Sunday, February 24, 2019
School Board Candidates In Close Agreement On Topics Concerning Public Education
School board candidates largely agree on achievement gap, school safety
The three candidates for the Columbia Public School Board found consensus on contentious topics, including what they called the widening inequity in schools because of recent redistricting decisions and school safety.
All three candidates are seeking their first term, as current president Jan Mees and member James Whitt will not seek re-election when their terms expire in April. The candidates are vying for two seats on the board.
The three candidates are former assistant attorney general Jay Atkins, Della Streaty-Wilhoit and current MU doctoral student Blake Willoughby. More than 40 educators and residents sat in and participated in the forum.
Inequity and redistricting
Atkins summed up all three candidates’ viewpoints when addressing inequity.
“As a baseline, we have a problem,” he said.
Streaty-Wilhoit and Willoughby mentioned the achievement gap.
“The achievement gap is real between black and white,” Streaty-Wilhoit said. “I am a black female. There are many times people have to be educated about my race.”
While Streaty-Wilhoit said the lack of attendance of black students is a major component in the achievement gap, Atkins stressed the reading proficiency levels in schools needs to be raised in order to bridge the gap.
“I will fight tooth and nail,” he said.
The audience expressed concern about ways recent redistricting decisions may negatively effect the current inequity problems within the school district, such as free and reduced lunches.
She said all schools must be considered when it comes to allocating funds because Battle will not be the only school affected.
“Let’s just remember, all schools need resources,” she said.
Willoughby agreed.
“If they don’t get those resources, that means we’re not going to be able to meet our academic goals for them ... and what we want to see in them,” he said.
Safety concerns
The candidates discussed safety concerns from two angles:
- A safe and welcoming environment for all students regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, mental health concerns or ability.
- The physical well-being and safety of everyone in the building.
Willoughby said he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and is young enough, at 24 years old, to relate to the issues that children are facing in schools today. He said that small changes, such as adding gender-neutral bathrooms and asking students for their preferred pronouns, can make a difference in whether or not a student feels welcome and appreciated by their school and teachers.
Atkins agreed.
“I think (Willoughby) hit the nail right on the head,” he said. “It’s not about grown-up, political differences; it’s about the kids.”
The only area of polite disagreement between the candidates was the issue of guns in schools.
Willoughby and Atkins said they would be interested in any legislation that would benefit the school district.
“I wouldn’t reject it out of hand,” Atkins said. “But I would want to know what we’re talking about.”
Atkins and Willoughby said the local school district should have the ultimate say in whether guns are allowed in schools.
Streaty-Wilhoit, on the other hand, said that she does not want guns in schools.
“I know how to use one; I’ve been trained to use guns in my field,” she said. “I do not believe they are needed in Columbia Public Schools.”
While both Atkins and Willoughby mentioned that the carrying of guns by police and school officers would be acceptable due to their specific and qualified training, Streaty-Wilhoit did not comment on this facet of guns in schools.
Willoughby, who closed the debate, summed up what all three candidates were hoping to achieve if they win a seat.
“No matter what your race, your job title, your gender, your socio-economic status, your sexuality, your age or your varying abilities,” he said, “(it is important) that you are heard because you are the school board, not just the seven of us.”
CMNEA Hosts First CPS School Board Forum
By Roger McKinney- Columbia Daily Tribune
Current board policy allows school resource officers, employees of the Columbia Police
Department, to have guns in school buildings. The district security director and assistant
security director may also carry firearms, provided they have police certification, necessary
state and federal licenses and at least 24 hours of firearms training annually.
Department, to have guns in school buildings. The district security director and assistant
security director may also carry firearms, provided they have police certification, necessary
state and federal licenses and at least 24 hours of firearms training annually.
State lawmakers have debated for several years whether to allow teachers to be armed.
Candidate Della Streaty-Wilhoit said she opposes the idea, as did candidate Blake Willoughby.
Candidate Jay Atkins said he’s open to the idea.
Candidate Jay Atkins said he’s open to the idea.
The forum for Willoughby, Streaty-Wilhoit and Atkins, sponsored by the Columbia Missouri
National Education Association, took place at Paxton Keeley Elementary School. The
moderators were teachers Cortni Gonzalez and Shelli Thelen. The trio is vying for two open
seats on the board in the April 2 election.
National Education Association, took place at Paxton Keeley Elementary School. The
moderators were teachers Cortni Gonzalez and Shelli Thelen. The trio is vying for two open
seats on the board in the April 2 election.
