THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604230548
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION 96
PART 2: THE ISSUES: VIRGINIA BEACH
LENGTH: Long : 1311 lines
1. Schools are being asked to take on more responsibility for the social and emotional needs of children. Do you support this direction? Why? If not, when would you limit it?
2. Should the school system's role be expanded in youth and family services, such as parenting classes and midnight basketball leagues? What types of services would you add? If opposed, why?
3. How would you help the general community assume more of a role in helping children prepare for the future? If opposed, why?
4. How do you plan to maintain contact with citizens after the election so you'll know what they want and they'll know what you're accomplishing? AT-LARGE CANDIDATES, 2-YEAR TERM (CHOOSE 1)
Daniel D. Edwards
1. The responsibility of public schools for the social and emotional needs of children should be limited to those that directly tie to the educational process. It is appropriate for health and physical education classes to include such topics as stress and basic coping skills in addition to family life. However, schools should not be staffed to handle full-scale work or treatment of either physical or mental heath problems.
2. School responsibilities should not be expanded into such nontraditional roles as family services or community recreation. It is, however, very appropriate for schools to offer after-school intramural sports programs.
3. The growth of single-parent and dual working-parent households has created a need for more community-based assistance for our young people. Although the schools are in a natural position to assume some of these duties, it should be resisted unless the citizens specifically change the mission and resources available to the schools to do this. Migration of these into the schools without a clear-cut mandate and budget adjustment will only dilute the school's current education mission.
4. Maintaining contact with all of my at-large constituents after the election will be very important. I will attend PTA meetings and visit with parent and community volunteers at schools throughout the city. I will also visit with civic groups to get regular input from the majority of our citizens who are not directly connected with the schools. I will also publish my phone and fax numbers and my e-mail address and ask citizens to contact me directly on any concern.
James A. Grace
1. There is not enough money in Virginia Beach to make the school system a surrogate parenting organization. I want to tighten up the educational process, not dilute it with costly social engineering programs. Perhaps the parents could take their kids to the church of their choice instead.
2. I could support supervised facility use, funded by the using activity. The facilies are, after all, public property. My educational priorities would not tend to support School Board funding of services and staff not directly contributing to the 3 R's.
3. I would like to expand on the work co-op programs in high school now. Co-op opportunities in fields of art, music, journalism, general labor and other experiences might benefit some kids in opening their eyes, or exploring the realities of their fields of interest. It might offer an alternative to expensive magnet school programs in some cases.
4. A write-in column in the Beacon, twice a month, would be a novel approach. Public appearances at PTA meetings with the concerned parents would be another useful feature. Phone calls and post card responses as budgets allow works well, too. It may take a while for the right mix for me to evolve.
Michael Moore
1. Children spend most active hours at school. They socialize and interact with peers and adults. Some responsibility should rest with the schools. To what extent we want to carry that would be limited by time, state guidelines, etc. Teachers help students function in the classroom, to work collaboratively and to get along; those are important social issues. We want them to behave in school and apply it in the community. The learning process is not limited to academic areas.
2. Being employed by the Department of Youth and Family Services, I know how important it is to provide parents and students with the opportunity to experience sound relationships with one another. Schools have always been used as meeting places. Facilities can be made available that are safe and healthy environments. STEP classes have been taught in the schools by counselors for years. These types of endeavors should be expanded to include 1.) parent/child nurturing program; 2) family fun activities; 3) sports activities. Most schools are currently involved in the provision of these services.
3. ``It takes a community to raise a child,'' someone once said. We have overlooked this for many years. Children are an investment from which everyone profits. Adopt-A-School partners bring the community into the school directly by providing services as well as volunteers. We have yet to take advantage of the thousands of retired individuals who could add so much toward meeting the needs of children. I would encourage the PTA to stress the recruitment of volunteers as a means of contributing to the enrichment and future success of our children. I would also support the use of staff to form ``community involvement teams'' such as the one at Landstown Middle School, within each school, that would recruit volunteers and deal with community issues.
4. It is my intent to attend PTA meetings throughout the city seeking input from citizens and discussing School Board issues. I would also like to arrange quarterly town meetings in conjunction with other board members for the dissemination of information and to hear comments.
Michael P. Nagelin
1. A teacher's primary responsibility should be to teach students. I support programs which directly relate to a student's ability to effectively learn and which reduce classroom distractions for the teachers and other students. Any programs which do not directly assist the teacher in this endeavor should be handled by trained counselors or therapists outside of the classroom.
2. Youth and family service programs are a vital part of our city's ability to provide for its residents. When the school board identifies the need for a program, it should coordinate the program with the city's Family-Youth Services and Recreation departments. Tax dollars can be saved by combining the knowledge, experience and training of the city's experts with the school system's facilities. The board should not use critically needed education funds to duplicate the services or assume the responsibility of other city departments.
3. I would like to see increased community involvement at all levels of the education process. This includes parental involvment at the schools and board meetings and increased business/school teaming. Representatives of the private and public sectors of our local economy (including professional athletes) should be encouraged to visit the schools and invite students into the job site to see and experience the work environment and learn the importance of completing school before entering the workforce.
4. I intend to stay accessible to the public by a variety of means. Attendance at civic and school events will give citizens an excellent opportunity for direct personal access to have their views heard. If somebody cares enough to call me, I care enough to return their call. I am available most hours of the day and evenings via my home and office telephones, voice mail pager and fax machine. All of these methods will continue to be available to the public.
Raymond A. Newlon
1. We need to establish guidelines and limitations as to the school system's involvement. The school system should provide the best affordable education to the children. Because the social and emotional needs of the children can affect their ability to learn, we need to limit our involvement to a relationship concerning the educational needs of the child. There are social services and agencies better qualified to assist beyond what limitations we may set and we should be knowledgeable in being able to pass this information along.
2. The school system has extracurricular activity programs in place, and there may be areas where more could be added or expanded. My biggest concern is where will we receive funding for programs as you suggest. We would need to expand our volunteer base and community involvement so that it will not be a burden on the primary function of the school system, which is to educate the children. This or similar programs could be handled directly by the recreational centers and be provided by the city, not the school system.
3. We could do this by making them more knowledgeable in the role they could play. Business and community leaders could have lecture series with students, and volunteers could be used in other needed areas such as remedial studies. We should be ready to use any and all resources which may be available to us.
4. I would be elected by the citizens of Virginia Beach and I would therefore be responsible to them. This responsibility means being available by returning calls, returning correspondence and meeting with various groups throughout the year, not just election years. Citizens already have the means of addressing the board, and when they have concerns they should exercise this means of communication. I plan to get out and about, as I enjoy the town meeting concept and talking to individuals about what concerns them.
Kenneth R. Sigmon
1. I believe these needs must be addressed, but only to the extent necessary to allow the students to develop a basic set of personal qualities and interpersonal skills. Personal qualities such as responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty. Interpersonal skills such as teamwork, teaching others, leadership, negotiation and working with diversity.
