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USD 373 Newton school board, at large
Candidates for Newton school board
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Barbara Bunting
Independent Education Management Professional
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Renee Erickson
Educator
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Tim Hodge
Attorney with Adrian & Pankratz, P.A.
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Jason S. Mitchell
Small business owner, real estate
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Thomas J. Vavra
Retired
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Tom Williams
Chief Executive Officer at Asbury Park
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Phebia Williams
Retired
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Randy Zohn
Comparison
- Biographical Information
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The Legislature may cut millions in education funding in the next two years to address state budget shortfalls. How should your school district scale back spending?
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Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, all students are expected to meet proficiency standards by 2014. How would you ensure student achievement in your district?
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If elected to the board of education, what would be your top priority?
Barbara Bunting:
Improving student achievement is my priority. Process is as important as the solution. It takes time. I am proud to be a board member in Newton where we have already begun the process. All staff (classified, certified, and administrative) participated in a Collaboration Day, focusing upon the topics of time, resources, staffing, and successes. The next step must include community input. In order to work smarter and more efficiently, I ask thought-provoking questions. I must continue my passionate legislative advocacy, emphasizing the current and future economic investments. Along with district leadership, the board must network with others and personalize others’ best practices. We MUST keep students first!
Barbara Bunting:
My responsibility lies in student advocacy. I must ensure adequate funding, fiscal responsibility, accountability, innovation, and good governance. Quality educators, appropriate facilities, increased parental involvement/responsibility and community engagement must be responsive to student need. I passionately engage in education! I pledge to participate in legislative problem solving to address: flexibility, multiple assessments, growth models, assistance (instead of punitive consequences) and research-based success strategies for student sub-groups.
Barbara Bunting:
Student Achievement. Student achievement includes improving adequate yearly progress assessment scores as well as 21st century learning and workforce skills (STEM, critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, ethics, etc.) Our local control must include advocacy with legislators, community, parents, and students. Increased funding has improved achievement. We must continue our assets-based excellence; Newton does not need reform, but visionary refinement.
Age:
55
Education/Degrees:
M. Ed., Counseling & School Psychology, Wichita State U.
B.S. 2ndary Educ., English/History, Illinois State Univ.
Leadership Newton, Leadership for Tomorrow, KS; National Council of Planned Giving Certification; Certified Alcohol/Drug Counselor I
Occupation:
Former teacher,school counselor, alcohol/drug counselor, community liaison (marketing, development & education)
Community Involvement:
Kidron-Bethel Retirement Village Board & Fund Development Committee; Northview Developmental Services, Inc. Board President; St. Mary’s, Newton, Stewardship Committee Chair; Diocesan Stewardship Committee;Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra Board; Kansas State University Kappa Delta Gramma Sorority Parents’ Club President; Multiple educational leadership and involvement
Children in school:
Both children (Molly Bunting Claassen and Robert J. Bunting, Jr.) graduates of Newton High School
Political experience:
Newton USD #373 Board of Education, 8 years, former VP;
Kansas Association of School Boards, Immediate Past President; National School Board Association, Western Region Past President; KASB Legislative Committee Chair;
ESSDACK Board Vice-President; Early Childhood Coalition Task Force; HCSEC Board; CVATS Board; additional involvment upon request
How long lived in district:
30 years
Campaign Phone:
315.283.1585
E-mail:
Bbunting1@cox.net
Web site:
www.barbarabunting.com
Social media (list any pages on Facebook, MySpace, etc.):
Barbara Bunting (FB)
BB for BOE (FB)
Renee Erickson:
Challenging economic times provide an opportunity to examine budget priorities and how funds are allocated. Students’ well-being should always be the top priority of the board. To that end, reductions in spending should be kept as far away from the classroom as possible.
Renee Erickson:
To ensure student achievement, there must be highly qualified teachers in every classroom. Every effort must be made to hire competent teachers, provide quality professional development opportunities, and develop leadership capacity in staff members. Student achievement is also enhanced through providing multiple learning opportunities that offer enrichments and interventions based on student needs. Extra-curricular activities are also vital to student achievement.
