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Meet the Board of Education Candidates Virtually

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The three Board of Education Candidates answer questions during a zoom meeting held on May 27, 2020. Get to know where each of the candidates stand on current issues facing Gananda Central School District. Two seats are available for the seven seat board. Your vote can be turned in with the budget vote absentee ballots which have been mailed to each household in Gananda Central School District. All votes need to be turned in by 5pm on June 9, 2020.

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and they can see you guys but they can't post a picture so that prevents them from stranger photobombing more timing with something inappropriate we've had some interesting attempts 4 minutes. I think the weirdest thing about all this zooming is the fact that you get to see yourself all the time on the screen it's like you're always in in yards you can wait till 6 or we can wait until we have all of the attendees he said there was 7 attendees 1712 go back and check on my check so there's 18 people listed as attendees some of the names are names I really are typical attendees of the budget Forum so I wonder if some people signed into the wrong thing like Steve Steve and Robin would simply go to the door not going to register for the budget I'm having said that they just joined give him a couple more minutes then where is everybody 215 Fortis defense I think we're okay to start PPL login as they already welcome to everyone let me welcome the candidates first off and say thank you for making yourselves available to attend this Q&A letting residents get to know you will allow them to make an educated decision when they choose their candidate for the two Board of Education seat so again thank you for your participation as second we would like to say a special thank you to the house from the coronavirus we were unable to meet in person but fortunately the district was more than willing to help us out this meeting would not have been possible without the help of Leslie Ferrante Shannon bergstresser and superintendent Sean Dance Play-doh thank you for all of your efforts also Siri is a big shout-out to those residents who are taking the time to watch from home you may utilize a comment to ask questions and we will get them if we have time it may even be possible as we decide to care for the send it to answer questions from the comments on their own time after the meeting so without with all that being said cartoon TV to get to know the individuals who are on the what for the gananda Central School District Board of Education that they want to relate to the residents of this District so starting with Mr buchko please introduce yourself by Saving number of years that you've been in the district and why you want to continue or become a board member and some pieces also is there something particular that motivates you to serve on the board of education my name is Bilbo I've been in the district for 20 years I have two children of the gone through the district I think my daughter is graduating this year and what motivates me to be on the school board is a fundamental belief in public a g I got a great education public education I believe my children got a great education for public education I think is what moves his Nation Ford I think it was moved our community Ford and I believe that by concerns that is being an important part of that governmental entity we help move that the school district forward cuz we get our voice and we help guide that school district and we serve to make sure the things that are children growling continue to move forward thank you and Shawna hi my name is Shawna Phillips I have been a contender president for 6 17 years I have three kids in the district and this coming school year I'm going to have one in every single School you know somewhere to Belle I full heartedly believe in public education I'm proud education that we offer here not only gananda New York State I believe that our children are only going to get better through our public education and has been a longtime resident of Grenada pretty busted interested not only are our district but off their community and I feel that this is a great way to get back to thank you and John my name is Jonathan. I've lived in the district I forgot my hair so I'm the relative to be amongst the candidates I have two kids in the elementary school I have a kindergartener and a second grader currently what motivates me is I have the drive to give back to my community I said so very fortunate to have many opportunities and to see my kids have tremendous opportunities and the only way the education system works is if urine community members engage with the school district in the I wanted to attempt to give back in this way thank you everybody all right let's get right to the questions then aside from questions 1 and 2 each question will be there did it all three of the candidates candidates will be called on in a rotating manner so everyone will have the opportunity to be the first to answer question with me is restrictions on time is to be restriction on time we may not be able to get to all the time please take no more than 3 minutes to answer each question okay all right starting with John what have you done in recent months to become familiar with the roles and responsibilities of the board so do you wear a half I've gone to a number of board meetings in person I've been involved in the kannada Education Foundation and we've had a number of reports that we've made to The District in interfaces so I've been to a number of board meetings I've gotten to see the teachers I've got them to see reports on the teachers going up for tenure and the tremendous value they are immersed myself as well as in the Four County District Association perspective just kind of thrown myself into doing it it's some sing that has interested me for a while I ran last year for school board and I felt like there was still an opportunity to get back so I decided to run this year thank you and Shawna same question to you I've attended a couple of board meetings not very many in the past year but really what I've done and honestly what I will continue to do what I've done the entire time my children is actually read meeting notes in the agendas from the board meeting but I can stay up-to-date on what's going on in our district Additionally you don't seem really ride to myself with a plan in the vision Board of Education you know I think that it's important that we understand what the  is work is