2. No, the school system's role in these services should not be expanded. Our school resources are too limited and need to be applied toward those activities which will prepare our students for higher education or for the workplace.
3. The general community can help through the expansion of our Partners-In-Education programs. Expanding our partnerships with businesses, community organizations, volunteer organizations, military units, trade schools, colleges and universities. There are also tremendous numbers of individual volunteers in our commuity who are just waiting to be asked and/or provided with some organization and direction.
4. During my term on the School Board I will maintain a high level of visibility in our schools and with our Parent Teacher Associations. I will insist that through our board, actions the citizens will always be kept informed through open and honest communications of the decision-making process. I will also be accessible and visible in the community.
Louis R. Soscia
1. No. I believe that the school should bring the parents into this remedial process, together with professionals in these areas. The parents should have the primary responsibility in the treatment of their children but with the guidance of the school. Let's not have the school take away this responsibility from the parents (or parent).
2. The school system's role in certain services could be either expanded or contracted, depending upon the seriousness of the problem (whether there is one). If the teenage pregnancy rate is a problem within the school system, then parenting classes are a must. The pregnant teenager could be encouraged to graduate high school and also at the same time to learn the skills of motherhood. The other services mentioned in your question, midnight basketball, could be formed in high-crime areas. I don't think that this form of youth service is appropriate for most of the Virginia Beach areas. However, where there are such negative areas (street gangs, high dropout rates, high crime, etc.), midnight basketball could be a positive factor.
3 In helping children to prepare for the future, the school cannot assume this very serious responsibility by itself. The parents must be involved!! How?? As a member of the School Board, I would encourage parents' participation in PTA meetings; parents meeting with the children's guidance counselors; getting children involved in real-life community acitivities; getting the business community involved in working with the school and children.
4) Maintaining contact with Virginia Beach citizenry could be accomplished through: 1) attending PTA meetings, 2) Through civic league meetings 3) Through the newspaper, i.e. letters to the editor, interviews, etc.
Claude R. ``Okie'' Thompson
1. I believe teachers and counselors are very efffective in finding at-risk students and determining the cause of the problems the student faces, whether they are physical, mental or social. The physical and mental problems can be solved by the school system in conjunction with the parents within the scope of the special education program. Those family situations which can be remedied by conferences at the school between parents, teachers and counselors I believe are appropriate within the school system.
2. Currently, the superintendent is responsible for the education, transportation, safety, feeding, sports programs, intramural programs, after school clubs, sports events, musical programs and theater presentations for 76,000 students. In addition, there are before-school and after-school activities for students whose parents are otherwise occupied. If school buildings and grounds are to be used for community services such as youth programs or basketball leagues, those services should be managed by Parks and Recreation and kept separate from educational programs. In the future we should consider designing receational facilities near schools for their use for student education and activities - at all other times such places could be used by the community.
3. I think the community's highest priority for child development is to provide a safe, friendly and drug-free environment with adequate play areas in their neighborhoods. During the school year I would encourage greater involvement of the general public in school activities. This would include attendance at sports events, musical activities, theater programs and involvement in local school advisory committees.
4. I plan to maintain contact with the citizens by attending and speaking to parent teacher associations, civic associations, professional and business groups. In addition I hope the media will continue to provide the support the school system has received in the past.
A.A. ``Al'' Wallace
1. Yes, for the following reasons: Students need to be ready for school upon entering elementary schools; There is an increasing number of neglected students. We have heard of the latchkey children of the '80s and now independent student of the '90s. Economical degradation of families has caused both parents to work, exacerbating the latchkey and day-care syndrome, which in many cases leads to aggressive and angry child behavior. There are successful programs currently at school that address at-risk children. With the growing trend of single-parent families, there needs to be programs to ``educate'' young children so they are ready to start and finish school.
2. I support expanding the school's role in family services such as parenting classes, but not midnight basketball leagues. Basketball or any other sport should be the responsibility of the city's Recreational Department. However, I do support augmenting this effort if the recreation centers become overcrowded or inaccessible for sections of the community.
3. Utilize the business community to establish new forms of current sponsorships and partnerships. Activities that involve students in ``reality'' can be an important factor in helping students become more self-motivated. It is too costly for the city to fund the many programs used to help at-risk children. I will also expand the role of volunteers in the intervention programs at the elementary schools. No student should fall through the cracks.
4. I intend to establish volunteer mini school boards in the city boroughs to provide a ``town hall'' atmosphere for open discussions on problems, issues and ideas. I desire citizens to become more involved in the shared decision making process. For example, standardizing the school bell day (schools have variations of block schedule, eight-bell, zero-bell, and standard bell school day).
Gail A. Ball
1. I do not support this direction. Test scores from school districts around Virginia show that many districts cannot even get more than 80 percent of their students to pass basic skills tests. It would be unreasonable to pile more responsibility onto teachers and administrators. The elementary school teacher, for instance, in addition to all of her other responsibilities should not be the one to handle these types of problems. The extent of teacher or school involvement should be the requirement for teachers to report suspected cases of problems to the Department of Social Services and let them investigate and solve the problems.
2. The school system's role should not be expanded. I do not want the School Board to set up and referee midnight basketball leagues (shouldn't students be at home getting their needed rest for the next day of rigorous study?) or be in charge of developing the curriculum for parenting classes. Again, we have to master the tasks we have already given the school system before we start adding more responsibilities.
3. I will use my position as a member of the School Board to reinforce the message that the children's first teachers are their parents and their first classroom is their home. The ``community'' as such is not responsible for making sure children are ready for school; the children's parents are. Virginia Beach is fortunate in that the community currently supports the school system. I will work to rebuild their trust in the School Board.
4. The School Board should rotate the meetings around the city, rather than having all meetings down at the municipal complex. Only by going to the schools in each of the neighborhoods will we better learn what the students, parents and teachers are thinking and be accountable to their concerns.
Donald F. Bennis
1. Ideally, schools and teachers should be concentrating on instruction that emphasizes the basics through an enhanced curriculum that raises student achievement. But in today's society, we find it necessary to address social and emotional needs, particularly with regard to student responsibility, respect for others and student discipline.
2. School Board regulations already allow for the use of school facilities by recreational leagues, Scouts, religious groups and community groups. I support these uses and other uses such as parenting classes and after-school programs, whether privately or publicly sponsored, but I do not believe the school system should be responsible for administering or funding these programs.
3. We need more businesses, community groups, parents, civic organizations, retirees and volunteers to form partnerships with the schools to assist in tutoring, after-school programs, mentoring and donations of needed equipment. The entire community benefits from a quality school system.
4. I would continue to be available to teachers, students, parents and community leaders as I have been for the past year by visiting schools, attending civic meetings, responding to letters and returning phone calls.
Patricia L. Burns
1. No, I feel parents should be responsible for the social and emotional needs of their children. However, I do believe in a team approach with the schools, involving teachers, students and parents working together for the educational benefit of the student. Often it is the school that may first notice a possible problem, emotionally or socially, which can be shared with the parent and working together resolve it.
