Desert
Area Teachers Association
Written
Questions for School Board Candidates
November
2004 Election
Response
by Tom Martin
1. Why are
you running for this position and what qualifies you to serve as a school board
member? In the last 10 years,
our students have been subject to
some things that have been detrimental to them (Mathland, CPM, lack of a
spelling curriculum, Internet access without adult content filters, reading
without phonics). I see myself as
really a person with the common
sense to not let things like this happen again.
I care deeply for children, and see my position on the school board as
doing what I can for their best interest.
2. If
elected, what are your goals as a school board member?
My number one goal is to see to it that students are safe both
physically and emotionally. Secondly, I want to see to it that they get the best
education possible without major mistakes being made by the administrators in
charge (see above).
3. Once
elected, how will you continue to communicate with DATA and its members?
I have always been and will continue to be available by phone, email
or snail mail. I also welcome being
invited to any meeting DATA or the other bargaining groups would like me to
participate in.
4. Do you
think all yearly state educational funds supplied to our district should be
spent during that year to educate our children? A qualified yes. Explain
why? I say qualified because the
district needs to have the flexibility to meet expenses that vary from year to
year. Other than some minimal
flexibility, it is unfair for the money to not be spent on the students who
generate it.
5. During
the election process and once elected, would you be willing to meet with
representatives from DATA for open and frank discussions on significant issues
including wages and working conditions? Absolutely
yes. I always have been willing to
meet with anyone regarding school issues.
6. Would you feel comfortable with members of DATA calling you at home to
discuss important educational issues? Absolutely.
My phone number and email address are in the newspaper, and my phone
number is in the phone book.
7. Why do you want this Association’s recommendation?
Two reasons. Frankly, school teachers are highly respected professionals
in the community, and their endorsement would help in the campaign to getting
reelected. Secondly, I was raised
by school teachers and have a high respect for the work of school teachers and
would consider it to about the highest compliment I could receive.
8. If
elected to the school board would your children attend public school within the
district? Yes.
If so what school(s)? They
are currently enrolled in Murray and Burroughs.
9. Are there
any programs that you think are not receiving adequate funding?
Yes, all programs. SSUSD
is in the bottom quartile of the base revenue limits.
Panama Buena Vista is receiving approximately $9,000 per student while
SSUSD is receiving approximately $5,000 per student.
Is that fair? I think it is
not. I would also like to see the
music programs acquire additional funding.
10.
Do you
feel that the school board members should enjoy the same benefit package that
the SSUSD employees receive? I
am comfortable with elected officials being compensated for the work that they
do, whether it is at the local level (school board, water board etc.) or
national level. Explain. One way to reduce the impact, would be to reduce the
number of board members to 5. I am
in favor of that. The medical
benefit package has always been an “all or none” program, which means
individual board members cannot opt out unless all members opt out.
However, board members have always had the option to make a monthly
donation to the district in the amount that they are benefiting from the medical
benefits.
11.When the state gives our district a Cost of Living Adjustment,
do you support wages being increased proportionately? In theory, yes. However,
in the real world the cost of living adjustment is for the district as a whole.
Some of the district costs increase more than others so there needs to
some flexibility. Some of the costs
that have increased 10% or more include worker’s compensation insurance,
unemployment insurance, gasoline, text books, medical benefits and natural gas.
If the district receives a 3% COLA and that is distributed equally
without some flexibility, we could be in position of not being able to pay some
of the bills. Under what
circumstances would you support a yearly wage increase to teachers of SSUSD?
If money is available, it should be passed on to the employees.
12.
What do
you believe is the most pressing problem facing this district?
What is your plan to address these problems? Inadequate funding. Every
opportunity, needs to be taken to increase funding such as addressing the
disproportionate base revenue limits received by each district.
13.
What do
you see as the strengths of this district?
Dedicated and highly motivated employees, involved parents and a high
caliber of students.
14.
Do you have a closing statement you wish to make on any topic?
If so, please do that here. I
have a sense of fairness that affects how I deal with board issues.
I am the only currently sitting board member who believes that if the
board has jurisdiction over your issue, and you want to address the board on
that issue, you should always be allowed to present your case. In the past 4 years several situations have presented
themselves to the board where a person wanted to address the board and the board
refused to listen. For example:
1. If a student is being
recommended for expulsion, and the parent and student want to present
information to the board in a closed session the board should always listen to
what they have to say. 2.
If an employee is being terminated and desires to discuss the issue with
the board in closed session, the board should listen.
There have been several 6 to 1 votes in the past 4 years where I was the one voting no. I cannot vote to fire an employee, or to expel a student, if the person desires to address the board and is denied an opportunity to make that address.