already set for the week thank you and Bill what was your experience with the Bohr what has the experience experience with the board over the years you know when you first get onto the board you it takes you awhile to figure out what the role is and what's important and what what drives things to move for I think the experience that I've gotten is really it is the board's job to set the vision and the direction in working with the superintendent and administrative team and that that Cycle takes a long time and it takes a lot of patience and a lot of working together with the team get all the inputs from parents Community a staff to bring that all together to kind of sausage do you make the sausage and comes out with a strategy in a vision and I think over time I've learned that Jensen listening to people and understanding what really is important so we can move forward and become a better District thank you and I will start showing up for this one how do you feel our district is doing on attracting and keeping for improvement I think we do a good job attracting them but I think that it starts retaining them challenging and I think there's a variety of reasons for some for most it's our location you know I I I work for wagon for a long time and one of the stores that I used to support is in Newark and we always had a challenge attracting no quality at Great America but I also think that it would be difficult for you or teachers we got a lot of features that have been here for a really long time that are really immersed in our community and it might be pretty difficult to find repeat that thank you and John same question to you so I definitely think the district is doing a good job with the tracking new teachers and I I'm doing a very good job of holding on to the Quality teachers by son has been very fortunate to be taught by a brand new teacher to the district this year she previously been in the city school and she he's very bright she's an absolutely amazing teacher I can't speak highly enough about her and I've also seen my daughter be taught multiple years by teachers that have been in the district 119 1220 and they seem like they really are doing well it retaining these quality teacher so while there is always room for improvement to add working with the teachers to make sure I think in general District thank you and feel the same question you know what it is he does get harder and harder all the time to attract good teachers right because Ashanti spoke loud location obviously there's you no consideration for a small District so that that's hard I think there's benefits downsides that we got a great culture, your kids are good people like coming work because of those pieces the the Administration has done a great job of finding out different recruitment type different recruitments ways to go out to different places whole different people in you know when it's it's a car evolution of how can we do better talk we think differently about this to bring better people in it and better teachers great that culture create a future and a vision that we need to move forward so that attracts the best kind of people also right people like a place that moving forward and going forward so that's that's a great way to keep to keep getting good people is it it always is one of the things that is there room for improvement oh yeah there's room for improvement at anything we talked about that there's room for improvement and I think that's the best part about what the board does and what the administration in this school does is a recognized as a continuous Improvement so yeah we have to keep getting better about retaining better teachers if we sit back and relax we won't get those the teachers thank you so build a question that start with you with the effects of covid-19 in mind what do you see as the current challenges facing public education in our state and What Makes You good representative for the community and tackling these issues that's the biggest challenge that's facing the district right now you know in the district there's a planning site you understand what that planning cycle is and you can make things move forward because you know what you got to do and you know what you've got to get done right now the district face is uncertain because I don't know what is the budget going to bring what does the governor going to let us do what is the state what is the health department going to let us do as we move forward so I think that's the biggest challenge probably brings my my abilities as a member of the board I developed a working relationship with Administration with on the superintendent so I can bring that to play I also am a Senior Management of a small business in Rochester so I recognized that uncertainty is a part of business is life so we respond to that all the time I have to move forward and make your plans and get going and and and come out the other side so that's that's where I think I can help thank you and John same question certainty uncertainty is a big part of the issue I think one of the other major issues is educational Equity that our district has a Tumi surprising degree of stratification in terms of research ensuring that as we deal with the challenges posed by this covid prices that we continue to reach all of the students regardless of what their family background is and this is a very challenging thing having food is a critical part of our team The District in doing the good job school things that is going to coming down the pipeline is the Education Foundation backpack program has been getting food to students this year is going to be able to continue running during the summer and one one of the things teachers what is the unit is fundamentally hungry they can't deal with these higher order getting the resources to the families to allow them to succeed I think it is challenge that is being posed by covet thank you and Shawna same question I similar to Bill I do agree that uncertainty is is one of the biggest challenges that we face right now but it's really it's also the health and safety of our students and our teachers and the faculty ministration of the district's bottom line health and safety are the most important you know they see their secondary concerns and I want you to call him secondary necessarily but when you look at education and online education versus you know in person education what does that look like stop at really trying to react to something with not a lot of information really quick but if we end up having to do online learning again what is that going to look like what is the medication for students going to look like because