Tonight’s HUSD governing board candidate forum preview
I decided to post the pool of questions in the queue for tonight’s HUSD governing board candidate forum and my initial thoughts. The forum will be held at the Higley High School center for the performing arts at 7:00 pm.
There are a few odd questions this time around that had me scratching my head at first. I discovered a few days ago that most or all of the questions were written by students so that helped explain things a bit. Here are the questions we received and some of my thoughts in response:
1) As of October 21st, Higley is still trying to hire a high school math teacher and has multiple openings for special education teachers. How will you specifically address the problem of not just finding qualified candidates for these positions, but hiring great teachers and retaining them in HUSD?
It is not the job of the school board to find, interview, and make offers to teachers and staff members. There are plenty of full-time administrators with nice big salaries that we pay to do that. As I understand it, the governing board approves or disapproves the candidates that the administration presents for hiring. I do think it is the job of the board to represent the desires and interests of the public and oversee the administrators in the job they are doing. I believe that by demanding that the top administration create an enticing work environment at HUSD we will be better able to attract and retain top quality teachers.
2) Is there something HUSD differently than other school districts to attract the best candidates?
I think HUSD has a lot of things going for it that could and should be attractive to talented teachers and administrators. We have a young, vibrant, and educated pool of families living within our district boundaries. I have seen evidence that we have many quality teachers living in HUSD boundaries that are currently working for other districts. Because our housing prices are generally lower than the prices in places like Chandler I think we have the advantage of being closer to the homes of many teachers than some districts. My take is that as the image and culture and morale of teachers and staff in HUSD improves we will be able to entice more and more talented people who would prefer to work closer to their homes than to commute out to Chandler or Mesa or wherever.
3) The candidates identified 4 major issues in HUSD. They were (1) Communication, (2) Teacher retention, (3) Leadership at the building and district level, and (4) public perception. How would you address and solve these 4 issues.
I think these issues are all part of an overall single issue. I think the solutions to all of them start at the top. The overall culture must flow from the board and the superintendents down through the staff. As communications increases and faith in leadership increases the public perception and teacher retention will automatically improve. I think it is the responsibility of the superintendent and assistant superintendents to drive these cultural changes and it is the responsibility of the board to ensure they do just that.
4) After you implement a change within the district, how do you plan to follow up and monitor that change?
The board can only do so much. As I mentioned, the board is composed of five unpaid volunteers who oversee the well-paid full time district management. The most extreme thing the board can do is hire and fire a superintendent. Short of that the board can mostly apply pressure on the superintendent to carry out the wishes of the public.
5) How are you going to affect the students and let them know you are working for students and supporting them?
Mostly I plan to leave my proverbial door open all the time for input. I will continue to run Higley Schools Blog if I am elected and continue to elicit feedback from anyone interested in giving it — including from students. That feedback will be important input into my decision making.
6) Do you support the HUSD Override election? What have you personally done to promote the override election?
Absolutely. Type in anything related to Higley Schools in Google and you will see my blog on page one with numerous plugs to vote YES on the override. I have received more than 500 visits in the last three weeks alone and the traffic is increasing as the election approaches.
7) The residents of the Higley Unified School District are being asked to renew the budget override in this election. While many would agree that fully funding our school is a necessity, others would argue that funds are mismanaged, and that there needs to be more responsibility and transparency in how the money is spent. What would you do as a member of the Board to ensure that the money is spent responsibly?
I think this gets directly back to the communications issue. As we are very transparent about where the money is being spent and how it is being spent we can assuage the fears of the public about waste. I plan to use my blog to point out where the public records can be found and explain whatever details I can if I am elected.
8 ) While budgets are admittedly tight, as one travels from school to school there are glaring inconsistencies in the school sites. A good example would be the disparity between WFHS and HHS. While WFHS has new computers and proxima projectors in each room, HHS is working with old computers and no proximas. What would you do as a member of the board to ensure equity between all of the schools, both elementary and secondary?
