Supporting Public Education - details
As a public education psychologist and administrator (38 years), Ann has seen Rockingham County Schools’ staff work diligently within its resources to provide excellent opportunities for students. We have many very dedicated and caring teachers and staff. In addition, commissioners have worked to improve buildings and facilities although there are still many needs. Our system has earned many awards for programs and staff; a focus on quality instruction and school safety pervades.
Quality public schools depend on many factors; adequate funding is certainly one major requirement to maintain quality staff, provide classroom materials, implement safety measures, provide focused and individualized instruction, allow both technical training and college preparation programs, focus on early childhood needs, etc. However, due to cuts in per pupil expenditures and increased regulations from the state level, the resources have dwindled and the demands have increased. At the local level, when the school systems merged (1993), the commissioners set a goal of increased local funding. Again in 1997 the commissioners set a goal to raise funding to the state average level, but apparently resources were not available to meet these goals. Increasing local expenditures would help our schools meet their needs; increases involve more taxes or cuts to other programs. Commissioners need to ensure that schools get adequate funding within available resources.
Recognizing limited state and local resources, there are other avenues that can be pursued by our county lead by commissioners to improve our educational opportunities. As stated elsewhere, making our county an inviting place for people to live and work will certainly help recruit and keep qualified and caring educators. Within reason, we need to provide more ways to show respect and appreciation to teachers and other school staff encouraging the employment and retention of skilled, caring, and dedicated staff. We cannot match Guilford County’s pay supplement so we need to find other incentives to encourage the best staff to come and remain in Rockingham County. The Commissioners can help with this effort!
We need to encourage public schools and the community college to be positive community centers; they need to be comfortable places for students, parents, and other community members. We also need to continue expanding partnerships with businesses and between the community college and public schools for increased student opportunities to learn technical skills. The current quarter cent sales tax referendum is an example of an initiative that will help improve the community college; additional needs continue to exist in the public schools.
We need to promote public education as the best way to ensure work ready future citizens with critical thinking skills and positive work and community values. Our state has pushed private school (with vouchers) and charter schools (with fewer regulations and requirements) and allows homeschools with minimal scrutiny. Commissioners can help create more positive images for our wonderful public schools.
Ann also believes the schools should continue work to improve school safety and security using approved solutions such as locked facilities, more cameras, utilizing SRO officers, and perhaps installing safe rooms. It is very positive that a county-wide task force across agencies has already been initiated and that there is also a state committee that has begun deliberating new solutions. Her experience working on school safety committees can help with these efforts.
Again, she believes the future of our county depends on strong and positive public education and community college systems and the commissioners can help further promote these goals through careful budgeting of available resources as well as encouraging and creating positive and safe school environments. Her extensive experience throughout our school system, state education task forces, instructing future teachers at the college level, budgeting within limited resources, and serving as a school psychologist and special education director will allow her to sit on the Board of Commissioners with a unique and positive perspective.
Quality public schools depend on many factors; adequate funding is certainly one major requirement to maintain quality staff, provide classroom materials, implement safety measures, provide focused and individualized instruction, allow both technical training and college preparation programs, focus on early childhood needs, etc. However, due to cuts in per pupil expenditures and increased regulations from the state level, the resources have dwindled and the demands have increased. At the local level, when the school systems merged (1993), the commissioners set a goal of increased local funding. Again in 1997 the commissioners set a goal to raise funding to the state average level, but apparently resources were not available to meet these goals. Increasing local expenditures would help our schools meet their needs; increases involve more taxes or cuts to other programs. Commissioners need to ensure that schools get adequate funding within available resources.
Recognizing limited state and local resources, there are other avenues that can be pursued by our county lead by commissioners to improve our educational opportunities. As stated elsewhere, making our county an inviting place for people to live and work will certainly help recruit and keep qualified and caring educators. Within reason, we need to provide more ways to show respect and appreciation to teachers and other school staff encouraging the employment and retention of skilled, caring, and dedicated staff. We cannot match Guilford County’s pay supplement so we need to find other incentives to encourage the best staff to come and remain in Rockingham County. The Commissioners can help with this effort!
We need to encourage public schools and the community college to be positive community centers; they need to be comfortable places for students, parents, and other community members. We also need to continue expanding partnerships with businesses and between the community college and public schools for increased student opportunities to learn technical skills. The current quarter cent sales tax referendum is an example of an initiative that will help improve the community college; additional needs continue to exist in the public schools.
We need to promote public education as the best way to ensure work ready future citizens with critical thinking skills and positive work and community values. Our state has pushed private school (with vouchers) and charter schools (with fewer regulations and requirements) and allows homeschools with minimal scrutiny. Commissioners can help create more positive images for our wonderful public schools.
Ann also believes the schools should continue work to improve school safety and security using approved solutions such as locked facilities, more cameras, utilizing SRO officers, and perhaps installing safe rooms. It is very positive that a county-wide task force across agencies has already been initiated and that there is also a state committee that has begun deliberating new solutions. Her experience working on school safety committees can help with these efforts.
Again, she believes the future of our county depends on strong and positive public education and community college systems and the commissioners can help further promote these goals through careful budgeting of available resources as well as encouraging and creating positive and safe school environments. Her extensive experience throughout our school system, state education task forces, instructing future teachers at the college level, budgeting within limited resources, and serving as a school psychologist and special education director will allow her to sit on the Board of Commissioners with a unique and positive perspective.