obviously whatever decisions we make have to be made with how come you know it's far as my experience has time I provide a charge different locations for Wegmans and I feel that my experience has an HR business partner and taught me to always consider that human  back while the only thing the financials to because that's the thing that I'm not sure lot of people understand there's a huge financial burden and impact covid-19 is going to place that only other businesses thank you and John will start with you on this next question how does the school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden so this is the chapter where is going to be you're also was a school district going to want all of the resources necessary so I think one of the important things for a disc do is get a lot of things for the box that we raid primarily residential district we don't have many businesses that we can kind of ship expert who silently and get good value I also think components it is very important for a district to pursue is other resources outside of the spare so grants from different foundations for swing governmental funding screens outside of taxes I think is very valuable as well cuz it prevents me and everybody else watching who lives in the district when we get our bills and September having that be good value it's very important thank you next for the same question so you don't sound right tension right there's a tension created between people wanting to Payless versus where they want to go I think part of what the debord needs to do is working in a week I talked a lot about creating Vision creating a strategy that you know where you want to go in how to move forward so that the people in the district see that direction they get the value out of that they understand where the value is they understand you're looking at York providing the best dollars in the places where they best to increase their children's education so at the end of the day they do see the value that buy into the direction and then we're spending the money on the right thing and it making sure that there is that value I'm one of the things this district is done. years has gone through every time where are we spending the right money where is it focused every year we've gone through and taking that list of what are the things worse continuing to spend money on is this important as it's not important in over the past nine years we've been able to find a mentor the taxes under the tax cap and grow the way we know we're supposed to grow increase programs with personalized learning we have a full Sports programs we have great AP Gemini programs in our senior I'm Senior High School's lot of different things were going after plus will keeping the taxes low so there's a history develop there I think that's important but that's been driven by his vision created in the district starting in 2010 and continuing thank you and Shawna same question agree with Bill that we obviously do have to make sure that the community understands the vision though I think one of the things as a board member the board should really be doing is working on that communication with the district on what division is he and you know how these programs are supporting deposition it's important I think you understand the cost associated with the account the education and where those increases are going to be so that they can then explain that to the public into the community thank you and Shadow will start with you for this next question thoughts on the current and proposed budget actually I think the current budget last year I thought it was great the proposed budget and is really in line especially with the difficult times that weird we come into one of the things that I noticed it's only a .9% increase over last year which is huge you know working in HR a lot of things I look at our benefit costs so for the simple fact that were able to only increase by 2.9% no one we have all the cost of healthcare continuing to rise double digits double digits every year that's a pretty good success in my opinion I think you understand that there is a greater burden on it's because of lack of State funding now and if we need to make sure the tragic aiding our community on that lack of state fund a thank you and Bill put together very sister seems that you're having a technical problem I'm going to move to John and I'll come back to you when how to be processed in should I go ahead and others back that the revenue hold on a minute, technical issues I hate to do this to you but could you start from the beginning there I don't know how far I got where you listen to my my repeat myself as a process so I've been through the process you know now for for 8 years so I fundamentally in this project is it starts in the fall and you're the admin team takes us through a step-by-step and so you get to see it so we weigh in as the board members and understand where it's going and you know every step along the way so I fundamentally believe in the budget what we put together and I know I will what it's got put together we know where it's at a nervous for the fact that you don't like we talked about earlier it's about uncertainty so I think it's going to be a patient dialogue with the community as things change in the state changes their budget that's the scary part I think we just you know in our roles as board members will have to advocate for the school I'm part of the Four County School Board advocacy team are legislative committee now will work together with school districts to try to really truly understand what the financial impacts are going to be so that the budget as proposed get a China said we can actually keep that boy 9% and that spending and actually make it through and end in liver best education weekend for kids this upcoming year and John same question was one that I was very happy to support last year it was all the way up until covid-19 we're going exactly as I would have expected as a community member thrown as Bill said the largest amount of school board in the country and Families ever seen in a hundred years so has been proposed what's going to happen a month from now if the state says school is slash by 25% which some states were talking about that's going to obviously still major wrench into the budgeting process I don't know what it's going to look like in your from now looking back on it it's the best we have I don't think there is anything wrong with it but I don't know what the Future come out thank you and Bill starting with you what kind of communication should a district or the board have with its community and with its parents and