I’m not sure this is something the board would get directly involved in. If there are complaints from HUSD stakeholders that make sense we would apply pressure on the district administration to at least fully explain, and hopefully rectify any unfair practices in the district.
9) What do you feel are you roles and responsibilities as a board member and what is your responsibilty to students, staff, parents and district staff?
I think my responsibility would be to represent the will of the stakeholders in HUSD. That would likely include making sure that the voices of the people carry great sway in the important decisions made in the district. Further, it would include making sure that as many of the facts as possible are being shared and communicated to all stakeholders when differences of opinions arise concerning district decisions. Obviously not everyone will be happy with every decision, but I do think the board acts as a proxy for the people to ensure that district management is not making all decisions unilaterally or in opposition to the will of the majority of stakeholders.
MJ:
I attended the forum tonight and was impressed with most of the candidates’ intrest and passion to make a positive difference in our school district. They deserve to be applauded for volunteering their time and effort for the sake of our community.
Geoff- wants accountability at the top. He wants better choices made for our kids, and wants to see our top leaders working for the 6 figure salaries we pay them. He also rallies for improving morale at our sites! He welcomes comments and ideas from our teachers and staff, and he will use our insight to guide his vote for board issues.
Greg- like Geoff, he wants accountability from our district leaders (especially when it comes to they way we spend money). He wants better decisions made for our kids and for our district in general! He too welcomes our imput.
Taunya- plans to jump in head first, visiting our schools, and speaking with our staff (without admin present). She plans to be fully informed before voting on board issues and approving the spending of distict money.
Paul- wants our district to be known for it’s positives instead of it’s negatives. He wants to improve communication with our community to ensure that decisions being made are actually helping our kids.
Denise- will continue doing what shes doing now. She thinks that HUSD spends the budget money wisely. She advocates teacher professional development. She hasn’t heard that morale at our sites is low, and has never had a teacher express concern to her. She thinks that we currently have exceptional district leadership.
Good luck! We anxiously await the voting results.
October 28, 2008, 10:01 pmGeoff Johnston:
Nice review MJ. After the forums my take on the candidates hasn’t really changed since I wrote on that subject a few weeks ago: http://www.higleyschoolsblog.com/my-take-on-the-candidates-for-the-higley-school-board/
October 28, 2008, 10:07 pmKatie:
MJ, thanks for the breakdown on the meeting. It sounds like there were some very important topics covered. I do have to say I am shocked to hear that Ms. Standage claims she is unaware of any morale issues or teacher concerns. I have seen her present at board meetings and there are ALWAYS issues that come up. Unless she is in a trance while attending, how can she not be aware? That alone is reason enough for her to not get my vote. I will be voting for those that have children attending our schools and those that HAVE A PLAN to make positive chance in our district for OUR CHILDREN! I want to know that if I have a concern, someone is going to be willing to not only listen, but actually hear what I am saying. I want to know that if my childrens teachers have an issue they too have a safe place to go to speak without having to fear for their job. I want to know where the money is going, but more important, I want to know that it is benefiting the children in the classroom, not someones padded salary for a vacation home, travel etc. Our district seemed to be better with less directors and more people with a heart.
A perfect example is that I have called the school district on MANY occasions lately. I have a child in the preschool program. I have to get transfered to several departments and nobody seems to know who exactly it is that can answer the questions. The teachers say one person, the school secretaries give another name and the district office directs me to another, which goes to voicemail. NOONE seems to know who is in charge. How am I to feel safe if they cant even do that much correctly? I can count on one thing, they know how to reach me when tuition is past due. In fact even that was a joke. I had to receive 2 separate letters telling me who to call or where to go to pay, but the wise person that wrote the letter neglected to tell me how much to pay. Then I find out the person that is listed on the letter is not even the person that wrote it.
Let’s start holding people accountable! Let’s make a change and have our voices heard! Vote smart. Vote for a change!
