOL BOARD APPLICANTS PRESENT: Charles W. Day, Martin D. Jeffrey, James K. Lowe, Jr., and Brian J. Wlshneff. The meeting was opened with a prayer by Mayor Bowers. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Mayor Bowers. The Mayor advised that on June 30, 1996, the three year terms of Charles W. Day and Finn D. Pincus as trustees of the Roanoke City School Board will expire; and the purpose of the meeting Is to Interview four candidates for the upcoming vacancies. The Mayor called attention to the following actions which were taken by Council, pursuant to provisions of Chapter 9, Education. Code of the City of Roanoke (1979~, as amended: At regular meetings of the City Council held on January 16 and February 5, 1998, Council announced its intention to elect Trustees of the Roanoke City School Board for terms commencing July 1, 1996. Advertisements were placed In The Roanoke Times and the Roanoke Tribune inviting applications for the upcoming vacancies. Eight applications were received In the City Clerk's Office prior to the 5:00 p.m., deadline on Monday, March 11, 1996. . . '" ~'+o On March 18,1996, at2:00 p.m., Council, as a Committee of the Whole, reviewed and considered all applications. On March 18, 1996, at 6:00 p.m., Council held a reception with the candidates which was open to the public. At the regular meeting of City Council on Monday, April 1, 1996, at 2:00 p.m., Council voted to interview Charles W. Day, Martin D. Jeffrey, James K. Lowe, Jr., and Brian J. Wishneff. : " C Those candidates who were to be accorded the public interview were notified by the City Clerk by letter dated April 3, 1996. A notice was published In The Roanoke Times on Friday, April 5, 1996, and in the Roanoke Tribune on Thursday, April 4, 1996, inviting attendance at a public hearing to be held by City Council on Monday, April 15, 1996, at 7:00 p.m., to receive the views of citizens regarding School Board applicants, and further inviting the public to submit proposed questions to the candidates by filing such written questions in the City Clerk's Office by 5:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 18, 1996, however, no questions were submitted. The Mayor explained that the selection process provides that Council will publicly Interview each candidate separately and out of the presence and hearing of the other candidates; that Section 9.21, Public Interview of Candidates. of the Code of the City of Roanoke (1979), as amended, provides, In part, that Interviews of the candidates shall take place In an order deemed appropriate by City Council; whereupon, the Mayor advised that the City Clerk had scheduled the interviews in the following order: .- 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Charles W. Day Martin D. Jeffrey James K. Lowe, Jr. Brian J. Wishneff Mayor Bowers pointed out that each candidate would be given the opportunity to make an opening statement of not more than five minutes, and thereafter, Council would ask such questions, as Council, In its discretion, deems advisable. He explained that four Interviews would be held and each Interview would consist of approximately 30 minutes, and after each Interview was completed, the candidates could leave the Council Chamber Inasmuch as no action would be taken by Council on this date. 449 In conclusion, the Mayor advised that on Monday, May 6,1996, at 2:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be considered, the Council will hold an election to fill the two upcoming vacancies on the Roanoke City School Board. IhIiirst cArson ~be intervi.am was C.harles W. Dav. Mr. Day advised It was his pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to Council and complimented the Members of Council on their efforts to make the City of Roanoke an outstanding place to live and to make the City's school system one of the best in Virginia; and as City officials, Council has provided exemplary leadership and worked enthusiastically with the School Board members, school officials and the community on important issues to ensure that all students in the Roanoke City Schools receive a quality education. He stated that as a former educator with over 25 years of experience in the Roanoke City School system, as a principal in elementary, junior high and senior high schools, guidance counselor, coach, teacher, parent of two children who attended Roanoke City Schools, and a School Board Member for the past six years, he solicited Council's support for a seat on the Roanoke City School Board based on his experience and education and his commitment and Involvement in the community, and, If elected, he would continue to support and work closely with City Council, the School Board, the School Superintendent, teachers, prinCipals, parents and the community to ensure that all Roanoke City students continue to receive a quality education that will prepare them to become productive citizens to further their education and to be gainfully employed and become future leaders of tomorrow. He stated that his experience on the School Board for the past six years has been both challenging and rewarding: that it has been a pleasure serving and working closely with the citizens of the City of Roanoke; and if elected, he will continue to support all aspects of the educational process to ensure that the needs of our children are being met. He noted that the City has an outstanding Mayor and City Council who support the school system one hundred percent; and the City has a school system where quality education is already taking place, a superintendent who provides leadership, outstanding teachers, principals and support staff, students who want to learn, and most importantly, community and parental support. Dr. Butler asked the followfnq auestions: QUESTION: Some professional educators say that dress codes reduce violence and Improve discipline in public schools. In March of 1995, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing School Boards to require that uniforms be worn in schools If they deemed It necessary. My question Is how do you feel about some schools in Roanoke City adopting a uniform dress code? 4bU ANSWER: Mr. Day advised he would not have any hesitation to support standard dress codes; discussions have been held about having a dress code at the Noel C. Taylor Learning Center, where a fashion show was held one evening during a program to model some of the different outfits the students could wear; and he would not be opposed to a uniform dress code. He stated he thinks in some cases where there may be some rivairy for different styles of clothing or footwear, when you have students trying to hurt one another because of the styles, in those cases he would not hesitate at all to support such a system; and that it is something that would need to be evaluated, and if the administrators, superintendent and parents , saw a need for it, he would not be opposed to it. QUESTION: Some classroom teachers are more skillful in getting students to learn subject matter than other teachers. How would you feel about providing merit payor bonus pay for exceptionally good classroom teachers? ANSWER: Mr. Day advised he would not be opposed to this because the teaching profession Is much like any other business; some individuals are very successful in