School board sees 2 contested races

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Four candidates are seeking election to two posts on the board of trustees of the Mountain Home School District.

In Zone 1, incumbent Toni Reynolds is being challenged by Gary Oyler. In Zone 3, Rick Checketts and Art Nelson are competing for the trustee position. The Mountain Home News recently submitted a questionnaire to the school board candidates to determine their views on the difficult issues facing the school district this year.

Only Reynolds and Checketts responded. Nelson declined to respond, and Oyler did not return the form or any phone calls.

Toni Reynolds, Zone 1

Anntoinette "Toni" Reynolds is seeking re-election to the Mountain Home School District Board of Trustees Zone 1 position in next Tuesday's election.

Reynolds was born and raised in Mountain Home. She has worked at Les Schwab Tires Center for the past 27 years. Married to Mike Reynolds for 35 years, the couple have three grown children who all attended the Mountain Home School District. Currently, she has one grandson attending Hacker Middle School and another grandson at West Elementary School.

Reynolds responded to a questionnaire send out by the Mountain Home News for school board candidates.

Why are you running for the school board?

I have served two terms. I foresee the school board in the future having more influence on local budgets and we need to have one conservative voice on the board.

The district is looking at having to make just under $1 million in cuts. How should the district meet that funding constraint? What programs or positions do you believe should be eliminated?

A very large portion of the budget goes toward teacher salaries and deservedly so. However, we have teachers sometimes retiring in their 50s and expecting benefits for far more years then they have taught or worked in the school system. A potential saving may be found in an adjustment of retirement benefits. I would like to see fewer administrators and administrative assistants before cutting our valued and respected teachers.

The state is stressing the need for graduates to go on for continuing education in either junior colleges, colleges or universities, or advanced vocational training to improve their chances of being hired and having successful careers. Should the district maintain its dual-credit classes (where students earn college credit), or vocational education, or should its emphasis be on "core" classes only? Please explain your position.

I believe that core classes are #1, with the vocational education classes being limited as well as college credits. We are obligated to make our students college ready but minimally as our budget allows.

The district currently requires a full semester of classes beyond the graduation credits required by the state. Should it reduce its graduation requirements to the state minimum? What do you believe would be the impacts of your position?

Currently, board members are reviewing graduation credits. The state is in a financial crisis.

Do you believe computers should replace teachers in the classroom? Since the state will be requiring such a program 18 months from now, how many credits do you believe should be taken online and what classes do you think would be the best for computer instruction?

I do not believe that computers should take the place of teachers. But it is undeniable that computers are the way of the future.

The state, once again, has provided no money to acquire textbooks. Do you believe some additional cuts, beyond those required by the state, should be made in order to shift funds into textbook acquisition?

Yes.

Do you believe teacher unions have any value? Explain your position.

Yes, however when unions hold parents hostage by refusing to enter classrooms until their demands are meet, or attack Idaho Superintendent Tom Luna's family and personal property to make a point, that is wrong and then unions have gone too far.

How would you describe your attitude toward teachers?

Teachers deserve respect and admiration as they lay the foundation for our future leaders of tomorrow.

Do you believe teachers currently receive fair compensation, or should their wages and benefits be increased or decreased?

Through my experience with teachers in the Mountain Home School District I have discovered exceptional teachers and very marginal teachers. A good teacher is irreplaceable and a poor teacher can hinder a child's advancement for years to come. And pay scale should be paid accordingly and poor teachers should be removed.

What do you believe are the strengths and weaknesses of the Mountain Home School District?

Our small rural community is a tight knit group that believes parents and faculty can work together to address the need of all students. One weakness I see is our high school dropout rate. Losing one student is too many. Referring back to my earlier statement, it takes only one poor teacher to hold a student back.

If you were trying to lure teachers to seek employment with the Mountain Home School District, what arguments would you use?

Mountain Home offers affordable housing, huge growth potential, a safe environment and is a great small town community.

Describe your attitude toward and the educational value of: home schooling, private/charter schools and public education.

The educational value can only be determined by the quality of the educators in each instance.

For core classes, what is the maximum number of students you believe should be in a classroom at the elementary, junior high and high school levels?

I have grandchildren in the school district and I go back to the teacher and whether that person could handle an increase of 10 percent or say, two or three kids per room.

Please describe your general educational philosophy.

The public has entrusted the state and local school boards with the education of our children. We have a duty to do our best. Unfortunately, we have to do this with incredible financial restraints placed upon us.

If elected, are there any specific actions, policies or changes you would advocate as a board member?

