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Candidates emphasize equity, the gifted‑and‑talented program and staffing trade‑offs
Summary
Forum candidates discussed equity measures, support for gifted‑and‑talented students and whether elementary schools should share principals, with several calling for targeted middle‑school interventions and data‑driven monitoring of underserved groups.
Candidates at the forum addressed equity and programs for students at both ends of the achievement spectrum, and debated whether the district should assign a principal to every elementary school.
John, a retired special‑education director, said gifted‑and‑talented work often occurs within classroom tiered instruction and noted the district’s exceeding‑expectations figures are relatively small (candidates cited roughly 5–8% in higher‑achieving bands). He said targeted classroom interventions and partnerships can help maintain services when budgets are constrained.
Chris Cook urged a data‑driven approach to equity, saying the board must “pay attention to what's going on in our schools,” measure results regularly and take feedback from teachers and parents. Several candidates pointed to a middle‑school performance “vacuum” and suggested prioritizing interventions, counselors and math supports at that level rather than adding administrative positions.
On administration, Jim Lex and John said shared principals can be economical for nearby elementary schools; Chris recommended investing any available funds into counselors and interventionists instead of additional administrative overhead. Candidates agreed the board’s role is oversight while operational concerns should be handled by the superintendent and administration.
The forum produced no formal policy decisions; candidates encouraged voters to weigh each perspective at the ballot box.
