Where do your candidates
stand on the issues?

Michelle Pruitt, 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: "I have been a vocal supporter of operating the teacher salary schedule, even addressing the school board at a listening session last year when it first became evident that financial difficulties might make it impossible to do so. In fact, CPS is one of the only three districts in the state that did not operate its salary schedule this year. I believe this is a serious impediment to teacher and staff recruitment and retention and undermines employee morale."


Q: The district has a $3.2 million deficit. How would you address the budget challenges?
A: "I think we have kind of been derailed by budget issues, by personnel issues and not being able to operate the teacher salary schedule. This throws the teachers into this area where they don't know what to expect from one year to another. My goal would be to restore that academic excellence that I know there is the potential for. I think we do need to focus on putting our resources in the classroom and supporting the teachers and making sure the budget is really focused on having some kind of long-term vision for where we want to go."


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: "The community clearly believed a new high school was a justifiable expense for the district when the original bond issue was approved. I believe the revised bond issue completing the funding of the new high school in one step is a better option for the district than the previous phased plan. The sooner we can finalize funding, the sooner we can control construction costs."


Q: How would you improve communication with the board?
A: "I have seen small changes make a big difference. I think currently the board has opened the meetings up more to public comment, and in some cases, the board even responded to comments made in the meetings, and in the recent past that hasn't been the case. A small change can make a big difference, and I think the board is making a progress in that direction, but I think the momentum needs to be kept moving in that direction. ... I think a lot of it has to do with being willing to tell more information as opposed to less information — just being more open with everything."

 

"Everyone wants students to understand math and be able to do math."

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