Decaturish, Teachers, parents protest DeKalb Schools plan to return to school amid COVID-19 surge

Decaturish, Candidate Q&A - Decatur Board of Education, District 2, Post B

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Wants to provide teachers with training and professional development that they need.

Said, "CSD can do better to capitalize on our small district's existing resources: finances, location, active community, and opportunities."

Plans to focus spending around the classroom. Said that, if "the expenditure is not directly used in the classroom or shown to have some discernible and measurable impact on students, we might not need to spend that money yet."

Believes that the school system should cover the cost of AP and IB exams, rather than having parents pay for their students' tests. Wants to cap the number of tests each student can take and have attendance and work requirements.

- Wants to provide teachers with training and professional development that they need.
- Said, "CSD can do better to capitalize on our small district's existing resources: finances, location, active community, and opportunities."
- Plans to focus spending around the classroom. Said that, if "the expenditure is not directly used in the classroom or shown to have some discernible and measurable impact on students, we might not need to spend that money yet."
- Believes that the school system should cover the cost of AP and IB exams, rather than having parents pay for their students' tests. Wants to cap the number of tests each student can take and have attendance and work requirements.

Taxes & Budget

Said, "how will our students cultivate a love of learning and become critical thinkers if we imply that school is about completing on-line assignments and assessment?"

Promises to "focus on our students and their learning."

Plans to prioritize the role of teachers in instructions.

Wants to evaluate whether MAP tests are taking time away from reading instruction and special education.

- Said, "how will our students cultivate a love of learning and become critical thinkers if we imply that school is about completing on-line assignments and assessment?"
- Promises to "focus on our students and their learning."
- Plans to prioritize the role of teachers in instructions.
- Wants to evaluate whether MAP tests are taking time away from reading instruction and special education.

School Curriculum

Said, "I think we have a lot of good work to do in making sure that students are not just told of new classes, tutoring opportunities, clubs, or sports, but also helped to participate."

Wants more communication between the school board, the superintendent, parents, and Decatur residents.

Said, "we need to have staff evaluating their supervisors and teachers evaluating instructional support and administrators."

Expressed concern when schools were attempting to re-open during COVID-19 surge, "schools are old, in disrepair, and overcrowded."

Wants to prioritize raise pay for all teachers and staff over the school district providing housing to some employees and not others.

- Said, "I think we have a lot of good work to do in making sure that students are not just told of new classes, tutoring opportunities, clubs, or sports, but also helped to participate."
- Wants more communication between the school board, the superintendent, parents, and Decatur residents.
- Said, "we need to have staff evaluating their supervisors and teachers evaluating instructional support and administrators."
- Expressed concern when schools were attempting to re-open during COVID-19 surge, "schools are old, in disrepair, and overcrowded."
- Wants to prioritize raise pay for all teachers and staff over the school district providing housing to some employees and not others.

School Facilities & Resources

As of August 28, 2023, Tracey Anderson did not have a website or any information online.

School Safety & Discipline

Tracey Anderson

Decaturish, Candidate Q & A - Decatur Board of Education, District 2, Post B

Plans to raise teacher pay, provide more professional development opportunities to teachers, and prioritize teacher well-being.

Supports the school district having parents pay for AP and IB exams for their children rather than the price of tests being covered by the school system.

Said, "I believe that the budget needs to be reviewed regularly to identify areas that can be streamlined to reduce costs."

Supports applying for grants and looking for community partners as sources of funding to increase the budget.

- Plans to raise teacher pay, provide more professional development opportunities to teachers, and prioritize teacher well-being.
- Supports the school district having parents pay for AP and IB exams for their children rather than the price of tests being covered by the school system.
- Said, "I believe that the budget needs to be reviewed regularly to identify areas that can be streamlined to reduce costs."
- Supports applying for grants and looking for community partners as sources of funding to increase the budget.

Plans to support "children who learn differently, particularly in the areas of literacy and math."

Supports high quality instruction in reading and special education services.

- Wants to improve literacy.
- Plans to support "children who learn differently, particularly in the areas of literacy and math."
- Supports high quality instruction in reading and special education services.

Plans to "foster\[\] a positive culture for students, teachers, administrators and our community to ensure the success of all our kids."

Wants "to create a school system that is equitable, inclusive, and provides opportunities for all our children to succeed."

Plans "to help bridge gaps in communications."

Promises to regularly review school system policies to make sure that they are equitable and align with racial justice.

Wants to provide affordable housing for school district employees, with a fair and transparent process to decide who gets housing.

- Plans to "foster\[\] a positive culture for students, teachers, administrators and our community to ensure the success of all our kids."
- Wants "to create a school system that is equitable, inclusive, and provides opportunities for all our children to succeed."
- Plans "to help bridge gaps in communications."
- Promises to regularly review school system policies to make sure that they are equitable and align with racial justice.
- Wants to provide affordable housing for school district employees, with a fair and transparent process to decide who gets housing.

As of August 23, 2023, India Phipps Epps’s website did not contain information on this issue.

India Phipps Epps

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day. 
- Some Board of Education members are elected by the entire city, while others represent specific districts. 
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.