“I do not believe guns should be allowed in Columbia Public Schools,” Streaty-Wilhoit said.
People have tempers and when they also have guns, people get killed, she said.
“The old-fashioned way is to talk it out or duke it out,” she said, adding that she’s not
recommending the latter, but that doesn’t result in death.
recommending the latter, but that doesn’t result in death.
Before answering, Atkins joked that he wouldn’t want to tangle with Streaty-Wilhoit.
“I wouldn’t want to reject it out of hand,” Atkins said about allowing teachers or others to
have guns.
have guns.
Who could carry a weapon would depend on the level of training required and other factors,
he said.
he said.
“Some mix of armed personnel, it might make sense,” he said, adding that the district
currently is doing a good job of providing safe schools.
currently is doing a good job of providing safe schools.
Safety measures the district has in place have been working, Willoughby said.
“I don’t want to offer teachers that option,” Willoughby said.
The issue of charter schools is being forced on larger communities by work in the legislature
on a proposal to expand charter schools. Currently the independent but publicly-funded
schools are allowed in Kansas City and St. Louis, but bills in the legislature would allow them
in any county with a charter form of government or any city with a population greater than
30,000.
on a proposal to expand charter schools. Currently the independent but publicly-funded
schools are allowed in Kansas City and St. Louis, but bills in the legislature would allow them
in any county with a charter form of government or any city with a population greater than
30,000.
The candidates were all skeptical of whether charter schools are needed in Columbia.
Atkins said no charter schools should be allowed without oversight by the local school board.
“That’s foolish, right?” he said. He said if there is local oversight, charter schools can be more
flexible.
flexible.
“Flexibility in education is key to making the right decisions,” he said.
Willoughby also said there should be no charter schools in the Columbia school district unless
the local school board oversees it. He said charter schools need to be held accountable to the
public.
the local school board oversees it. He said charter schools need to be held accountable to the
public.
Streaty-Wilhoit said charter schools have the potential to make a negative impact on racial
and economic diversity of schools.
and economic diversity of schools.
“Before we move to charter schools, let us understand the bill a little bit more,” she said.
On the question of how to provide protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students, the candidates said the focus should be on fairness.
students, the candidates said the focus should be on fairness.
The district should provide more gender-neutral bathrooms and better training for teachers
and staff, Willoughby said. Teachers and other adults should accommodate students and their
preference for pronouns or their name. Students already are in a precarious time in their lives
and politics shouldn’t be part of the debate, he said.
and staff, Willoughby said. Teachers and other adults should accommodate students and their
preference for pronouns or their name. Students already are in a precarious time in their lives
and politics shouldn’t be part of the debate, he said.
“It’s about the kids and making sure they’re safe and included and welcome,” Willoughby said.
“Well said, Blake,” Streaty-Wilhoit responded.
For her, the issue is fairness in education, Streaty-Wilhoit said.
“Under my watch, everybody will be treated with fairness,” she said.
Atkins said he agreed with Willoughby that the issue is about fair treatment of kids and
making them feel welcome in school.
making them feel welcome in school.
“This is not about grown-ups,” he said. “This is not about politics.”
During a discussion of early childhood education, Atkins criticized the district for cutting the
Parents as Teachers program and for reducing the number of reading specialists, calling them
“two incredibly bone-headed moves.”
Parents as Teachers program and for reducing the number of reading specialists, calling them
“two incredibly bone-headed moves.”
Parents as Teachers provides home visits to parents from birth to age 5 to track development
of children. While Atkins blamed cuts on the district, Allie Gassmann, a PAT parent educator,
said after the forum that the program was available to all parents until the staff was reduced
nine years ago as a result of state cuts.
of children. While Atkins blamed cuts on the district, Allie Gassmann, a PAT parent educator,
said after the forum that the program was available to all parents until the staff was reduced
nine years ago as a result of state cuts.
There has been no reduction in reading specialists, district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark
said Friday. In fact, she said, the number of reading instructors has increased.
said Friday. In fact, she said, the number of reading instructors has increased.
Streaty-Wilhoit and Willoughby said the district should do more to provide and promote early
childhood education.
childhood education.
“If you don’t start that within 1- or 2- or 3-years-old, they’re already behind,” she said.
Willoughby said research shows the early childhood education is beneficial and Parents as
Teachers is an important part of that.
Teachers is an important part of that.