2. The schools are excellent resources and offer many programs. Parenting classes are already offered which I attended when my children were in elementary school, and I strongly recommend them. I feel the schools right now have spread themselves thin with all they are doing and I do not support that the school's role be expanded in family services or midnight basketball leagues.
3. The school system started this back when I was PTA president at Independence Junior High with the adopt a school program encouraging the community to get involved with them positively. Encouraging student involvement in these businesses after school and in the summer would be an excellent way to expose children to the real world. Also encouraging the community to invest in their young people, offering summer jobs or setting up workshops, would be another way. The schools also hold career days and have parents come in and talk about their jobs.
4. In any job I have ever had, salaried or volunteered, I have had an open-door policy, being available and accessible for whoever needed to see or talk to me. I have no problem being available to the public since I feel I am representing them in this School Board position and welcome their input.
Charles D. (Don) Clark
1. Our public school system cannot and should not be responsible for the social and emotional needs of a child beyond that which is conducive to good order and discipline in the classroom. We cannot make up for the failure of parents. We attempt to do so at the risk of becoming a socialist society. That did not work in the Soviet Union and will not work for us. I believe such programs must be limited to teaching our children teamwork, cooperation, mutual respect for others and acceptable conduct within the school environment.
2. I would support the implementation of parenting classes for both male and female students. This is one area that may very well help our children realize what a great responsibility parenting is. I am not opposed to midnight basketball as a measure in combating some of the problems we face today, as long as it is well-supervised. I would suggest at least attempting to get parents involved in coaching and supervision where possible. Also, I would like to see greater cooperation by the business community in offering jobs for teens. If a business takes from the community we should give something back. Also, I believe every business owner should act as an adviser to any teen seeking them out, help them locate after-school and summer employment, and act as a business counselor.
3. By implementing my suggestion that business leaders become youth business counselors in cooperation with a school guidance counselor. Take a leadership role instead of being asked first. Become an adviser to a child who may not have a parent capable of advising them. Also, I intend to seek out the leaders of our community and develop a plan for an education summit where the public can come and have their voices heard.
4. By publishing the voting results of the board members. Demanding that all meetings be open to the public with the exception of those meetings where specific personnel problems preclude open discussion. By implementing a ``Hot Line'' similar to the Crime Line, where the public could address specific problems, recognition and any thoughts they may have without fear of retribution for themselves or their children, and answering all calls in a timely manner. By making myself available for civic league and other group meetings and by being accessible to the public.
George T. Coker
1. The primary purpose of the School Board is to provide quality education for all of our chidlren. We have many special programs to provide for the various needs of our children including social and emotional support. There is certainly room for improvement, but we must be careful to stay within the scope of the School Board. Some of the proposals fall under Social Services or the Recreation Department and should be addressed through the City Council. The School Board should definitely support the City Council.
2. Concerning youth and family services, such as parenting classes and midnight basketball, this once again may fall outside the scope of the School Board. The school facilities are obviously underused and should be made available for other functions and activities. I support these ideas and if the City Council passes responsibility to the School Board, then we can take action on these programs. However, the lines of authority and responsibility must be clear because we can take action on these programs. However, the lines of authority and responsibility must be clear because we do not need the School Board competing with the City Council as an alternative or secondary city government.
3. The No. 1 way for the general community to help children prepare for the future is to become involved. All of us deal with children on a daily basis, not just in school and at home, but also around our neighborhood, at the Little League games, and shopping in our stores. We must remember that we are a role model in our every action that children see. Parents need to be more involved at schools. The School Board must assure the parents that their inputs and concerns are listened to and that they can make a difference.
4. I will continue doing what I have been doing as a leader in my civic league , but I will do so citywide. I will meet with PTAs and other community organizations in order to have an open exchange of ideas and information. It is important to remember that while parents and teachers are at the bottom of the school system's administrative chain, they are at the top of the citizen chain. The School Board works for the citizens. We must not forget that we are the servant of the citizens, not the other way around. AT-LARGE CANDIDATES, 4-YEAR TERM (CHOOSE 2)
Stuart R. Gordon
1.) Schools do best at imparting knowledge to its students. When the family fails at meeting the social and emotional needs of the child, the school should not assume the responsibility but should enlist the various resources available in the city. The schools must be centers of learning, while cooperating with other city programs to meet the emotional and social needs of the child.
2.) The physical facilities of the school should be made available for these programs to create social centers for the community. While the schools may coordinate the use of its facilities, they should not assume responsibility. Social services, PTA, parent groups and sports organizations can make the schools centers for community activities without creating additional burdens for the school. A recent example is Better Bayside.
3.) I would encourage a private and public partnership and bring into schools private resources which would make relevant for the students the transition from school to the work force. Private enterprise has much to gain from an educated and skilled work force and must be encouraged to participate.
4.) I would encourage: community newsletter, focus groups, polling, periodic citizen meetings in the community.
Robert C. Mandigo
1.) No, but I recognize why schools are being asked to do more. The media reports: more single-parent households than ever, surviving two-parent households having two bread-winners, children bearing children and isolation from our neighbors. Since most children attend public schools, the schools are where we find the effects. We hire teachers to teach, but many have become counselors. Many are emotionally drained from involvement in relationships they were not trained or hired to perform. We are asking too much of them. We must encourage and help parents re-assume responsibility for their children. Our children must respect life and property, and become responsible citizens or we will lose our heritage and our future.
2.) No, the City of Virginia Beach is the better choice for any expanded role in youth and family services. The school system can meet its mission by building student self-esteem and civic pride through learning achievement and participation in extracurricular activities. This issue begs for coordinated volunteer involvement by community organizations and individuals. This coordination is not a public school function. It may be funded through the city budget.
3.) We ought to better integrate community resources into the middle and high school curricula. Existing VIE and Adopt-a-School ought to be better coordinated and expanded, perhaps through a central office clearinghouse. The clearinghouse would maintain the catalog of individual and organization volunteers, talents and skills, availability and preferred service locations. These volunteers are the parents, neighbors and employers who make our city the wonderful place to live and work that it is. They share their perspectives, experiences, values, morals and ethics with students not available in the normal classroom.
4.) Visits to schools, organizations, visits promoting the school system's achievements to local organizations, School Board articles in "Apple-a-Day," informal one-on-one conversations.
John Mason
1) I do not support expanding the role of schools to support the emotional needs of students. Teachers are not trained and should not be expected to support the emotional needs of students. The school year and school day is not adequate time for such an endeavor. As far as the role of schools toward the child's social needs, I believe that is part of the school function. I believe social skills are necessary for the students' success as adults. I think these needs are being met through intermural and interscholastic sports, school-sponsored clubs as well as in the classroom through discussion and cooperative learning. To expand the school role in social needs, I would place greater emphasis on the teaching of the constitution, American history and Western Civilization.
2) No. The school role should not be expanded in this direction. Family service and parenting classes is not a function of public schools.