families as well Amber the first thing is the communication with the parents and the community should be open and honest that's the foundation being transparent as a board is something we strive to do and strive to be I'm with you don't have a are Community forms we try to make sure that the that the community has a lot of waste input and give their input to what goes on in their schools and where that goes I'm having said that I also recognized that there's you know room for improvement I think the district are really nice job of making sure everyone knows what's going on I mean is if you don't know what's going on in our district you're living under a rock because it seems like you know there's emails there's consistent no letters from Shannon email Facebook you can see it all over the place I think there's always got to be that better improve one-on-one communication making sure that the parents of students and the members of the community filled out his customers at the school and to drive that far and I think our teams try to continue to improve those efforts to make it better every year thank you and Shawna same question Bill said you know we we have a ton of communication communication and transparency is really a special getting the kind of Parental and Community engagement our community is School District we don't have our own ZIP code we don't have our own town of kannada we are a school district and I think having great communication is key to our community and its our community and are involved thank you and John same question in terms of the amount of communication I think being is the direction that I want to see the mistake made the district has been continually improving the communication in the years I've been a part of it it's going to be a moving golf in perpetuity I think I had a great letter to the parents today explaining how the end date school has shifted is a result of guidance from the education and explaining why it's changing in the rationale at and what drove it I think that kind of communication protocol Andis model Communications Play because I'm parents might have been bothered by the change explaining why it occurred I think it's protocol thank you and John starting with you on this next question what responsibilities do board member regarding advocacy in your opinion into the governor's office talking to the state Haitian because ultimately knee is a Community member writing to Albany if there's enough of us especially for a much read much larger Regional issue may have some sway school board members because they represent a larger they going to Albany talking with legislators trying to get the formula altered that it essentially says Were a Rich school district and that's not what is the reality in the ground that some of the metrics the state uses really Miss portrays our district and I think getting to the legislators and explaining this and really trying to convince them that they need to be made is the most important thing the school board can do it makes things better statutorily moving forward thank you and Shawna same question I said I think we should always be advocating for the bus location for students John said no school board members because they are representing a wide variety of people who representing the community they definitely are influential on our legislators additionally I think we need to remember that we're also there to advocate for our community with our legislators with each other with Administration with the teacher you're there to advocate for the best public education that we can offer to our students thank you and Bill same question so I have a fundamental belief in that you know Jonathan and Shawna kind of said it but that data is our role or roll is advocacy and all those different facets you know from the governor on down to the Board of Regents to our legislators and to each other you're right build up with the community is that makes all the sense in the world. It's takes time we have the John mentioned the going after the formula and understanding without ads long multi-year process that will continue the conversation as continue I've been proud to be part of those conversations not only down in Albany but also with our various legislature like I said I I checked it roll seriously I am the chairman of the Four County legislative committee to take that role very seriously that includes many Saturday mornings where we're sitting with other District 95. We're going to have the key for all of our districts together and an understanding what the what things are the need to move us all forward know what afford to my district was supported our district where can we meet in the middle to be able to get the best for all of our areas and and talk to our legislators about where that goes because he is the wrong that's what we're here thank you and Shawna starting with you what are your thoughts on the school district's programs for special education special education students have a good base for the perimeter special education students on acid of the area where I feel like we could use a little bit of improvement in and Amber you and I talked about this before 2 is just your parents do that helping our parents help get the resources that we need and if they need for our children honestly special education services are children not an easy process and I think that the school district Saint julivert more help with helping here brighten a resource to help parents through that thank you and Bill same question to you probably a little bit near and dear to my my my son went through the special education department at Granada came out the came out the other side 2017 successful because of the strong work of the teachers and the school in general I mean that he would have made it through without them in the we have our school district are awesome and what they go after how they drive thing but do you know Sean is right in one thing that as a parent of a student that needs special education services you are bound. make sure you're doing the best for that soon you're doing everything you possibly can to make sure they are successful and it's an added burden that comes on those parents like to think you know we talked about this those those parents need that help they need communication they need to understand what they can do to help and how they become partners and wizard School District need to continue to make sure we improve those efforts and improve those communication thank you and John same question answer is going to be very similar to Shauna's as a parent who has two children that have gone through the special ed