Both candidates for the Warren County School District Board of Education seat in District 3 are more than willing to spend more time meeting in the region’s communities.

Mary Passinger, the incumbent, and Misty Moore, the challenger, were asked during a recent debate in Sugar Grove about having town hall meetings in the region.

“Absolutely, I’ve always been willing to do that,” Passenger said. “I have, even with problems with the Youngsville community and the board members. I have met with a couple of them at different times. I am more than willing to do that. I think Region 3 is the toughest region because region 1 has Warren High School; region 2 has Sheffield and region 3 has Eisenhower and Youngsville, and so whatever way we go, someone is going to be unhappy.”

Passenger said keeping all the schools open “is just not possible” and ended her response by offering to talk to anyone to explain her feelings and why she votes the way she does.

Moore said town hall meetings in the regions is something that the district is lacking and wonders why the school board meetings and communication are always held only at the central office, when it is the farthest reach in the district?

“I think there is no reason that we can’t ask the board and the administration to travel to each of the schools; and being a representative of Region 3 there should be no reason I shouldn’t be going to Region 2, out in Sheffield.

It gives the community, and the parents and students, more opportunities to be involved in everything going on. I wish that the board would have more communication with the communities.”

Moore said it should be made easier for all members to attend the meetings in order to have more presence in all communities in the district.

Other questions, and the candidates’ responses, are below.

DUAL ENROLLMENT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CURRICULUM. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE PROS & CONS TO THE CURRENT DUAL ENROLLMENT SYSTEM?

Passinger said the district has a healthy program where students can take classes from a variety of nearby places such as Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, Mercyhurst, and Pittsburgh University at Bradford. She said that this makes it so that students can start college at the sophomore level. Passinger said that there are teachers from the district who are certified to teach college credit courses at the school district level, as well as the college level.

Moore supports dual enrollment and actually even has her own children who will soon take part in it. It is a huge benefit to those families who will incur large debts. “The problem that I do have with this is that I do, to my knowledge from my daughter actually taking Pitt-Bradford classes, they don’t always transfer everywhere and that is an ongoing problem with the Warren County School District. They do not inform the parents of this until we go ahead and sign the kids up and get the classes, we pay the fees, we pay for the coursework.” Moore went on to say that classes that can be taken from other places are not encouraged as much because she believes those being taught by the Warren County School District is their preference, in which she can understand that. “But taking courses at places like JCC (Jamestown Community College) that are very close, taking classes that are 100 (intro.level) will put a kid much further ahead at the start of it. They’ve just taken classes that will transfer as electives, at best.”

DO BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISTRICT TO DO THE JOB WELL? IF NOT, HOW CAN THE BOARD ADDRESS THAT?

Passinger said that, “There have definitely been times that I did not get all the information, and I needed more. I don’t necessarily think this is done on purpose. I think they don’t understand that we don’t have the same view that they do. We don’t get all the different information so sometimes they need to give us more than they think is necessary because it seems so easy for them.” She encouraged that speaking up to tell other board members what needs to be known and that she has never been refused information.

Moore comments that, “I have been witness to sitting in board meetings where members of the board are asking questions because they do not feel that they a full set of information to make an educated decision on things, and I think things are pushed through way too much and way too often without having all the details that are requested. She had spoken to other board members, who have said there were things that have been requested of the administration and it has either been forgotten or inquiries were not answered. Moore agreed that perhaps the board does assume everyone has the information which should be provided to the representatives. She said that members should not vote to pass things without all of the information.

HOW CAN TEST SCORES AND ACADEMIC OFFERINGS BE INTERPRETED FAIRLY TO SHOW ACHIEVEMENT?

Moore replied that she thought the question was vague and that she was not sure of all the recent changes to this, but that if a student who is trying to challenge themselves, should have more weight and also should be rewarded for their efforts. Those students that are struggling should have extra assistance needed in order to have the best possible outcome.