3) The general community is an elusive figure. Only individuals can assume more of a role in helping prepare children for the future. Individuals must decide for themselves how they can contribute to the society. I would stress to all that volunteers in the classroom are wanted, and the presence of adults in the classroom makes a difference. For employers of youth I would ask they place an emphasis on academic performance in hiring and in scheduling hours to be worked. I would encourage parents to remain involved with their child's education and stress the common goals that we all want the child to succeed. And I would solicit more positive reporting from the press.
4) My phone number will be listed. My voting record will always be available for important issues that are being debated, and I will schedule forums at the public library to solicit viewpoints. And after voting on those issues, I will also hold the forums to explain my vote to the public.
George K. Melnyk, Jr.
1) I am not in favor of our schools being responsible for the social and emotional needs of children. I believe that these needs are the responsibility of our parents and should only be reinforced by our school system.
2) I believe that youth and family services are the community's responsibility, not the school system's role. I strongly encourage our schools to provide educational programs (i.e., drug prevention and alcohol awareness programs) along with the basic fundamentals of education that will prepare our children to meet the challenges of the future.
3) I believe that we as citizens must assist our schools by establishing a safe community that is conducive to educating our children. I will encourage our parents to become more involved in their children's education. Also, I will continue to encourage Adopt-A-School programs and internship programs through various businesses in an effort to show our children that the business community is concerned about our children and their future.
4) I would like to maintain personal contact on a regular basis by establishing weekend forums to address the concerns of the citizens. Also, I will encourage a monthly newspaper article that pinpoints our goals and accomplishments.
A. F. ``Mike'' Mitchell, III
1) Yes, although it's unfortunate that we're in that position. In order to help meet those needs we should reduce the student-teacher ratio in K-5. One way would be to target children who require greater individual attention and enlist the help of the community and local businesses to provide more volunteers to assist the teachers in the classroom. We should also reduce the number of problem students in the upper grades by making greater use of the Camp Pendleton boot camp. I would like to see guidelines developed to send chronic behavioral problem students to this program on a mandatory basis.
2) Youth and family service programs play an important role in development of many of our children, especially in those cases where there is no adequate parental guidance. It is not fair to make children suffer for the mistakes of their parents. There are any number of organizations that provide such services, who could accomplish much more if they had facilities to use that were closer to the children. Elizabeth City has a program called ``Partnership for Children'' that is funded from federal grants that could be emulated in Virginia Beach without significantly increasing the cost to operate our schools. I think we need to identify such programs.
3) I believe we should establish more volunteer programs such as the Making A Difference Foundation and an after-school study center at Kempsville High School with which I am involved. The cost for a program of this nature is minimal. I also want to help our schools establish a greater rapport with our local business community. I am in favor of reducing the student-to-teacher ratios, through increased use of parents and volunteers to work in the classrooms.
4) I will attend school PTA meetings on a rotating basis to solicit their concerns and provide feedback on the actions of the School Board. I will make myself available to civic organizations and teacher organizations to attend their meetings. I will visit our schools and meet the principals and their planning staffs. I will communicate with the media on a regular basis to help them provide coverage of the issues and School Board actions for their readership and I would be willing to author a question and answer column.
Jane E. Nosonchuck
1.) It would be nice if the kids could check all their social and emotional baggage at the door or in their lockers, but it is unrealistic. Teachers must have approporiate staff development to understand how to recognize a wide variety of personality types and behavioral indicators. Teachers should not be expected to counsel students on a personal level unless they have appropriate certification and/or agreement of the teacher, student and parents. School administration as well as the Board must support the teachers with adequate staff development, referral resources and class size.
2.) I am aware of certain schools in the system which offer community classes either inside or outside the facility for parenting and community outreach. In order to have more of these classes and to add sporting events to interest children besides those already in place, the budget strings will have to lengthen even more and we will have to pull voluntary support from staff and the community. I would love to see this happen. If funding were available, I would like to have parenting classes at each grade level to teach skills in development, discipline, helping with homework, etc.
3.) Local businesses have been cooperative with A-plus for Kids cards, adopting schools and opening their doors for student apprentices. Expanding this concept and opening school fairs to local communities for support and attendance might begin to stimulate more community feeling for students.
4.) I plan to make myself available throughout the city at special forums designed for community exchange and at PTA meetings. Of course, other board members would be welcome. Through pacing and planning this will be a sensible way to maintain contact with the community. As always, the community will have access to me by phone or may leave word at school administration. I also feel that local press sources should be able to outline pertinent board topics with decisions on a monthly basis in some format that will not waste space, yet will keep the general community aware of school system plans.
James Polk
1.) I strongly feel that parents need to take more individual responsibility for the actions and performance of their children, and not rely on others to do this. Parents giving up responsibility is one reason we have some of the problems we have today. However, I feel that the school guidance counselors and school psychologists are essential. Unfortunately, they are overburdened with too heavy a student load, to the point where they cannot do an optimal job. I would support increasing the number of guidance counselors and upgrading their training requirements.
2.) The school is the best source of information on which children and families are in need of services. While it makes sense to have schools be the focus of such services, the schools are already overburdened and under-budgeted. I would be in favor of: recreational sports teams for students/families, parenting classes, scouting and family counseling, if funding could be found and guaranteed to continue. Parent and staff Each school would have to identify its own resources. A major program I would like to see put into place is after-school homework centers. The children of parents who cannot be home from work when the child arrives home could stay in the library to get their homework done.
3.) I would hold monthly town meetings rotating through the different PTAs in town to encourage parental input and to make myself more available. I would increase the number of job internships for senior students to prepare graduates for jobs. I would use the media to educate the community on the benefits to all of us to have good schools graduating students ready for college and/or work. I would encourage PTAs to hold more family events and to go through their neighborhoods to encourage people without children to come to PTA meetings.
4.) I would visit PTA meetings throughout the city on a regular basis, make myself available for telephone contact every day for at least one hour, hold monthly town meetings , regularly poll the city residents on their views of school operations, and set aside regular office hours where parents could meet with me.
Michael J. Prokopchak
1) I don't support the direction of asking the schools to take on more responsibility for the social and emotional needs of children, but I do recognize the necessity of a limited role here. We have the responsibility of promoting the positive social behavior necessary in school and at home. We need to be positive role models in school and instill the importance of a strong educational foundation.
2) Yes, this is a positive way of bringing parents into the schools their children are attending. Afternoon programs are important to ease the problem of ``latchkey kids'' going to empty homes after school. With expanding the school opening into the evening hours, I would add tutoring sessions and family activities such as board games and physical activities. The problem in expansion, though, would be funding.
3) I would promote more business participation in the Adopt-A-School program. I would also encourage business leaders to come into the schools and discuss activities and positions within their fields to spark an interest in the students for the future.
4) I would maintain contact with citizens by devising a School Board newsletter for the community and also by making use of local newspapers and media. I would also make myself available for those needing to express themselves on pertinent issues.