I do not pretend to have all the answers. Cuts must be made and any cut will hurt someone or possibly many. The vast majority of every school budget goes to salaries and benefits. Common sense dictates that we at least explore some modification in that area. I would like to give the Idaho school superintendents' proposal a chance because I believe the current system is not working for Idaho families, students and teachers.

Rick Checketts, Zone 3

Richard F. Checketts is running for the Mountain Home School District Board of Trustees Zone 3 position in next Tuesday's election.

Checketts and his wife, Barbara, have three children, Richard, Penney and Paul, all of whom graduated from Mountain Home. They have four grandchildren going to school in Mountain Home, one at the high school, one at the junior high, one at the middle school and one in elementary school

Checketts and his wife have lived in Mountain Home for more than 30 years. A former school resource officer for the city police department before retiring, he noted that he has "worked closely with the schools most of those (30) years."

He retired from the Air Force as a master sergeant in 1977. He went to work with the Mountain Home Police Department and retired as a detective lieutenant in 1998. He became a substitute teacher after he retired.

Checketts responded to a questionnaire send out by the Mountain Home News for school board candidates.

Why are you running for the school board?

I have been around the school district working with the different schools and working in the junior high and high school for numerous years. Like all school districts they have problems. Mountain Home School District is unique. With our shrinking school population and the lack of funds from the state, our school board will be working hard to keep what we have and it will need all the help they can get. I have the time to help. I also feel that our school board (members) have been in office far too long, we need new people with new ideas to help get through the crises we are in.

The district is looking at having to make just under $1 million in cuts. How should the district meet that funding constraint? What programs or positions do you believe should be eliminated?

I feel the current curriculum in the high school should remain the same. We would be remiss in eliminating the block program. It has enhanced our educational process to new heights. The programs in all the schools are important. I know some changes need to be done, but I also feel that the parents, teachers and administration need to step up and work together. I would like to see the administration and teachers put their heads together and work on the problems at hand.

The block program with the dual credits and the vocational program are important and needed. We have to hold the state accountable for what they have dictated to our school districts.

I am not familiar with this program I would not like to comment until I can look into it.

No. It's important to have a teacher present to answer questions and to keep the students on track. The computer is an excellent tool to assist the teachers in their teaching. The core subjects should never be given online.

The textbook problem has existed for a long time. We know that the computer will not take the place of our textbooks. This is another failure of our state education board for having tunnel vision towards the computers. Textbooks are very expensive and the number that's needed would put a big hole in the budget. I don't have an answer to the problem. I do know that the teachers guard what they have and have done well with what they have.

Do you believe teacher unions have any value? Explain your position.

Yes. It is a peer-to-peer organization, which gives support to each other. It also gives a peer-to-board contact to keep both advised as to what is going on. We have to maintain some form of contact in order to maintain a flowing origination. To take away the teachers' bargaining power is to create distrust between our teachers, administration and the school board.

How would you describe your attitude toward teachers?

I have a deep respect for them. They have put up with numerous obstacles during their careers. I've met very few bad teachers. They don't last very long. I have also known outstanding teachers that have become discouraged over the actions of students not caring whether or not they get a education and parents that are to engrossed in their work and other things to pay attention to their kids. They have to worry about supplies and when they are low buy themselves. They have to update their education in order stay current to help the students. They are held accountable at all times by parents, administrators and their peers.

Do you believe teachers currently receive fair compensation, or should their wages and benefits be increased or decreased?

Under the circumstances today, with the economy where it is, to talk fair compensation is moot at this time. I do believe when and if we get to where we can start looking at it I would encourage upgrading their compensation.

What do you believe are the strengths and weaknesses of the Mountain Home School District?

At this time I would not like to discuss these issues.

If you were trying to lure teachers to seek employment with the Mountain Home School District, what arguments would you use?

It is hard to discuss bringing in teachers when so many will be laid off at the end of this school year.

Describe your attitude toward and the educational value of: home schooling, private/charter schools and public education.

I am not an advocate of home schooling. I feel that a child misses too much both in teacher instruction and peer association. Charter schools are sponsored by large corporation's but receive public funds. This takes away from areas that need the funds to operate. In our case it hurts us. Public schools cannot turn down anyone for schooling. We need the funds to do this. I think the State Board of Education and our legislature have lost sight of this.

For core classes, what is the maximum number of students you believe should be in a classroom at the elementary, junior high and high school levels?

According to Mr. Luna, a 14-1 ratio is best. We all know this is ideal, but I feel no more than 25 in the elementary schools, junior high and high school.

Please describe your general educational philosophy.

I feel that we should give the best well-rounded education that we possibly can. Not only core subjects, but music, sports and votech.

If elected, are there any specific actions, policies or changes you would advocate as a board member?

I will not address these subjects at this time.