Passinger also agreed that it is a vague question and that she assumed it was that of standardized tests in which several people are not fans. Those like the PSSA tests measure how well kids take tests. She said that knowledge is not necessarily what is being measured.

Remedial classes and additional time is given to those struggling with those tests, commenting the tests are “inherently unfair, that’s all there is to it.” Passinger said that the best thing a student can do is to compare from year to year to see if any improvements have been made in the knowledge of that area.

WHAT CAN AND SHOULD THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DO TO ATTRACT MORE TEACHERS AND SUBSTITUTES?

Moore said “it was the question of the year.” The challenges with the substitutes are an issue mostly due to behaviors. She feels that the district is losing good teachers, ones who inspire the students are being moved from the brick and mortar schools, which she believes, should be taken care of first. “There is a gap between administration and teachers and they have a fear to speak up and ask for what they need or to address any kind of issues for fear of revocations… the fear needs to go away.”

Passinger, “I know exactly how to attract more teachers and subs and that is to have an unlimited revenue source so that we have lots and lots of money.” She mentioned the huge teacher shortage. Also, Passinger said that a statistic shows that at one point in the past, there were 70K students at college level that graduated with education degrees. People are not going to college as much anymore because last year it dropped to 7000. “Teachers need to be paid better; figure out a way to help with the load they carry,” Passinger said, “At one point when I was subbing, I could have gone to Mcdonald’s and made as much money in a day as I did subbing. That has changed a little bit, but still a concern.”

HOW DO CHARTER SCHOOLS AFFECT THE DISTRICT’S BUDGET, ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT SUPPORT?

Passinger noted that is a huge concern for every district in the state. She encouraged others to go oline to research cyber charter schools because the school district pays $14-20K per student; and so that money goes wherever that student goes. “It affects our Warren County School District budget hugely.”

Moore said that she thinks there is a time and place for charter but both in the brick and mortar and online. She is not a proponent for online of any type. She believes that brick and mortar is a better place to learn instead of isolation; but there are times where it does make sense for some students.

According to the Commonwealth Foundation, in Pennsylvania, the amount of money from school districts that follows a student who enrolls in cyber charter schools is approximately 75% of the school district’s costs to educate a student within their district. This means that the school district retains about 25% of the Per Pupil Education Rate allocated for the student.

www.commonwealthfoundation.org

Moore concluded her answer with, “We need to provide education, a better environment and something more desirable for the kids to want to come into that school, to want to be there and not want to be working off the computer in their bedroom or in their living room.”

IS THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING THE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS? WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO IMPROVE STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS?

Moore mentioned that mental health is a national crisis and that, “Starting off with putting students on a bus for long amounts of time and expecting them to behave would be a first step in helping.” Moore acknowledged that services are in place to help with mental health but questioned the adequacy. “It’s not an easy fix; but there are ways to improve if we put a dedicated effort into this.”

Passinger agrees that there is no doubt that mental health issues are everywhere, but that the school has added programs, hired more counselors, and several therapy dogs. It is something that is being worked on because the district is very much aware.

CLOSING REMARKS

In conclusion, Passinger explained that it is easy to be on the outside and ask for change but not easy on the inside with not enough revenue. “She hopes that in November, people will be more concerned about education more than a building. “I have the knowledge, l have the education, I have the experience – I want to make our district the best that we possibly can, so I hope you vote.”

Moore thanked everyone that attended and hoped that people got questions answered and that people feel more comfortable about the decisions being made. Moore stated, ” I ask that you look at what really is important to you. If you want to see change, or do you want to see the district continue as it’s been going?” Moore said that she and 2 representatives that won in the spring are about change. “We need change within the district, we need to reorganize, we need to put our kids first and we need to quit raising taxes on our citizens…” She commented how Warren County cannot fiscally afford to be continually increasing. “I ask for your vote if you’re looking to see a change in our district and our education,” concludes Moore.