getting the learning process across and others have a more difficult time: it Is very much like the case with algebra where you have some students who are able to take algebra In the sixth grade, some in the seventh grade, and some in the eighth grade; and it Is very much like that In the classroom, where you have some teachers who are very gifted at being able to get the point over without a great w- deal of effort, and some have to work a little harder; and he would not be opposed to anything that would help the quality of education for these young people to be employable In the future. Mr. Parrott asked the followina auestions: QUESTION: Assuming that additional money was available, what would you do or how would you use additional funding for the schools? What wouid be your first priority? ANSWER: Mr. Day advised he recently read an article about a shortage of books in some schools, that they don't have a sufficient amount of books and certain instructional materials. He stated he would check with the principals and teachers to determine where the need exists for the appropriate funds, and then it should be established on a priority need basis. He stated as a case In point, if there were instructional materials, we have come a long way on technology and have now advanced to the computer age where we have a very favorable ratio of students to computers, and that Is a good example of where the money could be applied. He pointed out that he would like to see all school personnel paid on a competitive level with surrounding school districts. 451 QUESTION: We have had increased comment and general discussion of the fact that we may get a four year vocational/technical school here, because we feel that would attract more businesses to the area. Do you think there is anything that we could be doing on the high school level to increase the supply of technical training? ANSWER: Mr. Day advised he thinks it is always wise to monitor the vocational training because he saw a statistical report from the Department of Labor that said the average high school student at the present tlJPe will change jobs about eight times during their career, and when you have to change jobs that often you have to be very flexible and receive extensive training. He stated he also heard a report that some of the officials of the vocational departments are conducting a study on that, and they seem to think instead of separating the vocational students they should go through the same rigid program, including English and Math, that all the other students do because the job market is so demanding that they need to be well-versed, and need to be exposed to the rigid program also. Mr. White expressed appreciation for Mr. Day's past service on the School Board and for his willingness to serve again. Mr. White asked the followin9 questions: QUESTION: What do you feel are the greatest strengths of the Roanoke City School System, and also the greatest weaknesses? ANSWER: Mr. Day advised that the greatest strength of the School System is that we are very fortunate to be in an area where we get such great support from the Mayor and Members of Roanoke City Council; because the Council has really supported the School Board, as well as the support the Board gets from the parents; and we have a beautiful group of students, very talented students, and this is one of our greatest strengths, as well as an excellent staff of teachers and principals, talented personnel and support staff. He stated that the weakness Is that we need to continually monitor and evaluate what we are doing to make sure it is the best thing for our young people, because we are preparing them for a very competitive market; that the students will be exposed to the international market, which is no longer a local county or city market or state market. He stated he recently read that ten of the top corporations are In the State of Virginia, so our students no longer have to leave the state to work in the Industries that are on the cutting edge, and he thinks about what the City Council has done as an incentive to get industry to come to the City and the Valley, so that Is a new dimension for our students, also; therefore, if we have a weakness, we need to try to equate and prepare our students 4::>~ to be very competitive and to be employable whether they start their employment after they leave high school or after college or advanced training, and we want to make sure they are ready with the training and the available skills so that they can adapt to the employment market. QUESTION: As you talk about that weakness, or perceived weakness, is it your thought that money Is not necessarily the answer to improving or eliminating that weakness, rather, a lot of it is planning and vision. Am I correct? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated that he agrees one hundred percent: that it Is a personal incentive where you are to be motivated to do this, and he does not think money would be the main force behind it; and that what we have already could be monitored and improved. Ms. WYatt asked the followinq auestlons: QUESTION: I want to make clear that I heard you correctly. Did I hear you say that you were in favor of a merit pay system for teachers, is that correct? ANSWER: Mr.. Day advised that he is in favor of a merit pay system for teachers. ..- QUESTION: That leads me to my next question - how would you develop an evaluation system that can be objectively applied so that merit raises are given fairly? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated that Is a problem and has always been a problem; that In places where it has been tried, it has not been productive; that when he was in the system and several of the local school districts throughout the State of Virginia had it and experimented with it, and then they tossed It out; that It Is a difficult thing to monitor; and probably the most difficult task of it all is to find a very valid way of monitoring It and applying it to all the personnel. QUESTION: How would you propose doing that? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated his main reason for supporting it is that he thinks that it Is a good Incentive; that currently, in order for outstanding teachers to get a certain increase in salary, they have to move out of the classroom to a position of a supervisor or administrator, so we need some way of holding that very talented teacher who wants to teach throughout their whole career in lieu of being an administrator or supervisor, to give them an opportunity to stay In the classroom. He stated it may be called merit payor whatever it may be, but he thinks there 4tj~ should be an incentive so that if a person just wanted to devote their life to teaching, they could be paid at a very good level for their ability. He pointed out that throughout the State and the Nation, there are a lot of college and university presidents who after being in that position for a while, will retire from the administrative position and go back to teaching, which really shows their love for the teaching profession, and stated this is a good example of why we should provide some way for our teachers to be able to stay in the classroom if they want to and stili receive pay that Is equated with the supervisory and administrative positions; however, the ability to implement that is a problem andjliChallenge. QUESTION: My next question has to do with the grievance procedure. As a School Board Member, would you support a grievance procedure that had as a part of it binding arbitration? