Northwest School Board Candidates Mind Their Manners

Candidates for the Northwest R-1 School District board of directors participated in a candidate forum last week that was orderly, respectful and focused largely on the issues that will face the district in an uncertain financial future.

There was an undercurrent, however, of an undescribed "friction" on the seven-member school board that several candidates vowed to fix.

Candidates participating in the forum were Norman O. Weber, Retta "Susan" Tuggle, Ron Deichmann, Sherri K. Talbott, Chris Davis and Serrie L. Werner.

"There is a small division on the board and I would like to help put that back together," said Deichmann, of XXXX.

"I think there is a lot of friction on the board now and it filters down to the teachers, said Davis, of XXXX.

Talbott, of House Springs, current president of the school board, acknowleged some disharmony, but said it hasn't affected the work being done by the school board.

"This is an outstanding board and an outstanding district," Talbott said. "This is a better school district now than it was 10 years ago when I retired. "There is a little bit of discord and I think we run better when we run as a team."

Although no specifics were mentioned, in recent months the majority of decisions made by the school board were approved by 7-0 votes. The few exceptions have been several 6-1 votes, with current board member Brian Haskins on the minority side.

"Some board members right now affect the leadership as a whole and I think everyone out there knows what I mean," said Davis, who didn't specify what he meant.

"Sometimes as a board we don't agree, but we should respect one another and work together for our children," Tuggle said. "We are all looking out for the good of the district."

"We don't always agree but, for the most part, we are respectful of one another," Talbott said. "There is nobody evil on this board. There is nothing wrong with a little disagreement, as long as we are all thinking about what is good for the district."

The candidate forum was sponsored by the Northwest chapter of the Missouri Stete teachers Association. It was moderated by Missouri Rep. John McCaherty, R-90th District. After a round where candidates introduced themselves and their qualifications for seeking a position on the school board, questions were selected randomly by McCaherty and directed toward each candidate individually.

Regarding challenges facing the school district in the future, Weber said the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandates and school funding are two areas the school board will have to address. Some NCLB federal funding is determined by student scores on standardized tests in math and reading. Also, Northwest revenues have fallen with fewer state funds coming to the districts, and a decrease in the number of students attending Northwest schools. About 45 percentof the Northwest R-1 budget comes from the state.

"We are having to do more with less, because less is going to be available," Weber said. "As for No Child left behind, we are focusing on subjects (students) are tested on and not other subjects that may be necessary for well-rounded children."

Deichmann and Davis said the image of the Northwest R-1 schools needs polishing.

"I don't want to sit at home and talk about the things that need to be done," Davis said. "I want to put our name on the map. We need to make these schools better. Our task is to our ability to overcome and adhere to the funds that are before us."

Davis said he is exploring the possibility of establishing a sales tax that would be used to help pay for the schools.

"The district has a less than stellar reputation, but it's a perceived thing," Deichmann said. "How do people still look down on us? Our district is not a bad place to be."

Werner said she would consider outsourcing some items paid for the district, such as custodial, cafeteria and bus services. She also questioned the practice of teacher tenure.

"It all depends on the cost, and what would make more sense fiscally," Werner said. "I don't always think tenured teachers are the best. Tenure shouldn't always be used as a means for continued employment."

The role of a school board was discussed by several candidates.

"Does a board member have a role in the day-to-day operation of the district? No," Weber said."The board is to create policies, and we have books and books and books of policies, and to hire a good superintendent, and if (the superintendent) doesn't do a good job you get rid of him and hire a new one."

"We have to make sure academically that we are where we need to be concerning curriculum," Tuggle said.

Weber also said current events and current needs should be taken into account when making curriculum choices. "As board members, we should have a pulse on the outside world and work to provide subjects based on what children will be exposed to after they graduate."

Davis said communication is important. "It's vital to communicate with the superintendent and thet he listens. Sometimes it's the little people who have the best ideas and we don't always listen."

Talbott addressed the district's infrastructure. "Our facilities are improved, but ther are not where we want them yet. It takes a lot of upkeep when the buildings are older."

Weber raised the possibility of closing, or re-utilizing some of the district's schools. "We still have more seats than we do children."

It was Deichman who brought a note of levity to the candidate forum, when he referred directly to the notes he brought to the meeting.

"I do have some notes," he said. "The first is 'Don't forget wife.' I did that last time."

The Northwest R-1 school board election is Apr. 5. Three seats on the board are up for election for three-year terms.

Fenton-High Ridge Patch will provide detailed profiles of each candidate this week.