Renee Erickson:
If elected to the board of education, the welfare of students and teachers would be my top priority. Ensuring that students have the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their post-secondary goals, whether continuing their formal education or starting a career, is crucial. Inseparable from student well-being is teacher well-being. Ensuring that teachers have the means and support to be effective in preparing students for their life goals is essential.
Age:
45
Education/Degrees:
BS in Business Administration, Oklahoma Christian University
BE in Business Education, Wichita State University
MS in Family Life Education and Consultation, Kansas State University
K-12 School Leadership License, Baker University
Occupation:
Assessment Coordinator, USD 259
Community Involvement:
Newton High School Athletic Hame of Fame Board
Former member, Newton Chamber of Commerce
Children in school:
Emily, sophomore at Newton High School
Andrew, graduated from Newton High School in 2008
How long lived in district:
Most of my life (left for college)
Campaign Phone:
316-217-1308
E-mail:
erickson4schoolboard@live.com
Web site:
erickson4schoolboard.com
Tim Hodge:
As in my household, our district will have to make changes to its budget. The first areas to scrutinize would be energy and supply costs. To do this, a district should evaluate its bus routes and hours of operation. A district may have to consider changing the school year dates to cut down on utility costs. Extra-curricular activities should also be reviewed and streamlined where possible, but not eliminated. In any event, teacher pay and benefits should be the last area to take a haircut.
Tim Hodge:
As it is my hope all students be successful and take advantage of a tax supported education system, the reality is that some will not have the ability to do so. As it stands now, the school system bears all the blame for a failing school even though parents and students are large factor's in a student's success. Each district has its own set of successes and challenges and the Federal Government's "one size fits all" formula must be changed to appreciate the uniqueness of every district.
Tim Hodge:
Top priority would be to avoid cuts. Cutting education today would be punishing today's students for mistakes beyond their control. Student Education is the area where we will get a profound return on our investment. It is (and always has been) the best place to put money. Our society depends on our education system producing bright minds to lead us out of recession. Cutting funding for education in the present environment would be like withholding water from a garden just about to produce.
Age:
33
Education/Degrees:
B.A. Tabor College, Social Science Education, 1999
Juris Doctorate, Washburn University School of Law, 2003
Occupation:
Attorney with Adrian & Pankratz, P.A.
Community Involvement:
Founding Member of Newton 10,000 Villages
Founding Member of Newton Community Childcare Center
Member of Koerner Heights Church
Children in school:
Jonah Charles Hodge, 8, Mrs. Wenger's second Grade Class at Slate Creek Elementary
Political experience:
None
How long lived in district:
Five Years
Campaign Phone:
1-316-283-0902
E-mail:
tim@hodge373.org
Web site:
www.hodge373.org
Social media (list any pages on Facebook, MySpace, etc.):
Facebook
Jason S. Mitchell:
The district should cut back spending by cutting the bloated administrative department. The number of administrators has doubled in the last decade but the number of students has increased from 3375 to 3450. I would also push to reduce or eliminate in town bussing for children whose parents are perfectly capable of taking them to school.
Jason S. Mitchell:
I would ensure student achievement in USD 373 by getting administrators out of the classroom and letting the teachers do their job, teach! The administration tries to micro-manage what the teachers are doing. The teachers at each level should be encouraged to get together and figure out what woks best themselves.
Jason S. Mitchell:
My top priority will be fiscal responsibility. If you eliminate unnecessary administrative positions then you get rid of a person who not only draws a salary and benefits but who also has to spend money to justify their position. In USD 373 the budget has gone from $40 million in 05-06 to $49 million in 08-09 with an increase of only 25 students!!
Age:
36
Education/Degrees:
B.S. K-State, Newton High School 1991
Occupation:
I run a small business selling agricultural and construction products. I also invest in real estate.
Community Involvement:
Volunteer at taste of Newton, volunteer at 4-H events.