Pedro Rodriguez
1.) I think that these two areas belong to the parents with the exception of those that are linked to school activities. To ask for more involvement on the part of the schools could be economically unattainable with present monetary allocations. Future funding considerations are appropriate especially for needy and handicapped children.
2.) The schools can not assume roles that belong to other agencies, such as social, medical, welfare, etc. Parents need to become more involved with the community in order to develop programs that occupy their children's leisure time. Teachers are burdened with enough responsibilities with their tasks in the classroom attempting to teach basic disciplines. Instead, I would extend our present 180-day school year to 200 days. The School Board could serve as a mediator with teachers, civic organizations, the community and other city departments to fund, organize and execute social and athletic activities utilizing private and school-owned athletic facilities and city recreation centers.
3.) By getting parents and other members of the community involved in activities for the benefit of the children. I have visited schools with honeybees and other demonstrations about nature. I have been a Boy Scout merit badge and 4-H counselor for many years. Other members of the community could provide similar services, were they asked. I would promote formation of committees to work with the community to provide big-brother activities to our youth. I would actively seek participation from the many civic clubs in our community knowing that they would be willing.
4.) I would continue to go door-to-door to exchange ideas with the citizens of Virginia Beach as I am doing at present. I would request visits to the area organizations to exchange opinions. I would organize fact-finding committees, including faculty, community leaders and parents to explore benefits derived from our efforts, other activities that might be added and organize fund-raising activities to fund activities for our children.
Neil L. Rose
1) Schools have the mandate of educating the children of our community. Each family should take responsibility for the social and emotional needs of their children. I hate to see the schools have to take on part of this role, but if the family units are not meeting these needs, someone has to do so. Our schools end up being a safety net for our community children, but should only act where there is a clear need.
2) The school system's responsibility is to educate the children. The school system will have a much easier time if the children come to school ready to learn. Due to its ability to reach most of the families in our city, the school system is uniquely positioned to provide a forum for families to receive needed services. The school system should work with the community and especially PTAs to bring in speakers and offer insights as to what our families can do to better prepare our children to come to school and learn.
3) We need to work with businesses to bring technology and business applications to our students. Parents, grandparents and other citizens must be welcomed and used in the schools to help our faculty, and to teach our children about life. Great schools come with active community involvement, not the latest equipment alone. I would encourage employers to allow time off, or schedule changes, for employees to come into the schools to work with their children's classes or in any other classes.
4) I will: promptly answer calls from concerned citizens; visit every school in Virginia Beach; attend PTA meetings; meet with local businesses; and attend civic league meetings to encourage complete community involvement.
Frank E. Rough
1.) I unequivocally support a move to take on a more positive role in addressing the social and emotional needs of our school children; however, in regard to a specific directive pertaining to the issue, I have not seen one. I am very interested in the area of special education, both gifted and disabled. I believe that all students should have the opportunity to receive the best education that can be provided them. I strongly support gifted education with its accelerated curriculum and International Baccalaureate program. I also believe that we do not adequately screen children being placed into the special education arena where it concerns candidates for behavior modification.
2.) The schools are an ideal site to offer parenting classes, which, by the way, are currently offered at various locations by the Psychological Services Branch of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. The need for more of these classes far outweighs both funding and professional personnel availability. A joint funding effort between the school system and the city could be sought to alleviate the problem. As to the subject of midnight basketball, I have a hard time understanding how kids playing basketball into the early morning hours can get enough sleep to stay awake in school. It's the wrong message to send to our children.
3.) Participation by the citizens of Virginia Beach in our schools is in great demand and highly encouraged. Thre are volunteer programs set up within each school that seek participation in a wide variety of options. Specific information can be obtained at any of our schools. Better dissemination of information pertaining to volunteer needs of the schools could and should be pursued. Parental participation in a child's education, in terms of a supportive role, is the best way we can help our children prepare for the future.
4.) I promise to serve the citizens of Virginia Beach to the best of my ability by unfailingly listening to and representing their concerns, and by doing all that I can to help guide the Virginia Beach City Public School system proudly into the 21st century. I will seek some kind of two-way forum that will address the education concerns of the community.
Sonja M. Watts
1.) It would be very difficult to respond with either an absolute `yes' or an absolute `no. The needs of most children today in these areas are not being fulfilled, so that teachers and administrators find themselves confronting these needs daily. Unless we devise newer programs to involve and to educate the parents on parenting, we will encounter more unpleasant and undesirable situations. The schools cannot become the parents, but they should be willing to take certain measures during the hours the children are in the schools to nurture more positive and constructive behaviors.
2) Again, I need to reiterate the need to get to the root of this growing problem with the school's role in the personal lives of children. The school system must cease from treating the symptoms only. We must delve to the cause, the origin of this problem. We must seek to correct the ills in the lifestyles of many parents. We need to provide outreach programs in the community that will help parents to realize they have this problem. The school system must be willing to offer services to the parents that will re-establish and strengthen the family unit. Last, we need to realize some parents are less educated compared to the expected outcomes of their own children.
3) One item on my agenda in helping the general community assume a role in helping children prepare for the future is to work closer with the city council members, especially one in my borough. Secondly, I would want to involve and institute more one-on-one interaction with the delegates. I would seek assistance from churches and other related agencies that would channel resources for their children's academic, social, emotional and physical needs.
4) I plan to provide a hotline number for an already-existing organization I have founded. I plan to hold forums to hear the views and concerns of citizens. I plan to develop a newsletter that will inform the public of my results. And I plan to connect with other organizations to unite our efforts for building our children.
Rosemary Wilson
1) Yes, because our schools reflect society. I would limit it as to how it would affect funding.
2) I see this as an opportunity to link with city services to provide for these things. However, we must prioritize our funding for education.
3) Businesses can help with apprenticeship programs, and we need more volunteers in the schools.
4) I will update the newspaper. I will also be available by telephone or to meet with me. I plan to continue to visit schools, PTA meetings and have periodic town meetings.
Robert E. Beardsley
1) I can perhaps best make a case with an example of an actual question from a Pennsylvania test in this area: ``A girl wants to go to the junior prom with a certain boy. Another boy calls a week before the prom and asks her to go. She accepts. Later the boy whom she really wanted to go with . . .'' (a). I would limit school system involvement in this area to matters of educating children on safety, biology and ethics via literature and philosophy, and thereby not usurp the parent's role. (a)source http://www.fyi.net/anita/link to ``test given . . .''
2.) I know that some families cannot afford healthy diversions (travel, camping, athletics, museums, dance, music, theater) for their children even though a significant amount of ``education'' takes place within these pursuits. The community will ultimately benefit by funding these activities, but under other auspices and budgets than the school system, such as is done now in the recreation centers. The school system's function should be limited to delivering a quality public education in the classroom.
3.) The school system should actively educate the community on the importance of the family in nurturing, nutrition and discipline and the connection of these activites to being ``ready to learn.'' I do not believe a community of 400,000-plus has, or will ever, successfully fill the role of surrogate family.
4.) I will attend any meeting I am invited to. Newsletters cost the taxpayers money that could be better spent, and there are more effective, free ways to communicate via civic leagues, PTA, press releases, etc.