October 28, 2008, 10:24 pmChristopher:
I was one of the parents/voters who attended this forum tonight. I can say it was pretty interesting.
I liked the part where Denise corrected Greg & Geoff about the budget issue. But the more I heard Denise talk, it was like listening to her doing this big cover up for the district top administrators. I have to agree with the other fellow blogger. I can not believe she would comment on that she never had any knowledge that there were some teachers who would like to talk to the school board about some issues. Come on Denise I myself have attended some board meetings and have read articles in the newspaper about teachers commenting on several issues. Not only from teachers but from our school nurses!
Greg needs to do his research on Special Ed students and classrooms. What he was discussing was totally wrong information! What’s the main reason Greg wants to come back to become a board member. I don’t know or ever heard of Greg before this forum, besides seeing some signs with his name on them. But the feeling I get from this candadate is he is shady. Like you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
All of the candadates were talking about culture, they want to see more culture in the district. Since we moved out here to Higley district, I have never seen any type of culture. Where your hispanics, blacks, and chinese? Wheres your diversity? I am so ashmed to say I am from Gilbert at times because this is such a mormon white community. Even my children have seen this effect. The first question that my children were asked are you white or hispanic? Are you mormon or catholic? And my children are High school age… I was so shocked when they came home their first day of school here in Higley district.
So I do believe in CHANGE! We need CHANGE in this community and district.
I am a hispanic parent with a 2 Masters one in Business Administration & the other in Criminal Justice. Retired last year from the military after serving 20 yrs. While in the military I worked closely with Troops to Teachers. I’m sad to say at this time I would not recommend for any ex-military going through the Troops to Teachers to even apply for this district or even anyone to move into this district.
October 29, 2008, 12:23 amGeoff Johnston:
Christopher,
Denise tried to score points on Greg by claiming she had known about the budget for months before that last meeting. Then she went and admitted she couldn’t comprehend any of the budget anyway. I thought that was a major gaffe on her part.
I happen to know Greg and can assure you he is not “shady” if that makes you feel better. I don’t think any of the candidates are shady. I just think one is in the pocket of current administration and the others aren’t.
And you appear to not have understood what we meant by “culture” in the forum. What we were talking about was the social atmosphere and social climate in the district; we were talking about the work environment for staff and teachers. Many current and former staff have told me they feel or have felt bullied and intimidated at times at work. Others tell stories of having been severely under-supported. That is the work environment or culture that we want to see changed.
Look, we can’t control who buys homes in our district boundaries. We certainly can’t control their ethnicity or religion. If change in the racial or religious makeup of our community is the type of change you are seeking you are out of luck.
October 29, 2008, 8:20 amMJ:
Hi again
Christopher, I have to disagree with you on Mr. Land being a shady character. I remember when he was on the board a few years ago, and I didn’t see a lot of action at the time (but then again I wasn’t as involved as I am now). However, I have spoken with Greg on serveral occasions- both in public, and in 1 on 1 conversations, and I feel he is truely an advocate for our kids!
He has admitted there are things that he would do differntly this term from his previous term. For instance- he would question administrators more (especially regarding budget issues) unlike Ms. Standage who just accepts what is presented to her without asking the hard questions and asking for proof and demanding accountability. Greg also plans to be more open to the concerns of the employees (which he started even before the current campaign began).
On the subject of Ms. Standage and the budget…she did admit that she was “not an accountant” and did not understand the budget in detail, but was shown in graphs and pie charts how it all worked out. Anyone who has taken a stats class can tell you that stats can be made to show any intended result. I do not think she should have claimed that the other candidates were “misinformed”. In my opinion, it is just the contrary. The other candidates are trying to see through what is presented to the public and get actuall information, while she is just eating up that which is handed to her.
Greg made a good point by saying that she gets her information from only 1 source, and that source is HUSD (which has been all over the news for frivilous spending). One information source makes for a biased and uneducated point of view. Ms. Standage claims to be a supporter of the teachers by getting them the professional development they need. That is great and all, but has she talked to any teachers? I think they would tell her that their most important needs are things like classroom supplies, having classroom aides for special needs students, and being supported from administrators.
