Frequently Asked Questions

I absolutely believe that the school district’s responsibility is to prepare students for careers that are rewarding and lucrative. It is important to:

• build collaboration with industry leaders that can inform the district about requirements for success in their fields. Requirements may include college degrees (engineering, teaching, health), trade certifications (electricians plumbers construction), and professional business licensures (financial services, real estate)
• build interpersonal skills into our students’ day-to-day environment. Skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, decision making, and leadership
• include entrepreneurship and business ownership as a viable career path to begin as early as middle school.

Regardless of the path students take, a strong academic foundation is required. Our graduates must be able to read, communicate, and be equipped critical thinking skills to make adult level decisions.

The following challenges that I hear about that must be addressed:

• Reliable pick-up times that get the students to their schools BEFORE school start time. Reliable drop off times so families can make arrangements for their children to get home safely.
• CONSISTENT communication between parents, schools, and drivers so everyone knows where students are in transit.
• Assigning students to the bus routes in a timely manner. During the summer prior to the start of a new school year, EVERY family should be sent bus enrollment information so students can be assigned to a bus that they can ride on the first day of school. As new students are enrolled, their transportation mode should be included in the process.
• Shortage of bus drivers, which is a nation-wide problem. Signing bonuses and other incentives are being used in some districts to hire and retain drivers. The district should work with transportation providers of all sizes that are proactively addressing this problem.

The spotlight has been on chronic absenteeism of our students. While the definition of absenteeism and how it is being reported to the public is being debated, the fact remains that students cannot learn if they are not at school. It is the responsibility of the district to implement solutions. I feel we must get systems in place immediately so we can address the root causes for student absenteeism.

Some of my ideas include:

• Ensure a successful start to the school year for students. Parents should know where their student is enrolled, and transportation plans are in place well before the 1st day of school. There were a lot of mishaps due to the reorganization of the district that caused students to miss up to the first 20 days of school.
• Some students come to school for only part of their day. I recommend a robust attendance recording process that is implemented at each school with training provided for all staff, including substitute teachers and paraprofessionals.
• Parents may send or take their children to school, having no idea that they did not stay. Prompt notification to parents about absent students will include parents in addressing the problem.
• I have heard from citizens who see young people on the streets when they should be in school. Here is an opportunity for a partnership with the city to design safe and practical ways to return students to school.
• Parents should proactively notify the school when their child will be absent for any reason if practical. At a minimum, they should contact the school acknowledging their child’s absence.
• Some students leave school if they see that their teacher is absent. Teacher absenteeism should also be explored for any correlation with student absence.