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated he thinks that all the employees should have an opportunity to grieve, if they feel that they have a reason to grieve: that they should have the privilege of having that grievance heard and being handled in a very democratic way, and whether that would mean binding arbitration or not, he is a firm believer in fairness. He advised he would not have a problem with supporting a grievance procedure that had as a part of It binding arbitration: that you should have the right to be heard and to make sure that you receive justice, because that is the foundation this country was founded on, and if that was the only way that we can give justice to our employees, then he would support a grievance procedure that had as a part of it binding arbitration. Mrs. Bowles asked the followlnc;! auestions: QUESTION: I heard you say how much you appreciated the communications with Council and the work that we have had interchanged. Do you have any suggestions as to how City Council and the School Board could have better communications with our legislators and speak with one voice? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated it would be his opinion we could reinforce what we have been doing by having the joint meetings, and prior to submitting the Legislative Program, we could add to that part, as well as follow up while they ar~ in session, to see how the other Members of the House of Delegates or Senate are leaning, to give us an up-bHlate progress report, in order to evaiuate our strategy for trying to get the program approved. He stated he likes what we are doing now, and In lieu of changing that program, he believes we could add to it by having perhaps more of the joint sessions. QUESTION: What are your feelings on year-round schools? 404 ANSWER: Mr. Day stated he would have no reservations about having year- round schools; that it is a beautiful way to get full utilization of the physical plant or facilities; and we have an example just down the road near Rockbridge County where they have year-round school, as well as at several key points throughout the State of Virginia. He stated he would not be opposed to year-round schools and pointed out that we have a modified form by having a full blown summer school, which is not listed as a year-round school, but we have so many programs during the summer it is as close to year-round school as we could almost get; however, It is more on an optional basis, and year-round school is more regimental. Mayor Bowers asked the followin9 questions: QUESTION: Are you In favor of the Goals 2000 program, and if so, why, and if not, why? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated he is in favor of the Goals 2000 program. He advised that he does not like to cut across the political lines, and respects all our leaders, but he would say that It Is a good sum of money to pass up and it must be a pretty good situation since we only have two states that are not participating in it; and he thinks this might be a method that has been proposed by two Congressmen where each school district can individualize their requests, and It Is a good avenue of support of our students. .. QUESTION: Our school superintendent has now been with us for three schooryears. How would you assess his performance? ANSWER: Mr. Day stated he thinks Dr. Harris has done a very good job: he is a good leader, and has provided good leadership for us; and the School Board has been very pleased with hi. efforts. Mr. Jeffrey expressed appreciation for the opportunity to appear before Council and talk about Issue. of concern regarding the School Board and the person. Council will be appointing as Trustees of the Roanoke City School Board. He stated that It Is Important to him that each Member of Council understand his motivation because he realizes a lot of people come before Council with a lot of different motivations and most of them, if not all, are legitimate. He stated that his motivation Is simple - he seeks a position on the Roanoke City School Board because he has three children In the City School System and beyond that, he has a commitment to the community at large; and that as a part of that commitment, he is constantly seeking ways that he can enhance what he does for the community. 455 He stated that he thinks the problem for Council is that all the candidates who come through this process are qualified, and he doubts there are very few people, if any, that have been through the process that were not qualified, which makes it kind of difficult and he can appreciate that. He advised that he submitted his application about 15 minutes before the deadline; that he had to search himself, because he had been through the process once before and was not selected, and he appreciated having the opportunity to participate: but, he wanted to make sure that the reason why he was submitting an application and seeking a seat on the School Board was not tainted with any unnecessary personal ambitions; and he came to the conclusion that clearly, there are other qualified peopie, but he could potentially bring something to the School Board that he does not think anyone else other than him could do. He stated that he has been working in the community for about the last 17 years, and he believes he could bring a perspective to the School Board as a single, black male parent struggling to raise three children, as a young, black youth, and he thinks that represents a significant part of our school system: that he brings a perspective that Is Interesting and could be useful: and he believes from his perspective as a community organizer/developer/advocate that he brings that as a result of his professional occupation that is not currently present on the School Board, which couid help significantly In terms of generating more ownership of the system by the community at large, and particularly by parents. He advised he would be committed to this as well as supporting the other goals and objectives of the School Board. Mr. Parrott asked the followina auestions: QUESTION: Assuming that funding was available, what would your priorities be or what do you think would be the most needed use of additional funding? How would you spend that money, so to speak? ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey stated if there was extra money to be spent, the place that he would advocate it being spent Is on ways to encourage more parental participation In our school system; that whether you are talking about discipline, or increased standards and getting students to respond more In an academic fashion in the classroom, or regardless of what the Issue is, he believes we take a quantum leap forward when we get more parental participation in the school system, so if there were some way that those resources could be used to generate additional parental participation In the system, then that is how he would seek to use that money. QUESTION: Do you see a need or can you suggest any way that we can Improve the vocational/technical training of students at the high school level in order to take advantage of or to be more useful for employers? 