Raymond Beck
1) I don't know what is meant by ``more responsibility.'' Teachers always have to recognize a child's social and emotional needs. I do not support an increased involvement by the teacher. If we are going to expect high proficiency in the academics we can't expect teachers to solve all of the child's other personal problems.
2) No. At the present time I can't foresee adding any services. Our primary focus should be on academics and adjusting career guidance to meet the demands of the existing job market.
3) Give the public the facts regarding the future career opportunities via each school's newsletter. Have informational meetings at high schools. An example would be a presentation by the vocational school teachers to explain the present and future opportunities in the vocational trades. A federal Department of Labor report states that 80 percent of future jobs will not require a four-year degree.
4) School Board meetings should be held in the neighborhoods, in the evenings and during reasonable hours. This will allow us to keep the citizens informed and encourage more citizens to be involved. By giving the public convenient access to the School Board, we would be promoting a continuous dialogue to inform each other of desires and accomplishments.
Sandra C. ``Sandy'' Bowie
1) The schools are already providing a variety of services to meet the social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs of the children on a day-to-day basis. The schools do not need to take on any more responsibilities which are rightfully the parents', and schools work cooperatively in the education of the children to become productive and contributing members of society.
2) The school system presently provides a variety of services and programs beyond the primary purpose as an instructional service. These programs include:
parenting classes through the school guidance counselors, D.A.R.E. program, the before and after school child care programs, free and reduced costs for breakfast and lunch, child abuse prevention programs and additional services available at individual schools. These programs have already provided an expansion of services to youth and family. It is unclear where midnight basketball leagues would benefit the services to youth and families. The school system's facilities are closed at this time, and the cost of heating, lighting and security would generate additional expenditures.
3) In recent years the implementation of the Adopt-A-School, Volunteers in Education and the mentorship programs for at-risk children are examples of how the community and schools work together. I would welcome any suggestions for citizens in the community to become involved.
4) My address and phone number are available to all citizens. All of the School Board meetings are televised and aired periodically . Citizens are welcome to attend the regularly scheduled School Board meetings which are publicized in the Beacon. A newsletter that goes home to parents providing an overview of the school system events, including School Board news, has proven to be beneficial. Visiting schools would maintain contact with teachers, administrators and staff.
Donald R. Bradway
1) School is the center of students' social and personal lives; as such, educators cannot ignore the social issues young people face every day. If we increase the parental and guardian involvement with the school system, this would increase communication between teachers, administrators and the parent/guardian to the benefit of the student's education and emotional life.
2) The school system's role is not that of a social service provider. The school system is responsible for subject matter education to prepare the students for higher education and future employment. Through the guidance program of the school system those students and parents/guardians requiring special assistance should be directed to the appropriate agency for action.
3) The School Board and administration should actively solicit involvement of community volunteers to work with the schools. A wealth of talent is available in Virginia Beach, if we only ask. In order for volunteer participation to be successful, we must provide the framework for administrators and teachers to understand what volunteers may do; and then, how to attract volunteers from throughout the community.
4) I will listen to varying points of view on issues facing the School Board prior to taking actions that impact the education of our students. I will be responsive to the needs of the students and concerns of the parents and make myself available in person, by phone, e-mail, or any other means necessary to keep communication open. I will visit schools on a routine basis to meet with students, teachers and administrators. I will be available to attend PTA meetings, civic association meetings and other community gatherings. I intend to hold meetings with an open invitation. Attendees will have open dialogue about the hard issues and decisions that must be made on budgetary and educational matters as well as the opportunity to ask questions.
Robert J. Brich
1) Yes, I support this aspect of school operations. The presence of poverty, racism, unemployment, substance abuse, easy access to weapons, inadequate or abusive parenting practices and frequent exposure to violence through the media are just a sample of the influences that create behavioral problems. Our schools, should, in response, provide a focus on academic goals, modeling respectful behavior as well as maintain a positive climate where nurturance, inclusiveness and caring are evident. They should: focus on reduction in class sizes at the K-3 grade level, increase continued availability of counselors and occupational therapists, and expand proactive involvement of teachers and interested parents as keys to meeting the needs of society.
2) I support the maximization of the school facilities to include expanded youth and family services programs. Allowing plant facilities to remain idle is not an efficient use of resources for our community. There are a number of groups and agencies which would be a welcome alliance to the school system's existing support programs.
3) I would encourage community participation by: gaining increased parental involvement, using a wide alliance between regional businesses and education to accelerate the presence of technology to allow our children to meet the jobs of the future; examining innovative collaborative education and training efforts ; avoiding parochial redundant expenses and capitalizing on a regional perspective; maximizing decentralized decision making to promote community involvement.
4) I would use periodic statements of accomplishment to the electorate and publish or mail these to the constituents. I will maintain an open-door policy. Attendance at meetings where this message could also be conveyed would be of prime importance, e.g. PTA meetings, Education Association gatherings, Civic League meetings to discuss and review decisions.
Joshua F. Edwards, Sr.
1) The school acts in loco parentis, in place of parent. The school personnel have the responsibility for providing educational service. Parents and educators are partners in the child's development. However, professional educators should teach and lead by example with positive attitudes about what is right and what is wrong. That would include equality of human rights, the Golden Rule, respect of dignity of each human being. We must as educators be very careful not to interfere with families teaching of morality.
2) It is not the school system's role to expand in youth and family services, such as parenting classes and midnight basketball. Social Services would be the best approach in dealing with family matters, not the school system. As for midnight basketball, perhaps the approach would be a joint effort between the City of Virginia Beach Recreation Department and the Virginia Beach School System. The Recreation Department should be the primary operator of this program. The Virginia Beach School System cannot be all things to all people.
3) The key function to getting the general community more involved in helping children prepare for the future consists of communication with, and involvement of, internal and external publics in the school system. This could be done with a series of activities. The program would be designed to promote a positive and challenging school climate in which student achievement and staff productivity are fostered; encourage maximum involvement of parents, at home and in the school; build public knowledge of the purposes, successes and needs of the school system, involve citizens in cooperative learning practices, partnerships, and other means to make full use of resources in the community.
4) Building a sound Two-Way Communication Program, one that would acquire feedback to let school officials know how the community and staff are reacting to decisions that are made by the board.
Steven Emmanuel
1) The schools already provide appropriate services for children in this area, and I support those services. However, we must remember that the primary mission of the schools is to educate. The public school system is neither prepared nor equipped to solve all of the ills of society. Studies show that most of the problems that fall into this category are already developing in the earlier years of a child's life. The state should therefore be providing more extensive services to families with young children, so that these problems never become school problems.
2) One of the great problems in our school system today is that we lack a clear definition of the aims and purposes of public education. Before we can create a sensible budget, we must decide what is essential to the academic mission of our schools. The school system cannot be everything and do everything. Government, local communities and parents must all assume their respective responsibilities for our children. At the community service level, I participate in and support such programs as midnight basketball. I would strongly support parent education, encourage the state to provide expanded support services for families with young children.