“Every decision needs to be about what is going to make sure that our kids are life-ready,”
Willoughby said.
Willoughby said.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Current CPS Board Candidates Share Thoughts on Teacher Salaries
The three remaining Columbia Board of Education candidates said teachers deserve higher pay and support collective bargaining, though one said he had other issues with the National Education Association.
Jay Atkins, Della Streaty-Wilhoit and Blake A. Willoughby remain in the race for the April 2 school board election. Brian C. Jones dropped out of the race Thursday with a statement that he is moving to Wisconsin for a new job. His name will remain on the ballot.
Collective bargaining between negotiating teams for the Columbia Missouri National Education Association and the Columbia Board of Education began last week. Salaries will be part of the negotiation, but the CMNEA team hasn’t yet put forward a specific salary request.
A beginning teacher’s salary is $36,000 in CPS. The average salary for teachers is $53,590 and the top salary in the teachers’ salary schedule is $76,099. The school board’s negotiation team said last year they were working toward a $40,000 starting salary and a simplified salary schedule within a few years.
The minimum salary is near the top starting salaries in the region, according to a salary survey by the Missouri State Teachers Association. The salary schedule maximum is the highest for the region.
Willoughby said the district should try to keep up with the national average while staying in line with the budget and ensure that all teachers have a salary increase each year.
The average public school teacher salary in 2016-17 was $59,660, according to “Rankings of the States 2017 and Estimates of School Statistics 2018” by the NEA. The average salaries ranged from $81,902 in New York to $45,555 in West Virginia.
“I would love for us to hire teachers and have the most competitive salaries and the best salaries we can do at the time,” Willoughby said.
He fully supports collective bargaining for teachers, he said.
“It allows for the amassing of voices and for that collective to be heard,” Willoughby said. “It allows them to say what their needs are.”
Board members should attend collective bargaining sessions as observers, he said. That hasn’t been the practice of current board members.
“That way board members can see what’s really going on and what they’re asking for,” Willoughby said.
Streaty-Wilhoit said inadequate pay for teachers is a statewide problem and addressing it requires strategic planning and budgeting.
“On this issue, we have a long way to go in finding a solution,” she said. “As an educator, I am for paying teachers a higher salary. However, how do we pay for it?”
Salaries and benefits make up 57 percent of spending in the district’s budget, around $181 million.
“I believe collective bargaining is an important process,” Streaty-Wilhoit said. “But it requires distinct identification of source funding. Where are you going to get the pay? We cannot ignore collective bargaining. It is directly correlated with pay and benefits and good salaries.”
Atkins said he’s sympathetic to low pay among professionals. He said as an assistant attorney general in 2007, he made $32,000 and his wife called him crying to tell him their electricity had been shut off.
“You can’t educate children without good teachers and you can’t get good teachers without paying them what they’re worth,” he said. “We may need to get creative.”
Collective bargaining “is the most efficient method to get where we need to go,” Atkins said. He said any other method of determining salaries and benefits would be more time-consuming and costly for the administration.
Although he supports collective bargaining, he said he has policy differences with the NEA.
“I’m in favor of school choice,” he said. “It’s a stark difference with the NEA.”
He said he’s not in favor of gutting funding of public education and he doesn’t favor school vouchers to allow parents to choose private schools. He said he is more favorable to using tax credits for private schools. Atkins said he opposes anything that interferes with parents’ decisions about the best education for their children.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Columbia Public School Board Candidate Brian Jones Drops from Upcoming Race
 |
| Mr. Brian Jones |
There are now just three candidates for the April 2 Columbia Board of Education election with Brian Jones’ Thursday statement that he’s withdrawing from the race.
His name will remain on the ballot, Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon wrote in an email.
He emailed a statement to reporters writing that he made the decision “with great sadness.”
“I was presented with an unexpected employment opportunity that I have accepted in the best interests of my family,” he wrote. “We are relocating to Wisconsin at the end of this month.”
He thanked supporters in the email and wished good luck to remaining candidates, also challenging them to “foster an inclusive environment where every student, staff member and educator can feel safe being their authentic self at school each day!”
The other candidates are Della Streaty-Wilhot, Blake A. Willoughby and Jay Atkins. Voters will elect two to the school board. Incumbents Jim Whitt and Jan Mees didn’t seek re-election.
Lennon wrote that Feb. 5, the eighth Tuesday before the election, was the deadline to withdraw in order for one’s name to be removed from the ballot. A state law prevents it from being removed from the ballot after that date.
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