Where do your candidates
stand on the issues?

Jeannine Craig, school board candidate

Q: This year, the Columbia Public School District did not operate the salary schedule, which pays teachers in accordance with their years in the district and their education. Do you consider operating the salary schedule a top priority?
A: "Yes to operating the salary schedule, but the cost of doing this sometimes will mean losing more teachers, losing supplies and larger class sizes because the funds aren’t always available. I would always operate our budget based off the funds available."


Q: The district has a $3.2 million deficit. How would you address the budget challenges?
A: Craig doesn't think the board can push the public into doing what it wants; rather, the board should serve the wants of the public. A levy would pass when the public asks for more funding from the board, she said.


Q: A plan to ask voters for two more $60 million bond issues to fund the new high school and other facilities appears to be defunct. The current board has been asked to consider putting a single $120 million bond issue before voters in 2010. Do you favor this?
A: Craig favors the single bond issuance. "I was shocked at the thought of a three-phased bond. If you are going to do it, you do it. If you can’t pass the bond issue, it’s because the taxpayers aren’t ready for you to do that."

Q: How would you improve communication with the board?
A: Craig wants to remove official language and jargon to be able to reach out to the community.

 

"You sit and you talk and you hope to become reasonable. "

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