3) The greatest contribution we can make in this direction is to ensure that our children come to school prepared to learn. The School Board must take a leadership role in encouraging state and local community efforts to provide tutelage and nurturing for preschoolers in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of our city.
4) I would urge members of the community to contact me with their questions and concerns. My home telephone number is 340-8298. At work, 455-3405. Fax me at 466-8526 or 461-5025. If you have access to e-mail, send your message to semmanuel(AT)vwc.edu.
Ann G. Ewing
1) I support the direction of schools taking more responsibility for the social and emotional needs of children when it is state or federally mandated. Presently there are community agencies to fill this need. Financially, Virginia Beach schools are stretched to meet the academic needs of the students. Parents need to take more personal responsibility for their children.
2) For the same reasons, the school system's role in youth and family services is limited. The community has spent thousands of dollars for recreation/community centers. Schools certainly should be used for night classes and activities, but the facilities must be fully functional for regular school hours.
3) The general community could assume more of a role in helping children prepare for the future by volunteering their time and talent at their school of choice and helping to provide the ``extras'' to defray the costs to the individual students. Local business should be involved in mentoring and work programs. The Adopt-A-School program has been very successful.
4) I plan to maintain contact with citizens after the election by maintaining an ``open-door'' policy. I think periodic surveys and town meetings are very useful for maintaining an open dialogue.
Vernon Fix
1) Schools should not be asked to provide social and emotional services for students. These services are very close to medical services and should be controlled by the family. Anything more than emergency care is socialized medicine paid for by the taxpayer. We have gone too far in this area already.
2) No. The word ``parenting'' used here has been re-defined. The ``parenting'' in this question refers to the OBE model of taking young children age 0 through 5 and their parents to a school and training them in separate classes. This system was designed to prevent the children from learning at an early age the religious and moral values of the parents. I believe that parenting classes and after-hours youth activities are best served outside the system. The schools cannot be a replacement for family or church for our youth. This is better left to the individual families. I am in favor of the intramural sports activities during normal hours sponsored by the school system.
3.) I would do my utmost within the school system to ensure that students are educated in the basics such as the three Rs, plus science, history, government and geography. I would include classical works in art, literature and music as well. My goal would be to provide every student a well-rounded education. Social training and community involvement should be left to the family.
4.) After the election I would maintain free access to the public and my friends by publishing a phone number and accepting calls. I would also provide feedback with news releases to local papers such as the Beacon and other community papers. LYNNHAVEN MIGUEL MIKE ARSUAGA
Age: 51 Address: 500 block of Surfside Ave. (Croatan) Occupation: Retired Navy
I do not support schools being responsible for the social and emotional needs of children. This direction encourages parents to abdicate parental responsibilities while at the same time diverts resources from the main function of schools, which is to educate. Schools need to get out of the baby-sitting business and concentrate on challenging our children to better themselves by learning the basics, as well as good communicative and hi-tech skills required in today's growing global society. Parents need to be more involved in their children's outcome by nurturing emotional and social values.
I oppose our school's role in expanding youth and family services because they will undermine the functions parents should be performing, i.e., discipline and strong family values. At worst, this would allow an unconscientious parent to evade his/her responsibilities. Midnight basketball leagues will not make a parent or child into a better person. At midnight, most students should be in bed asleep, or at least at home, and parenting classes are learned at home by example.
I would like to develop a school partners internship program in the senior high schools with the cooperation of parents, local businesses and school guidance personnel for the purpose of targeting students who appear to be drifting through school with no direction or motivation to continue higher education upon graduation. We need to educate our children in the basics and let the local businesses further train these students in more specialized skills.
I plan to maintain contact with the citizens by having a ``Board Hotline.'' I will make myself available at least one night a week to take calls from concerned citizens on any school matters. The citizens need to know that their concerns will have a direct influence on the actions of the School Board. I also plan to tour a school a week. I plan to keep everyone informed by making periodic reports through outstanding publications like The Beacon. NANCY DAHLMAN GUY
Age: 38 Address: 2400 block of Haversham Close (Chelsea) Occupation: Former attorney
The focus of the school system must remain on education, and I would oppose the system's involvement in programs that divert attention from the focus. The resources of our school system are not limitless, as illustrated by the recent financial crisis. Fiscal integrity requires the new School Board to use the resources we have to provide the best possible education to every child in Virginia Beach.
As stated above, I believe the focus of the school system must remain on education. Programs like midnight basketball, if desired by the community, would be better handled by the recreation department. However, I do feel that it is very important for the School Board to find ways to meaningfully involve parents in their children's education and to improve communication between parents and schools.
I definitely favor community involvement in preparing our children for the future. To achieve this, I believe the School Board should develop sampling techniques that involve parents, the corporate community, and the tax-paying public in defining their aspirations for our public schools. The corporate community needs to be involved in crafting curriculum that meets its needs, and in helping to fund the technology to meet those needs. In some systems, the entire technology initiative has been underwritten by corporations. Virginia Beach needs to expand its partnerships with the corporate community.
If elected, I plan to treat School Board membership as my full-time job. Rather than return to law practice when my youngest child starts first grade this fall, I will devote my time to being an effective School Board member. I will be continuously accessible, and I will conduct school visits, with a goal of visiting all 83 schools during my term. BEN KRAUSE
Age: 53 Address: 1400 block of Five Hill Trail (Sea Breeze Farms) Occupation: Investment Executive
The school system should perform the role it is supposed to do and does best, educating the students. We then encourage the city, state, local organizations, seniors, churches/synagogues, and others to fulfill and maybe expand their roles. The Virginia Beach School System, a local government activity, can not and should not try to assume the role that must be performed by parents/guardians, as tempting as it may be. It should also not assume roles that have little to do with educating the students, especially those responsibilities legally assigned to local, state and federal agencies regarding for social and emotional needs, i.e. family services, etc.
I favor programs like before-school, after-school and summer programs. I favor the continued after-hours use of school facilities for adult education programs. In regard to midnight basketball programs, I believe children should be home asleep at midnight; besides, we have an 11 p.m. curfew for younger children. I would encourage city family services and parks and recreation to fulfill/expand their appropriate role in ``non-education'' related programs.
I would develop innovative ways to encourage more volunteers to become involved. As a larger percentage of the population will soon become senior citizens, the potential volunteer base increases dramatically. I would facilitate more involvement by businesses, with programs that offer summer jobs, intern programs, co-op programs, mentoring and ``big brother/sister'' programs and scholarships.
I will hold monthly town hall meetings, open to all the public. I will have a citizen's committee to advise me personally on the citizen's concerns and provide advice on all important matters. I will propose that each School Board Committee have a citizen's advisory committee. I will propose that the School Board publish quarterly and annually a ``State of Virginia Beach School System'' report for citizens. GAIL CAYCE SCHWARTZER
Age: 49 Address: 1800 block of Timberwood Lane (Forest Park) Occupation: Homemaker and school volunteer
Yes, in that this is the situation that exists. Twenty percent or more of our children in elementary schools have two parents that are working. Children in kindergarten through second grade, 30 percent of those children came home to an empty home. Even out of that small segment we're responsible for children. The era that we're in, a good deal of families cannot maintain themselves without two parents working. I don't think that's so much emotional as it is we as a community have changed tremendously. We've got to realize where we are right now. We've got to assess the situation and see where we need to head.