Geoff wants to shine a spotlight on the handling of the districts’ money and I think that is a great thing! I want to know that my tax dollars are going toward my kids. Also, check out other districts’ websites who have their budgets online. Why should community members need to ask for that information and then have to wait a week to get it? If it is there for all to see, then maybe more community members would take an intrest in our schools.
And thanks to Taunya who proudly said that she was going to fully examine where every budget dollar was going before voting that it be spent (including employee contracts). Had the current board done that in the past- as Ms. Anderson tries to do- maybe HUSD would not be in the mess it is in now.
Kudos to the candidates who realize there is a morale (culture) problem in our district. I know that those who work in HUSD have talked to Greg, Paul, Geoff, and Taunya about their concerns because they trusted these candidates, and I know that the employees support these candidates. People only confide in those they trust, that may be why certain candidates are unaware of the lack of trust and integrity that exisits.
One final note (sorry, I have a lot to say), I appreciate that Paul, Taunya, Greg, and Geoff seem to share ideas on how to improve the district. These candidates could easily work as a team and come up with solutions to our problems. At least they did not sit on the panel last night shaking their heads and rolling their eyes as the others spoke. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but please act professionally when in public and representing our district.
October 29, 2008, 5:08 pmKatie:
MJ, I had mentioned that I was not able to make last nights meeting, and I thoroughly appreciate your openess to share your thoughts. It appears that you are seeing things that many are. I spoke to others that were there last night and among many things mentioned, it seems you were not the only one to see a candidate rolling their eyes while others spoke. Not only did I find that appauling, and rude, but obnoxious, unprofessional and immature. Another thing that was mentioned to me was that Ms. Standage tried to win people over with her “quiltlike” speech and even was able to produce tears to go with it. I only wish she had the same passion for our children as I am told she did to accompany her story. The peices of fabric all fit together for a reason, they are measured, cut and placed together to form a perfect quilt. Our district deserves the same, a board that is measured up, and placed together to form the perfect board. For that, I don’t need a degree in quiltmaking or a major in home economics, I simply need an open mind and the ability to see what is wrong, the knowledge to know there is a change needed and the chance to make my concerns heard.
October 29, 2008, 9:24 pmGreg Land:
Thank you to everyone for attending the forum and for your support and encouraging comments. I also would like to thank everyone that is trying to become more informed to make an educated decision on their ballot.
Christopher, I would like to thank you for your service and for getting involved, I strongly support both. I am sorry you are not comfortable with me and I would be glad to meet / talk with you. info@vote4gregland.com or home # 480 988-2674. If anyone has questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I have been involved in the district since 2001, my kids attend Chaparral Elementary and I have been a strong supporter of the district students and employees and their programs. I won’t bore everyone with my bio, but please believe me when I say I care about our students, staff and community.
I have been a strong supporter of athletics, academics and special education. I worked with previous special education directors and teachers. Until a few months ago, I was only aware of the tip of the iceberg when it came to problems in our special education department. I have been talking and meeting with current and previous special education teachers, meeting with parents and students and have even sat in on some IEP meetings. I have been involved with the parent support group PACHUSD@cox.net. It is appalling what these families have to go through to get the minimum legally required services. And many of the students still are not getting the services they need and deserve. We are degrading the educational experience and success for both special education and general education students by not providing enough support in the classrooms. We have lost multiple special education teachers and school counselors due to the hostile work environment and lack of support, including another from Higley High in the last two weeks.
I believe and try to teach my kids that integrity takes a lifetime to build and an instant to lose. I want to build cooperative and collaborative groups to help make positive changes in the district but there is no “you scratch my back & I’ll scratch yours”.
