Arnie had his first forum of the election on Monday night. Maggie wanted to wish him luck so she made him a cookie....
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| "go DAD" |
Arnie did great. He made us proud, but we knew he would....
Here is the text of an article from the Norfolk Daily News on Tuesday.....
Candidates for Norfolk board of education take part in forum
By ANDREA LARSON
alarson@norfolkdailynews.com | Posted: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 9:58 am
Six candidates hoping to be elected — or re-elected — to the Norfolk Public Schools board of education shared their views Monday night at a candidates forum at the city council chambers.
Incumbents Clark Froehlich, Joel Carlson and Alfredo Ramirez sat alongside school board hopefuls Arnie Robinson, Bob Waite and Sandy Wolfe. A seventh candidate, Troy Brooks, was unable to attend because he was traveling for business. Brad Hughes of WJAG Radio in Norfolk moderated.
In the May 15 primary, the top six vote-getters will advance to the November election.
The first question of the night dealt with a topic that is frequently discussed at school board meetings — 21st century learning. Candidates were asked to give their definition of 21st century skills as well as some specifics on how to bring the application of these skills to the district.
Carlson said, “When people first think 21st century skills, they think of technology. Technology is just a tool; what’s more important is how you use the tool and how you collaborate with others. What we’re seeing now in our modern society with the advent of the world wide web and worldwide business is nations like China and others that are kind of advancing seemingly faster than we are. We need to catch up and think ahead of them.”
Robinson said he believes a 21st century education needs “to start with the basics that education has always started with — it needs to have math skills, it needs to have reading skills, it needs to have writing and communication skills. All those things need to be facilitated with the technology we have available today.”
Waite was in agreement with Robinson, adding that student test scores troubled him.
“Twenty-first century learning is exactly that it is the basics — reading, writing, arithmetic and communication,” Waite said. “There needs to be a fine balance between the machines that we purchase to assist kids in learning and getting them into the 21st century and actually having them learn how to use the thing.”
Froehlich, the current school board president, said he agreed partly with Waite, but took things a step further.
“We need to change the way that we teach (the basics) to the students. Today’s students are into technology; we can’t teach it the same old way that I was taught,” Froehlich said. “That’s probably the biggest difference with 21st century learning. You need to be creative and get the students excited.”
Ramirez said 21st century learning presents some incredible opportunities for students. He agreed that the technological tools were important, but not the crux of the issue.
“I think it’s about the possibility of being able to expand the mind more than it ever has involving critical thinking. When you talk about critical thinking, then the teaching of math, reading and writing is going to come into it no matter what. . . . The critical thinking has taken us beyond what we’ve ever imagined in regard to what we can learn,” Ramirez said.
Wolfe said she was in agreement with the critical thinking aspect being integral to 21st century skills.
“As far as the engagement of our students with the teachers and the technology they have available, because this is their world and it’s going to be a world of technology,” so students must learn how to use it in order to get jobs, Wolfe said. “I think sometimes you have to push it and try something new.”
The candidates also were asked about the recent budget cuts made in the district and the impact on agriculture education and the Norfolk FFA chapter. Candidates were asked if they agreed with the actions taken by the district, and if not, what they would do differently.
Robinson said he understands that budget cuts are a way of life, and they are being made in all sectors of society at this time. “As you look specifically at the ag education issue, I think it’s important that Norfolk maintain an ag education department and Norfolk FFA. . . . If you look around our area, we are in the hotbed of agriculture. . . . I think we need to find a way to preserve that program and the other programs in the district,” Robinson said.
Waite said the reality of the situation is that the district has little to no money and is likely to have even less state aid next year.
“The fact is, we need to do as much as we can to keep education a priority. In this agricultural economy we have, it would seem to me that ag education is an important component of the school system,” Waite said. His solution would be to make budget cuts an open process in which the community gets involved in order to help the board of education decide what is important, he said.
Froehlich said more budget cuts do appear to be on the way for the Norfolk school district. He said another $900,000 is expected to be cut from state aid alone, and over 10 percent of the district’s revenue has been lost in the past two years.
“There’s been a lot of miscommunication and misinformation out there about cutting the ag department. We have not cut ag education. We have chosen instead to co-op with Stanton,” Froehlich said.
He said FFA is still available to Norfolk students as are ag classes. “The only difference is that the teacher is in Stanton.”
Ramirez pointed out that members of the public who do not like the cuts being made should attend the school board meetings.
“The only way you know how these decisions are made is to attend school board meetings. Part of my sense of self, very important to me, is transparency. I don’t put up with a lack of transparency in the board,” he said.
Wolfe said she thought it was sad that the Norfolk FFA had to become part of a co-op program. “I do think it is important to the kids that it says ‘Norfolk’ on their (FFA) jacket versus ‘Stanton.’ . . . I do think that budget cuts are difficult,” she said, adding that that the cuts should be kept as far away from the students as possible.
Carlson mentioned his background in agriculture, including that he grew up on a farm and participated in 4-H.
“I understand that this is a very important issue. . . . Ag education is still there,” Carlson said. He said science teachers are now teaching some of the ag courses, and the district is involved in an ag academy with Northeast Community College in order to offer dual-credits to students. There is hope that a currently employed teacher will get an ag license in order to be an FFA sponsor next year, he said.
An audience member asked the candidates how they would work as a team with all parties at the Norfolk Public Schools to make education a top priority for students.
Waite said he would work to build trust. “There needs to be trust between the community and the board of education and between the board, the superintendent and the administrative staff and between them and the teachers,” Waite said.
Waite said he would recommend the second monthly board meeting be held in the evening so staff and the public could attend, and that the focus at those meetings be curriculum and personnel issues.
Froehlich said board members already work to promote a unified front on issues.
“There’s six individuals that sit on the board, and we operate as individuals,” Froehlich said. While board members may have differing opinions, they try to build a consensus for a unified board. That’s done through operating principals which are reviewed on an annual basis, he said.
Ramirez said being a team player is the only way to be a school board member. “There’s no other way to work other than a team. . . . This is the most cohesive board that I’ve ever seen in terms of how we make decisions,” Ramirez said.
Wolfe said she thinks it’s important for board members to listen to community members and teachers in order to take those issues to the board meetings.
“I believe each person on the board has their own voice, but I think one person can make a difference,” Wolfe said.
Carlson said working on tough issues is part of the job, but board members can set aside their differences.
“Sometimes as a board, that’s what we have to do — debate, discuss, sometimes argue a little bit,” said Carlson, adding that board members must remember that they have to think of the students first.
Robinson said he thinks board issues should go beyond the board room.
“Transparency goes through open communication and open debate. . . . I think a good, healthy, public debate is good for our system, good for our students, good for our teachers,” Robinson said.