I don't think it can be expanded unless you have personnel in the budget to do so. If we could couple with parents/volunteers we could produce what you're talking about. It can happen in the summer, after school, with good involvement from parents and nonparents. If you want to expand it you're only going to be able to expand it with an increased budget. I'd support it if we had the increase.
The only way you can do that is to enthuse your general public. Often they shirk from responsibility that exists. It's the general public's responsibility to educate children and educate them well. Without the public school system we're going to mess ourselves up. A tremendous number of groups, everything from civic leagues to special interest groups, need to join arms and set up a situation in which they're at city council to let them know this is a priority.
The only way that you can is through school visitations on a regular basis. That plus forums at the schools where school board and city council are there to answer questions and to brainstorm situations. A lot of folks don't know the situations of all of the schools in this area. PRINCESS ANNE FRANKLAND BABONIS
Age: 44 Address: 1200 block of Culver Lane (Ocean Lakes) Occupation: Owner, F and M Environmental Technology Virginia Beach
Schools have become almost surrogate parents because society has put us in that direction. It is no fault of the children, but society has done that with us because of the amount of taxation and the parents working. I feel we're asking a lot of our teachers and we're putting a lot on them. At the same time I feel the role of parenting needs to come back home. But for society to be able to establish this has to start all over the nation, not just here in Virginia Beach. As far as limiting it, I feel that each teacher has taken up the responsibility of trying to help all the children in their classes, some more than others. But I also feel that we need to get back to home values if we are going to continue on as a society.
We've started getting into that I feel. There's a lot of involvement in after-school sports. At the same time, one of our biggest problems is that there's not much particularly for our teenagers who are not involved in after-school sports, there's nothing for them to do but hang out at the malls and get into mischief. We'd have to enter into a partnership with the city, particularly parks and recreation because it involves all citizens participating. Parenting classes, I'm in favor of. Midnight basketball leagues, I feel children should't be running around at midnight.
Yes, I would. I'm already basically working with that. You can do it through PTSAs, you can do it with planning councils, you can do it with youth athletics, which I did from the time my kids were elementary age. The bottom line is that parents themselves have to get involved if they want to see their children succeed.
Whether I win or lose, I plan to remain in contact with the public because there's a lot to be done in this city. If I'm elected, I plan to hold town meetings open to all citizens. Inform them what's going on with the board and at the same time hear their concerns to take it back to the school board and to the council. The biggest key is communications and you have to have an open mind. ARCHIE WILBER DEBAUN JR.
Age: 32 Address: 800 block of Park Place Drive (Park Place) Occupation: Accountant
Certain emotional needs of children need attention, and at times those needs arise at school where a counselor may be needed. However, I believe it is mainly the parents' responsibility to make sure that a child's social needs are addressed, as well as any emotional needs that arise due to the child's home environment.
No. In the case of midnight basketball, I believe that children should be preparing for bed or be in bed at that time of night. Parenting classes can be taken at other facilities in the area. The school system's focus should be on the basic education of our children, not trying to be social services to parents and disturbed children.
The community can help children prepare for the future by having classes in the work ethic of the business community and have programs on how a business is run and operated.
I would try to keep the public informed by having press releases issued on the progress of the school system, as well as making myself available to civic groups and organizations to speak on the school system's accomplishments and entertain new ideas. H.L. LES POWELL
Age: 41 Address: 2000 block of Hedgelawn Way (Red Mill Farm) Occupation: Trooper, Virginia State Police
I do not believe the schools should be responsible for the social and emotional needs of children. Parents should have this responsibility.
I think the school system should offer courses to assist parents in dealing with the social and emotional needs of children. Some efforts have already been made to offer effective parenting courses. Activities such as midnight basketball would only burden the finances of the school system.
The school system should work in conjunction with community groups offering assistance and guidance when called on to do so. By working together the schools and community can make a difference.
One of my goals as a school board member is to develop an organized system through which all citizens can communicate concerns to the school board. I hope to devise a system that would ease the way for individuals and groups to communicate with the school administration. I will be available to listen to individuals and groups and I will continue my personal involvement in the schools. BLACKWATER DELCENO MILES
Age: 35 Address: 3600 block of Head River Road (Blackwater) Occupation: President of The Miles Agency
I support schools and families working together for the benefit of every child. In cooperation with those agencies that handle social needs, schools and parents must commit to educating that at-risk child. I believe that schools can ill afford to lose any child. We have wonderful programs in place right now with our gifted and talented as well as special education. Let us not ever lose perspective of what our teachers' primary role is - to teach. When we require teachers to be social workers, counselors, surrogate parents, security officers, etc., then the greater majority of our students will lose something very valuable in the education process - a focused teacher committed to challenging young minds.
School systems can take a leadership role in partnering with organizations and agencies that already have such services and programs. Schools are not in a vacuum. They must work with other community programs to provide the maximum learning experience for each student. Such programs are in place now in Virginia Beach, i.e. partners in education with the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, internships. We have community recreation leagues that encourage youth participation. There is no need to reinvent the wheel just to put the wheel in motion with key existing community partnerships and programs.
This is a great opportunity for volunteers to spend time in the schools to share their experiences with students. It is also a chance for the business community to get involved as has been done for several years with such programs as the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and the Central Business District Association. I am already involved in these types of efforts as the regional vice chair for education with the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce as well as a partner of Newtown Road Elementary.
In addition to the public information policies in place, I will speak on a regular basis to as many community organizations that are willing to listen. Also, I plan to form small citizens advisory committees for each school level V. BEACH ARTHUR THOMAS TATE
Age: 29 Address: 900 block of Indian Circle Occupation: Environmental Engineer, Navy Public Works Center
No. The parents should provide the main support for childrens' social and emotional needs. The school system should not ignore social and emotional needs, however, the schools should focus first on educational needs.
The city already provides sports and recreation leagues. To assure that there are sports for all skill levels, perhaps the city would consider expanding the current system. At midnight children should be at home. Should private groups feel that this type of activity would be beneficial, then the private groups should start these activities, not the school system, and the schools could make their gymnasiums available to these groups. As far as parenting classes, the schools could make available to the public lists of churches, civic organizations, or social service programs which are offered to the public.
I would pursue and encourage local businesses, civic organizations, and churches to organize youth groups and activities so that children will have well-rounded social skills and a complete social network.
I will attend as many civic league meetings and forums as possible. I will write letters to the editor and keep in contact with local Beacon reporters to keep the public informed of school board activities. ILLUSTRATION: [Photos of all candidates]
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATES VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD RACE COMMUNITY
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