The last two years our % of each dollar that has made it into the classrooms has been decreasing. The most current numbers are from 2007 which will not reflect a lot of the recently added administration positions. We need to look at how top heavy we are in this district. It appears we have too many Generals and not enough Sergeants and Privates.
Again I will ask everyone to vote for the override. This will only maintain the current funding level, our district needs more funding, not less.
As we get near the end of the year, please also make the tax credit donations our schools. This is a great way to support the programs / schools of your choice and it is basically free (or reimbursed). The money goes directly to the schools without the State taking a percentage. Please help me push to get the district to stay open on 12/31/08. Chandler schools took in $1.8 million by staying open and passing out tamales. I had family members go by our district office only to find it locked up, no one home. How much money did we pass up?
Greg Land
October 30, 2008, 11:47 pmKelly:
Mr. Land,
December 7, 2008, 12:31 amI dont understand how the district would profit on staying open additional days? Parents know that there is a deadline for tax credit donations. I dont think parents would mind that the district did not stay open during these additional days. I came from district that thought about different ways to save the district money by not being open when it wasn’t necessary. We would save thousands of dollars in utilities. I recall so many times that HUSD was open to the public and only 1 or 2 people were in the building. Everyone else either took their vacation time or were scheduled off that time. How much did that cost the district? And what the heck did passing out tamales come into the picture??? Is the district suppose to make tamales and sell them to the public or something? Where are you on this day as a board member? Are any of the board members offering their services during these 2 weeks for christmas break or new years break? You commented about Fridays that there was hardly any cars in the parking lot. I think that only occurs during the summer hours. Staff is asked to work Monday thru Thursday 10 hour days so the district can be closed on Fridays. This is one great way the district saves money on their utilities! But one bad thing about this is that the only staff that works the 10 hours is the support staff (clerical staff). Administrators come and go as they please as long as they put in their 8 hours. That is when salary comes into the picture. Administrators at times are confussed about salary & hourly. When they have to only put in their 8 hours their salary but when they have to work over the 8 hours then all of a sudden they want to become hourly or want to get comp time for anything over 8 hours. Payroll tries to explain this several times but all of a sudden flex time comes into the picture of salaried employees again. Flex time is something like comp time.
Peggy:
So, Kelly is an employee who really wants her time off at the holidays? (and one of the employees who is worried that the new board will demand changes to the shady practices in HUSD.)
HUSD would save money on utilities if the entire office was shut down for a day- but the climate control still runs at full force, computers are all plugged in, and for employees that do go to work- lights come on, as do PCs.
And it was the administrations’ decision to stay open for tax credit donations (since HUSD doesn’t let parents choose where their money goes, all the easier for it to go right into the Administrators pockets). I don’t think Mr. Land had any say in this. Mr. Land though, was relaying the fact that CUSD did have tamales on the days that their district was open for donations, and the amount of money that was raised.
I think Greg’s comment about time off was in consideration to all the Administrators’ perks. The administrators already get 15-23 days of vacation each year PLUS spring and winter breaks. SO tax payers are giving a dozen plus employees over a month of vacation? Maybe the administrators should be the ones manning the office these additional days. I hope board members are not going to be at the office during the holiday. They already have FT jobs, and being part of the board is a volunteer task- one for which the community voted them. We should be thankful that the board is pushing for over rides and donations,so our kids can get some of what they need.
I am confused by this sentance..what are you saying?
December 7, 2008, 3:26 pm“When they have to only put in their 8 hours their salary….”
If you are saying- Administrators put in 8 hours days and THEY ARE salary, but when it comes to 10 hour days they want to be hourly…
I highly doubt that. Administrator payscale is quite different from all the other payscales. Read the blog that talks about all their benefits and other perks. That is what gets me, as a tax payer, the most. No one that works for the state needs a $200,000 life insurance policy, gas expense (especially when HUSD’s boundaries cover a 25 square mile radius!), med benefits or option for cash out….great use of our voted over ride money. That is perhaps why it only passed by 2% of the vote.