Candidates at Kingston City School District forum emphasize literacy, budgets and transparency

At a candidate forum livestreamed by the Kingston City School District, seven candidates seeking school board seats outlined competing priorities, with repeated emphasis on improving literacy, protecting staff and students, tightening budget management and increasing transparency.

Candidates framed literacy as the foundational issue for academic recovery. "Literacy is the foundation," Rita Worthington said, urging priority for training, tutoring and early identification of struggling readers. Mike Detwiler called for preserving a dedicated reading department and ensuring teachers have the tools to deliver effective interventions. Suzanne Friedman Jordan said the district is returning to phonics and stressed that the board should ensure programs show measurable growth.

Budget pressures and fiscal sustainability were raised throughout the forum. One candidate, who opened the forum, said the district must "reimagine" how it delivers services and consider structural options such as redistricting to preserve programs like athletics, music and special education. Several candidates urged working collaboratively with the superintendent and administration to align policy and budgets so classrooms retain critical supports.

Candidates called for clearer communication and community involvement in decisions. Louisa Solomon said she would prioritize creating accessible forums and bringing community ideas into budget discussions: "We need those mechanisms for community participation in place and be a role model to the country," she said. Multiple candidates proposed regular events (coffee-and-conversation, volunteer coordination) and better public outreach so parents understand how and where decisions are made.

On investigations and independence, candidates agreed serious allegations should trigger independent, legally guided inquiries and that the board’s role should be limited to oversight. "It is important to have a truly independent third party" for high-stakes matters, Anthony Fitzpatrick said, while others warned that confidentiality and statutory procedures must be respected.

The role of technology in classrooms prompted debate over balance, equity and privacy. Louisa Solomon described ed‑tech as an equity tool but urged teaching internet safety and boundary setting. Concerns about screen time and data privacy were echoed by other candidates, who said technology should not replace in-person teacher-student interaction.

Several candidates emphasized supporting teachers amid external political pressures. Solomon urged the board to "show teachers that we have their backs" so they can stand with students; others proposed increased visibility, teacher input channels and respect for chain-of-command when addressing classroom concerns.

The forum closed with two-minute remarks reiterating each candidate’s priorities and with the moderator reminding listeners that the event was livestreamed on the Kingston City School District’s Facebook and YouTube channels. The forum did not record any formal votes or board actions; it served as a public exchange of positions ahead of the election.

The candidates and the moderator were identified in the forum as follows: Louisa Solomon (candidate), Mike Detwiler (candidate), Suzanne Friedman Jordan (candidate), Rita Worthington (candidate), Anthony Fitzpatrick (candidate), and additional candidates who spoke during the forum. One speaker was introduced by the moderator with inconsistent name references in the transcript; the speaker’s statements are reported here without a personal name attribution to avoid misidentification. The district’s livestream presence and the candidates’ emphasis on transparency were recurring themes in the discussion.