system in continuing to go if it's a very scary and challenging can you say parents dealing with this process because there there's no manual for a and the communication use critical teaching the parents about what they can do do they reach how to what resources exist it is it the teachers who do the special ed services are absolutely fantastic they are the stripes that the communication and am helping the parents what they're going for a challenge getting the support they need and that is something that is starting give me the number I'm fortunate that's in my kids needs are relatively on the lower end but it was still really really challenging to deal with him making more resources available to those parents really a way we can improve as a decimal thank you everyone starting with you Bill what should our school district do to better prepare students as Citizens so icy fundamental thing we do is we make sure we are educating all tile that were looking at their social emotional needs in and out of the only in addition to their academic needs to act them things are obviously we do while we're here everyday it's getting all four Jasper in part of that educating all for Success we got to make sure that they were taking care of what makes the drive them to be moved forward and what what makes them tick and understand those social emotional needs you know Dexter correct programs music clubs Athletics that's what brings kids to schools and drives them and I think that's what makes a whole student in the whole person and they find out where they can be successful and where they can go after things that make some a good trip once I fill out walk out of the school they know where they can contribute what they can do in society they're going to be good citizen so I think we have to make sure as a school district we concentrate on the broad piece of what we do that yes important was babson's in the classroom and how it happens in the classroom now we're supporting those students in their mental health and in there and then there you know their choices in life and where they go forward very credit what we do at the school district thank you and Shawna same question similar to Bill and also just as a mom I truly believe that social and emotional well-being is important in open to ensure that our students are going to be great citizen additionally outside of the ex obviously I think that that's just a basic Although our two teen basic fundamental how much of a scale but I understand that we have to help her students with but there are a couple of skill sets to that I think we really need our students if they come out to become better citizens but also better contributors in our Workforce as well you know some of those things consist of speaking now we do a great job getting features but you know they really do try to help our students with public speaking but giving them more of that opportunity things that I've seen her school district you is also in setting smart goals those are all things that that our district is doing I really look at you now what are we going to do to make them thank you and John same question certainly Bill mentioned an important thing which is the this is something that is critical to work on his parents as well as a district one of the other things that is one of my big bushes as an educator and higher education is digital literacy is a major issue in society is something that our school district should be working on from Grade School teaching our students how to evaluate information how to information effectively certainly if the college students I serve some of them are real and regardless of whether it goes on to higher education whether they go out to a trade whether they do anything being a citizen more effectively knowing what good information is information is is is absolutely right a call and that is something that I would definitely want to see the district focus on me thank you and John start with you on this next question could you support a board decision you did not vote in favor of why or why not yes I could support a board decision that I can. So in favor of one of the things I've done in my professional patient is work where I am not the person who ultimately makes the decision by role in the GF is pressure I work as a research director for a National Organization Department member m in my department I don't make the ultimate decision we need to work on building consensus we need to bring our spots are perspective together where we can reach is a board a decision that we can all support knowing where people are coming from in their advocacy and I find it very difficult to imagine a board station that I wouldn't you and Shawna same question yes I could similar to John I also work in a role where I'm just one time I'm one member of the team though so we come together and collectively make a decision obviously there's always going to be times where you may not necessarily agree with the decision to understand why the board asked at the collective and after the team it's not just one single person making decision so let's talk about why does why does the rest of the team support that decision thank you and Bill same question yes you have to be able to support a decision even though you don't necessarily agree with everything that's been there hopefully you find something in it that you do agree with or at least you understand I made a really good point Jean understanding where everybody else is coming from on the board because if you understand where they're coming from and what they're trying to do that helps you understand the decision where it's got to be letting many times on the board We Will We Will debate thing and you will sometimes knowing our work sessions you'll hear us go through those different things and we'll go will come from different places and move to those play you know I might come here but I'm not going to listen to you to make sure I get to understand why you got there where you get to it eventually if we have the students at the center of what we're trying to do and we're trying to go forward and what's best for the students in every decision we make most of the time we get to those places we have to be because it's about the students it's not about the adult Alabama board members about the students in the decision-making that affects them that tends to get you through that direction as long as I've been on the board and if I see something is going to help students and drive them towards 100% behind or that goes one of the board makes that decision thank you and Shawna starting with you and your opinion what are the leaders