Children in school:
3 year old son, newborn daughter
Political experience:
Member of the student senate at K-State
How long lived in district:
17 years
Campaign Phone:
316-680-6456
E-mail:
jsmitch73@hotmail.com
Thomas J. Vavra:
I would take all the traditional actions that an organization or a family does when faced with a money crisis and that would be to tighten the belt. In USD 373 since salaries are the largest expense in the budget I would freeze hiring, look at all administrative and clerical positions and make adjustments there as required. Laying off teachers would be a last step scenario. Next I would analyze expenditures for any big ticket items such as computers, cars, trucks, buses and put those on hold.
Thomas J. Vavra:
I think our school district and school board needs to redouble their efforts to engage the students' parents in the education process. I feel that if you have motivated parents you will have a motivated student. I would also make sure that understandable school and student achievement data is readily available and is shared with all district patrons not just the parents of students. It is critical that we also maximize the time that teachers are actually teaching.
Thomas J. Vavra:
To improve district patron engagement in the educational process. I would like to see a packed house at every school board meeting.
Education/Degrees:
BSc. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
Occupation:
Retired, August 2008
Community Involvement:
Just a regular citizen.
Children in school:
None at the present time. Two adult children were Newton High School Graduates.
Political experience:
None
How long lived in district:
Twenty-five years.
Campaign Phone:
None
E-mail:
vavra@earthlink.net
Tom Williams:
While attending the USD 373 district wide budget work session Feb.27, I learned that there is considerable waste in food service and over utilization of transportation service that should be evaluated for savings. Also, policies need to be developed (or revised) to limit the amount of money that is spent on professional development and travel. Other areas that need to be evaluated are the efficient use of instructional coaches, reviewing extracurricular sports programs which lose money, and scheduling school four days a week rather than five (if necessary). Another idea is to implement a “green” program and expand current initiatives with the intent of saving our natural resources, therefore saving money (i.e. shutting computers down, etc.). All these ideas and others need to be refined for final evaluation by the USD373 Board of Education.
Tom Williams:
This would have to be a work in process with the District Superintendent on a district wide strategic plan through 2014 assuring student achievement meets proficiency standards. My two ideas are:
1. Periodic progress reports of formative assessment results requiring additional attention so appropriate interventions are implemented to support the teacher and classroom
2. Interventions could be the services from a comprehensive volunteer program to provide tutoring, etc. To make this happen the district will need to recruit community volunteers to provide teachers the support required for test success and classroom education that may have been missing because of the teacher’s focus to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. Implementing this type of program may alleviate undue stress on good teachers, which should reduce teacher turnover in a profession already experiencing shortages.
Tom Williams:
It goes without saying that dealing effectively with the legislature’s budget cuts and the long-term impact on education is the top priority.
Age:
53
Education/Degrees:
BS from Wichita State University, MA from Webster University
Occupation:
Chief Executive Officer at Asbury Park,
Adjunct faculty Wichita State University
Community Involvement:
Member of Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Member of Newton Medical Center Ethics Committee,
Member of Newton Rotary Club, Volunteer for Newton Meals on Wheels, Immediate Past President for the Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, NHS Forensics Tournament Judge,
Board Member/Vice President, Mirror, Inc.
Children in school:
The Newton School District has (and currently still does) educated all three of my daughters. One is in medical school, one is in college and one is at Newton High School.
How long lived in district:
Ten of the last 15 years.
Campaign Phone:
316-283-5518
E-mail:
tmcccwilliams@hotmail.com
Phebia Williams:
I would like to see them freeze salaries but not lay off people.
Phebia Williams:
Make better use of our instructional cultures.
Phebia Williams:
Bringing some diversity to the Newton School district. Newton has no African-American or Native-American teachers in our district.
Education/Degrees:
Associates degree in liberal arts, Hutchinson Community College
Occupation:
Retired
Community Involvement:
Second Baptist Church, Newton
Children in school:
2 sons graduated from Newton High
How long lived in district:
46 years
Campaign Phone:
316-283-5256
Randy Zohn:
Candidate response is not yet available.
Randy Zohn:
Candidate response is not yet available.
Randy Zohn:
Candidate response is not yet available.