4.0 b ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey stated that in his professional occupation he was involved In developing TAP's Customized Training Program which works directly with employers to fashion training programs that deal directly with their needs in terms of preparing people for entry level positions in those companies: that he believes In order to be effective in the area of vocation, we have to understand what the employers' needs are and determine which of the employers' needs we can provide from a practical standpoint in the school system, and develop a vocational program or enhance the existing vocational program around those employers' needs with direct employer participation. Mr. White asked the following auestions: QUESTION: Would you elaborate on what you perceive as the greatest strengths and the most significant weaknesses facing the Roanoke City School System. ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he firmly believes the key to moving our system forward academically and otherwise is lodged in our ability to get parents more directly Involved, and he thinks if the system has a weakness that is where it is weak. He stated that the City schools have a strong P. T.A. System, but there are still a lot of parents who are not Involved In the school system, which hurts us tremendously in terms of the disciplinary issue as well as a variety of other Issues. He stated that the strengths he can see in the school system include an understanding of the potential for technoiogy, the potential of how technology can enhance the educational experience; and that we have moved toward a very strong commitment aimed at getting more technology in the hands of our students and teachers for the purposes of enhancing the educational experience. rr Ms. Wvatt asked the following questions: QUESTION: How would you propose developing an evaluation system for teachers that would be one hundred percent totally objective? ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that this is a place where parents can provide or add a degree of objectivity to this particular process that may not already exist: for exampl..~ If we had an evaluation process which involved parents and admlnistrato.... and those parents and administrators worked together to perform those evaluations, he believes that would add some degree of objectivity that could prove helpfut. QUESTION: Would you support a grievance procedure for educators that had as a part of It binding arbitration? 457 ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he would support a grievance procedure that Included binding arbitration. Mrs. Bowles asked the following auestions: QUESTION: I have had some calls recently asking why the School Board does not consider year-round schools, and I would like to know what you think about year-round schools and if you would support that concept. ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he thinks and acts locally, and he likes to think that he Is tuned in to what Is going on in our world In terms of global economy, and the idea of a global village: that what happens locally has to take into consideration what is happening on the global scene internationally; and that we have to tie into all of that In terms of our decisions about education and how much of it we are going to offer our children. He stated that because of his feelings for his children, he does not know how aggressive he would be in advocating year-round schools, but he thinks we ought to seriously look at some extension of the educational offerings as far as whether we are extending the day or whether we are extending the year to some extent; and he absolutely thinks that is crucial In order to move Roanoke' schildren, Virginia's children and America's children toward a more competitive position In the world. QUESTION: There Is a great deal of taik about the teachers in this area not being able to receive the same salaries as other surrounding areas. How do you feel our teachers' salaries compare with other surrounding areas, and do you think we are right or wrong? ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that based on actions by the General Assembly and the City Council, salaries are moving significantly toward being more in line with the national averages; it has never been his thinking that we ought to focus on the region, rather, he thinks the focus ought to be on the national average: he would like to know that his childrens' teachers are making a salary comparable to the national average; and he believes this maintains or guarantees a certain degree of quality in teaching staff and Instruction that we all want to see In our school system. He added that for him, it Is a national focus and he believes we have moved sjgniflcantly in that dlrectlort. Dr. Butler asked the followfna auestlons: QUESTION: Some professional educators say that dress codes reduce violence and Improve discipline in the public schools. In March of 1995, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing School Boards to require that uniforms be 4.5 8 worn in schools. if they deemed it necessary. My question is how do you feel about some schools in Roanoke City adopting a uniform dress code? ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he would be In favor of anything, whether it be uniforms or same-sex classes, that minimizes distraction for children in the classroom and moves them closer toward higher academic performance, so if in fact dress codes do that, then he can support that. He stated that the process used to determine what the policy Is going to be should involve parents and students from each school: and that it is crucial to have their involveme~t-jnd have them buy into it in order to have successful Implementation. ' .~. QUESTION: Some classroom teachers are more skillful in getting students to learn subject matter than other teachers. How would you feel about providing merit payor bonus pay for exceptionally good classroom teachers? ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he thinks the idea of merit pay is a good idea; however, it Is also a risky proposition to the extent that you do not have the kind of credible, objective evaluation process to make sure that there is no possibility of favoritism or hurting morale among the total system. He stated he thinks a merit system is a good idea, but It should include a credible objective evaluation process with checks and balances in place. . Mavor Bowers asked the followlnc;l auestions: QUESTION: Our school superintendent is nearly finishing up his first term. How would you assess the performance of Dr. Wayne Harris? ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he would support renewal of Dr. Wayne Harris' contract He stated that he believes Dr. Harris has been good for the school system; and as to the question of whether Dr. Harris has performed completely to the satisfaction of most people, you probably will be able to find a significant number of people who take Issue with some things that Dr. Harris has done, and he has some concerns about some of those things: however, he would support renewal of Dr. Harria' contract with some contingencies to the extent that there are some concerns and that there would be some assurances that those concern.s would be addressed. QUESTION: Are you In favor of the Goals 2000 program, and if so, why, and if not, why? 459 ANSWER: Mr. Jeffrey advised that he applauded the article in the newspaper concerning Congressman Boucher and another Congressman who have decided to enter a bill into Congress that allows school systems to apply for those monies if they so choose; that he believes that is a good idea, because if, in fact, the Goals 2000 monies do not have a lot of unnecessary regulations and unfunded mandates attached, he believes the Roanoke City School System could use that money and so could a lot of other school systems; and he thinks that aspect of it needs to be explored if that money is without those regulations and can prove helpful to us in an unobstructlve way. At 6:55 p.m., the Mayor declared the meeting in recess. At 8:00 p.m., the meeting reconvened in the Council Chamber, with Mayor Bowers presiding, and all Members of the Council In attendance, with the exception of Mr. McCadden. The Mayor advised that Council Member McCadden could not be present and had expressed his regrets. IIJ.IJb11It Derson tq lal.!D.terviewect was James K-.J-owe. JL Mr. Lowe recounted a conversation with his nephew who was in his first year of college and had to subscribe to a major publication such as Newsweek or Ilm.I magazine for his English class and over the course of the semester write ten papers about articles that he had read, and his nephew was comparing his course to his roommate's class because his roommate only had to write a fifteen page bibliography, which he felt was an easier task; and advised what his nephew was telling him was that he could tell a story from a personal experience but was not confident that he could read what someone else has written, analyze their points and critically analyze it. He stated that this disturbed him, because looking back on his own education he realized how valuable that educational experience was. He further stated that about 20 years ago, a friend of his who Is a structural engineer went to New York for the Centennial Celebration for the Brooklyn Bridge and he had dinner with the President of one of the leading engineering firms in the United States, and he asked him what he thought about the new graduate engineers, and the firm's President replied that the graduates were great number crunchers but they didn't understand the numbers, that they were great with computers but they could not tell you whether an eight Inch deep beam or a twelve Inch deep beam should be used, rather, they just relied on what the computer told them. He stated that those two examples played a big part In his decision to submit an application for the Roanoke City School Board; that being an engineer and having a legal and technical background, he Is very interested and realizes that we must prepare our students 46U for the future, which is going to be much more technologically advanced and technologically driven than our lives and our education has been: that he is also concerned about the potential loss for understanding basics, for understanding the foundational theories of whatever course of study they choose; that he believes it is very important not only that we bring our students along into technology, but to first ground them in foundation and in the fundamental theories of science, math, and English so that when they approach that technology they understand the basics. Mr. White asked the followlnq auestion: QUESTION: I would like to hear your views on what you perceive as the strengths and the weaknesses of the Roanoke City School System. ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that being in a service industry he understands that your people have to be your most valuable asset because it is through those people that you are providing a service, and without quality teachers we would not have quality education; there Is a lot we can teach ourselves as we grow older, but the younger we are the more we need leadership and direction in our education: and that the strength of the City's school system is that it has dedicated teachers and employees who are concerned about the children they teach and want to see those children succeed. With regard to the school system's weakness, Mr. Lowe stated that educational systems must look at the results of test scores across the country . and continue to follow it; that while dedication and interest in children Is great, he is concerned that the City's school system is beginning to slide away from fundamental principles by allowing things to creep into the school system that take away from instruction time; that he has read material which indicates that if you look at the day of a student and compare it to ten or fifteen years ago, the amount of contact time that student has with fundamental core courses has fallen: and that teaching methods have a big part In the quality of the output. He stated he believes the strengths are the teachers and their dedication and interest in education, and the weakness is the result that we are producing. Ms. Wyatt asked the followlna questions: QUESTION: As a School Board member would you support a grievance procedure for teachers that provided for binding arbitration? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that as an engineer, he does not like arbitration, but for different reasons; however, he believes that an administrative process is needed which Is economical, takes less time, allows for quick resolutions of disputes; that litigation of Issues Is very expensive, so he would support a process within an administrative body, such as a school board system, which offered a 461 dispute resolution system short of litigation, something that would be quick, fairly economical and that the parties could agree to the resuits. He stated he has a personal bias against arbitration: however, he would not inflict that on someone else. QUESTION: How would you go about providing a process as a School Board member that would develop an almost 100 per cent objective evaluation system for employees? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised he did not believe that is very possible, inasmuch as when you put a two-legged animal into the system there has to be some subjectivity to it: and that one of his least favorite things Is a middle manager's performance evaluation. He explained that he has a supervisor who rates him, and as head of a department he also has corporate responsibilities to all ten of his company's offices, so he has interaction with people outside of the Roanoke office that his supervisor is not aware of; therefore, he always sends a copy of the evaluation form to office managers of other offices and asks them to evaluate him and provide the results to his department head, so that his supervisor can get Input from people that he works with on a day to day basis. He stated that he would support an evaluation process that would include a peer review that could be provided to the supervisor of the individual being rated, so that the supervisor has knowledge of other people's perceptions of the individual. Mrs. Bowles asked the followlna auestions: QUESTION: What would be your feeling about year-round schools? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised it would depend on how the year-round schools worked; that his wife attended a year-round program in Northern VirgInia that was to some extent driven by the sheer numbers of students and use of the facilities; and that if the CIty's system was a year-round system with staggered vacations that would somewhat Increase the amount of contact time but not just Increase the number of days, he would be In favor of that; however, he is not In favor of just merely increasing the number of school days. He stated that he would be willing to consider year.round schools within certain bounds If we can lengthen school periods, better utilize facilities by staggering vacation times, or increase time in core curriculums. QUESTION: How Importantly do you think the teachers' salaries affect the quality of their ability to teach? 4.b L ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that he believes money is more of a de-motivator than a motivator; that he does not think money is a motivator for performance; for example, if teachers in Roanoke City find out that teachers In Salem or Roanoke County are making more money than they are for the same level of experience and the same types of qualifications, then he believes it would negatively impact their performance, but if it Is vice-versa, he does not think that would result in an increase in performance. He stated it is more an issue of whether the pay is equitable, and he does not think merely raising salaries would Increase the teachers' performance. Dr. Butler asked the followina auestions: , QUESTION: Some professional educators say that dress codes reduce violence and Improve discipline In public schools. In March of 1995, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing School Boards to require that uniforms be worn In schools if they deemed it necessary. How do you feel about some schools In Roanoke City adopting a uniform dress policy? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that he believes some of the clothing today can be disruptive or cause an attraction to certain people, and cause students to concentrate on things other than education. He stated that he would support dress codes that are reasonable and that draw some kind of limits on the type of dress that students are allowed to wear to school; that the students' dress is a type of r respect for their peers and the tea~hers, and it teaches good citizenship as well as respect for others: and if one school wants to try it and another does not, then one advantage might be to determine whether performance differs from one school to another. QUESTION: Some classroom teachers are more skillful In getting students to learn subject matter than other teachers. How do you feel about providing merit payor bonus pay for exceptionally good classroom teachers? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that he Is in favor of any kind of merit pay system that Is structured properly; that merit-based pay is used In most other non- unionized type organizations; and he believes employers want to reward performance, and teachers that perform better should receive better pay. . He stated that he previously worked for the Federal government which has a step-pay scale where employees in a particular pay grade and step earn a certain amount of money, and he believes this breeds mediocrity and causes people to question why they should be outstanding if their performance is not going to be recognized. 463 Mayor Bowers asked the following auestions: QUESTION: What is your position with regard to Goals 2000 and why are you for it or against it? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that he is against Goals 2000, and stated that if you look at what Federai dollars have done at the higher education level it is not really very good. He expressed the opinion that Federal dollars come with more and more bureaucracy: and pointed out that most of the mon~y in the Superfund area went to the lawyers, not to cleaning up hazardous waste sites. He stated he does not like that connection between the Federal government and education at the state and local level, and one example of what Federal dollars have done in the higher education area is that some colleges now have vice-presidents whose sole job is to ensure that the Institution of higher education Is reporting the right numbers on the right forms to the Federal government, and he questioned what this does to educate students. He stated that his concern is that the burden to administer Federal funds will far outweigh the advantage those funds may bring to actually improving education. QUESTION: Our school superintendent is completing his first term. How would you assess the performance of Dr. Wayne Harris? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that he does not have children in the City schools, and he has not been involved in the school system to be able to judge Dr. Harris' performance. Mr. Parrott asked the followina auestlons: QUESTION: If we had additional funding available to take care of some particular need that you think we have, what would your priorities be or what do you think would be the most needed use of additional funding? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised that he would be interested in looking at all the school facilities In the system to determine if there are any disparities between the schools either In terms of fixed facilities or other plant equipment and educational needs; that there Is always that delicate balance between putting off maintenance or working on fixed facilities which can be very costly: and if he were to prioritize the needs, assuming there Is no risk or unnecessary Increase In future costs for dealing with fixed facilities, then he would like to first ensure that we have the right equipment within the schools so that to the extent practical there Is no disparity between City schools as to the equipment and educational tools that are available in those schools. 4.04 QUESTION: We are talking now about a possible four-year college level technical institute in Roanoke and we have heard a number of comments concerning whether there are trainable people when an industry decides to locate somewhere. Do you feel that we need to do more as far as technical education at the high school level to meet those needs? ANSWER: Mr. Lowe advised it depends on the type of course work: that he believes the Trane Company goes to North Carolina to recruit air conditioning mechanics because the community college system in Virginia is not producing those kinds of people: that the community college is probably the principle place for that because if you begin to push that down too far there is a question of whether students are mature enough to make those kinds of lifelong decisions at very young ages, as well as the question of what type ofskills are going to be taught that would lead to employment; and that more technical and advanced kinds of subjects are probably better left at community colleges. He noted that the education system in the State of Missouri has proposed that students be put on a career