board members starting and you know after shooting division of the district no studying creating and revising policies that support that Vision in the education of our students and then honestly Financial in fiscal responsibility thank you and Bill same question The Shot Nurse job I agree with you that's the leadership part of it the other piece is always keep like I said just previously made my brain think about again is always keep the students first at leadership responsibilities making sure the district is focused on what's good for the students in what's moving the education programs forward to help them meet the challenges they're going to face in the real world when they get out there and be able to go after that that's that's the vision that's leadership with the school district school board thank you and Johnson question have already largely answered the question the same way I would really what the district has influence Board of Education did it we set the big picture Focus we don't deal with the day-to-day implementation that's the superintendent that's the administrators that's the teacher we provide infusion for what's the district should be focusing on as those that I think the students need to be the first thought followed by the parents the community members and okay I just couldn't remember if I got everybody for that question but we did so Bill starting with you what are two to three needs that must be priorities for our district 2 address and why do you see these as me set up first part of had two to three needs to District satisfaction that must be priorities for our district 2 address so I obviously financials we need continue to be in that and we need to grow that financial support for us to continue where we need to go we need can you to find resources to to fill the positions we need the teaching positions are some of the key teaching words of the scarce resources such as bilingual education on some of the Sciences we those of needs we need to find people that can do that and then the third piece Beach ticket can you to find time to be able to do these things and clear direction from State education what we need to go after and where we need to be driving towards those pieces that you were entering a tumultuous and we're going to need that direction so we can keep moving forward and not get in O guide share guidance to do this guy's to do this you need what's the direction are we going how we go forward or as a board member working out the guide ourselves through those navigate those Waters to be able to make sure we take care of them thank you and John same question so I think one of these focuses should be on communication this is something that I think should always be a that's not to say that it is fundamentally problematic in any stretch of the imagination but I think working on communication especially when it ties to special ed is important I think another focus and and I spoke it's a little bit ago is digital literacy like this is something that I believe is focusing more on the third year I think is to take best and learn and Implement ways to improve that this is in a opportunity like if you like I was trying to make lemonade you should learn from this experience in trying to improve the teaching especially because it is very realistic that at some point we may have to at least temporarily in baking improvements to the process that will benefit the students to parents the teachers and everybody else thank you and Shawna same question so my answer today is actually slightly different than my answer would have been 4 months ago you know I think one of the biggest needs is obviously addressing the health and safety including the emotional and psychological needs of our students it's going to scare her children and to have them go back into the school which I'm huge the kids to go back to school please by scared you know I think that in mind that one of the biggest needs are going at really have to address is emotional psychological Additionally the economic needs of the district we don't know what this loss of tax revenue is going as far as our budget as far as and not just for this year for years to come we have not seen the end of this and the impact that this virus has caused on our own another you eat at the financial impact on our community and then some other John and Acacia transparency and it's not to say that we have anything we have great communication thank you last question start with you John an individual School Board member has no Authority only the board as a whole to make decisions for the district what's other trades have messed up on this question last year to what skills or traits will allow you to contribute to effective operations the board as a whole so if I mentioned earlier in my professor tomorrow it's all about consensus-building have especially in in my department is sometimes feels like herding cats that you have very different perspectives that ultimately need to work together to achieve account Mission from a gecko as a school board were all aimed at helping the student like that is the first goal and when we all share the same fundamental goals that were just talking about the exam way to get there what's the specific Focus would be so focusing on building a consensus talking about different perspectives and we're different needs and opportunities are coming from ultimately build something be better than any one of us could build on our own I really believe that that is what a school board does regularly still something better than any one of us would build our own thank you and Shauna Sand question I know as I mentioned previously am I working human resources and I've done so for a long time my role in Human Resources is as an advocate but also a advisor and I feel like that it's very sad that I've gotten an email in the workplace have really and would really make me a strong candidate for this position and you know a lot of what I do is working collaboratively with a variety of different people whether it's being a member of this community and being a concerned parent one of the key things you have to do as a board member is you have to stay informed you have to read a lot of of the literature that's out there what's happening what's happening in the state what are the best practices what's going after being informed is the first pillar to being about part of that and then you have to listen you've got to listen to the other board members she's got to listen to the admin you got to listen to parents and you listen to the students when you have the opportunity to do that bring that all together allows you to become a part of the board be able to move forward to to work together so I take the all that very soon you know we get a lot of literature be a lot of different pieces and I am make it a habit to make sure I read that understand that and I walk into the boardroom I know what I'm talking about and I understand other people are coming from so that I can be a part of decision to move forward cuz I recognize my voice is just one small voice in that piece and that I might add something let's so doesn't the other six members on a board is that isn't never ever remember the admin staff that you thought this was my working session at all at he should contribute to make what's got to go forward when you recognize that you're a part of that helps you move forward to being affected Ford number redone question Shannon are there any questions from the commons not yet I'm going to post something so you guys can all see if the panelists would like to are they attendees would like to ask a question you can use the chance just taking your questions and we can start answering them as they come up paper any if they don't have any questions or well we're waiting for question asked the board members who are closing the candidate achievement bank statements are wrapping it all up would you like to say to people doing this video and we will start with Shana I feel the every child deserves an opportunity to be successful in public education while I believe we have a strong school system know we should never relax in our efforts to continuously improve and I feel that I myself I'm a lot to the school board so he's my leadership skills to guide and collaborate with others in our schools the best that they can be with a focus on student learning and also support our teachers stamps.com support for our special subjects such as art and music and physical education and foreign languages are extracurriculars all of those things that make our district a great District additionally I'm committed meeting excellence in education while ensuring good communication in continuous Improvement and John Let's have you give a closing statement as well so one of the thing he said if I'm elected to the school board will be my focus as I've been changes in speaking to implement digital literacy that is one of the things I really believe is critical for all citizens in all humans one of the other things that I think would be important to specialize in shrimp those would be think that I would be focusing on during my trunk thank you John and Bill go ahead with your closing time I've been honored to serve in the school board since 2011 feel like I've been a very active member served on many of the Committees and and help move the school district forward I've served it outside of our school district on the floor County School Board Association I'd like to continue that there's a lot more we done there's a lot more to move forward I think I bring the experience now to the district and in the learning and I've learned over these past few years to be able to move us even more forward as as we try to navigate through the next couple years and try to grow our district make it better than what it is now I think I can help and I get elected Shannon board member Steve nimz asked if her a Community member asked the question how do you go about answering it what's up with you John so what is the things that would matter is the nature of the question so if a Community member is in about a resource that I happened to the easily know where it's accessible I would eat them in the right direction I think that's important to when you can give informed the answer that it isn't AAA for decision I think that's something that you should do I should be accessible to the other hand there are some questions that I could imagine Community member asking that as a board member I can't speak to what will happen so if they're asking about what personnel decisions are going to be made that's something that I would not real comfortable answering so it would really depend on the nature of the question but as I mentioned earlier I'm somebody who errors on the side of being overly negative and if nothing else I would quickly given him that's a great question I can't answer it right now for some reason but here's how I'm going to get you the answer you're speaking thank you John and will go with you now Shawna I similar to John I really do think it matters I'm a nature of the question obviously there are some things are going to be confidential nature and be careful to not speak others industry are things that don't need to be shared but then in the same respect you are they looking for resources what is the nature of the question you know where they looking for information for data then of course by all means if I have the answer that I would provide them the answer the other things you is that if it's a concern I think it's important as a board member bring that back to the other members of the board and ensure that cancer thank you Shawna and Bill same question great answers. It's you got to listen and listen to what they want where they want to go in I agree with John if I know where there's a resource and say hey this is a great resource is the person you want to talk to if it's a thing that I know that I'm not supposed to be involved in that it's something that is supposed to be taken care of by the administration I will direct them a make sure you talk to your administrator make sure you talk to this person and where that needs needs to be I'm in a lot of times you just got to listen and that's what people want to do they just want to have some of them and hear what they have to say and and just met sure you wanted you to tell me I understand and then hopefully you can play them in the right direction where they need to go and that's what a board member sometimes needs to okay thank you everyone no other questions came in that's good because we're running out of time so let's wrap it up I just want to let everyone know that a video of this meeting will be available on the school's website later this week you're you guys should have received your mail-in ballot in the mail by now I know that I had mine don't forget to mail in your vote before the June election date if you haven't received the ballot please contact district clerk Leslie Ferrante budget packets have been mailed out and they should be reaching resident next week you can also find the budget at the school's website if you want to look at it now thank you all for your participation and I hope you have a great night thank you

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