track by identifying them at very early ages and putting them on a career path, and he believes In providing students with the most freedom that we can, so he does not support pushing those kinds of decisions down into the public school systems. w . Mr. Wishneff expressed appreciation to the Mayor and Members of City Council for allowing him to be a part of the School Board selection process, advising that the selection of School Board members is probably one of the most important things City Council does; and in today's society there is certainly nothing more important than education. He stated that according to research he has done about the level of support that City Council has given to the schools, over the last ten years the share of local funds that go towards the City Schools has averaged an increase of about 5.7%, which he found impressive; and also, last year the School Board received full funding on Its budget request and the City Manager is recommending full funding of the School Board's budget request again this year. He stated that In terms of local taxes, out of 132 school systems around the State, Roanoke ranks 73rd In its ability to pay, but 12th in its effort, and what the Roanoke City Schools are contributing is significant; and when you add all that up and consider the commitment the City Council has made towards renovating at least one school each year for the past number of years, he believes it all says that Roanoke City Council understands the Importance of education. He stated if he Is appointed to the Roanoke City School Board he Intends to be a strong advocate and to be a voice to continue that kind of commitment. He pointed out that he held the position of Chief of Economic Development for the City for over sixteen years and worked with many prospects during that time, and as a part of that position, he had to sell the quality of the City school system, and realizes how important schools are to that 400 aspect of City life; and that he would argue that today in terms of a location factor, schools are even more important and noted that the Chairman of IBM stated at a Governor's meeting a few weeks ago that within a year the major corporations in the United States plan to develop a policy stating that if localities do not meet certain standards they will not be considered by these companies as a possible location for their companies. He advised he also knows through his work with the City and the area of development how important schools are to the well-being of our neighborhoods: that In 1996, any discussion concerning the health of any City and its neighborhoods has to begin with education and the health of the schools; and the school system Is especially important to an urban area like Roanoke which is competing every day as to where people are going to live in the Roanoke Valley, because there are a lot of choices and certainly schools are right at the top of the issues that people consider when deciding Where they are going to live. He commented that as a parent with children In the Roanoke City School System, he knows personally how important It Is and he gets to see first-hand every day the challenges that everyone faces in our school system and he believes it is important that there be good representation on the School Board from parents who have children in the school system. Mr. W1shneff further stated that he believes his public experience with the City would allow him to help the school system achieve some of Its goals, inasmuch as he is used to working in the public sector: he also thinks the relationships that are built with Industry could be a benefit to the schools; that Roanoke City Schools have only scratched the surface In terms of building partnerships with business and industry and he believes he can bring some ideas on how to achieve that goal. He advised that he has some core beliefs and characteristics which he believes would be beneficial if he is appointed as a member of the School Board, i.e., he understands that the School Board Is a policy making body and he would respect that; he understands that one of the most important roles of the School Board Is to ask the School administration the tough questions that the public expects to be asked; he considers himself to be a good listener and he Is especially Interested in what parents and teachers have to say; he believes it Is absolutely essential that schools provide a safe environment for learning; he thinks it Is Important that we have some accountability In terms of standards in our schools: and he thinks it is important that Roanoke City Schools have a competitive teachers' salary structure that will allow us to attract and keep the best and brightest teachers. Ms. WYatt asked the followln9 questions: QUESTION: As a School Board member would you support a grievance procedure for teachers that provided for binding arbitration? . 466 ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff advised that since he announced his candidacy for the School Board he has tried to learn more about how the School Board works, and if he were appointed, he would be interested In making some structural changes in how the Board works; that when it comes to Issues like binding arbitration, he does not see the necessity in the long run for the school administration to always play that role just like City Council does not play that role; and that the City has the Personnel and Employment Practices Commission to handle these issues, and he really does not understand why the schools never went In that direction. He stated that he does not know for certain that he would support a srievance procedure for teachers that provided for binding arbitration: however, the concept of having either an independent group or a small new group of the School Board make those kinds of decisions has a lot of common sense appeal to him. QUESTION: How would you propose developing an evaluation system for educators that was totally objective so that everyone was treated fairly and equitably? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff advised that he honestly does not know; that he thinks the development process for any kind of polley like this should involve school teachers, parents and administrators making that decision, and that it should not be something that comes from the school administration: and he would hope everyone would be involved In the development process, but he does not know what the r polley might contain. Mrs. Bowles asked the following questions: QUESTION: We are finding more and more of our foreign countries and even our local people are talking about the need for more hours in the schools. What would be your concept or interest In year-round schools? ANSWER: Mr. W1shneff advised that he believes at a minimum we need to do a better job of protecting the school year; that he Is all for spring break and all that, but he does not believe anything should come at the expense of the school year; that it would be great If, financially and structurally, a case couid be put together for extending the school year; that obviously, the longer you go to school the better chances of a better education, but on the other hand, he knows it would be extremely expensive and upset the system we already have in place; and that theoretically, he would like to see It, but practically, we probably would be unable to do it; however, that does not mean that we should not do a better job of protecting the school year we have In place. 467 QUESTION: We know we need to always look at the strength of our teachers. Do you feel it is important that the teachers' salaries be the same In all localities as they are, for Instance, in Roanoke, Salem or Northern Virginia? Is that important in the quality of teachers that we have? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff advised that he believes It is important that Roanoke have a very competitive salary structure: and that teachers in the Roanoke City School system have a very difficult job, and it is important to recognize that and reward them to the extent that we can accordingly. , Dr. Butler asked the followina auestions: QUESTION: Some professional educators say that dress codes reduce violence and Improve discipline in public schools. In March of 1995, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing School Boards to require that uniforms be worn in schools if they deemed it necessary. How do you feel about some schools In Roanoke City adopting uniform dress codes? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff advised that he does not know of anything more important than a safe .environment In schools, and from what he hears this is rising more and more as an Issue; and if a principal and school superintendent and others involved in the discussion came to the School Board and made a persuasive case that this would help create a safe environment in a particular school, he would support It. QUESTION: Some classroom teachers are more skillful than other teachers in getting students to learn subject matter. How do you feel about providing merit payor bonus pay for exceptionally good classroom teachers? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff referred to a similar question from Ms. Wyatt and stated that he would have questions about how something like this couid be done and kept fair; but if a system couid be developed that protected it from abuse, he would support it Mr. Parrott asked the followlna questions: QUESTION: Assuming that there were money available to provide some additional services or take care of some particular need, what would your priorities be or what do you think would be the most needed use of additional funding? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff advised that one of the most needed areas would be teachers' salaries; that the School Board has set a goal to get to the national average,. and that is a goal we ought to try to reach to the extent that we continue to 4-6 8 reduce the teacher to pupil ratio, because the smaller the classroom the better it is to teach; and the School Board also has a goal of attaining a certain level of technology in the schools, and he would like to see that goal reached as well. QUESTION: We have heard discussion concerning the need for greater vocational/technical ability on the part of workers that would be hired by businesses, and we are thinking of a possible four-year technical school in Roanoke. Do you feel there is something we could do at the high school level that would prepare these students to better take advantage of these subjects wtuln they get to the college level? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff stated there needs to be some connection made for these children to be aware that there is a benefit down the road if they succeed in these areas; that the Franklin County school system has a contract with all the major companies In Franklin County whereby if students pass high school, do not take drugs and have a certain attendance level, they will get first priority on being hired, so the connection there between the students and the reward is pretty clear; that in Roanoke, this may be a little more difficult because our economy is much bigger and more diverse, but he believes the concept is good; and he thinks if you make the connection for the students and make the reward clearer, the chances of them being motivated will be high. . Mr. White asked the followina question: QUESTION: I would like to hear your views on what you perceive as the major strengths and weaknesses of the Roanoke City School System. ANSWER: Mr. Wlshneff advised with regard to the strengths of the Roanoke City School System that the schools have had adequate funding; that he is a very satisfied parent, has had very good experiences in City schools, and considers the teachers and principals unbelievably dedicated; and the schools have a very involved group of parents, at least at the schools his children attend. He stated with regard to the weaknesses of the school system, that the perception that City schools are not as good aa the other schools In the Valley Is a problem that we always battle; that the whole Issue of providing a safe learning environment Is going to be a struggle, and It Is something that absolutely needs to be taken care of, because it will become a weakness ifwe don't; and he thinks the connection for students as far as the rewards for completing school Is somewhat weak. QUESTION: With regard to your economic development background and the recent bond Issue In Roanoke County for the high schools, what are your thoughts as to whether it would ever be a possibility that a joint high school could be built in a strategically located part of the Roanoke Valley that could draw attendance from 469 both major localities so as to minimize the cost of new construction, recognizing that Patrick Henry and William Fleming High Schoois will have to undergo some major renovations or new construction in the next ten to twelve years? ANSWER: Mr. Wishneff referred to the way industry went through a trend of building larger facilities and then found that they could not manage the employees, and stated that most companies now do not try to build facilities to house thousands of people. He stated that he believes the same thing applies with schools, and his perception from conversations with people in the community is that they wonder why the County would even want to build a school of that size; and when the time comes for the City to build a high school again that might be an issue to be considered at that time, and whether It makes sense to have three smaller high schools in Roanoke City or some combination of that with the County. Mayor Bowers asked the following auestions: QUESTION: What Is your position with regard to Goals 2000 and why are you for it or against it? ANSWER: Mr. Wlshneff stated he would be in support of Goals 2000. QUESTION: Our school superintendent is nearing the end of his first four-year term. How would you assess the performance of Dr. Wayne Harris? ANSWER: Mr. W1shneff advised that from his view as a parent, he believes Dr. Harris' performance has been excellent, and his children have expressed the opinion that a lot of the changes that have been made have been for the better and make the schools run better. All Interviews having been concluded and there being no further business, the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. APPROVED ATTEST: f) ~ -, 9. -r~/4. Mary F. Parker City Clerk ~~~,' David A. Bowers Mayor -