School board candidate Phyllis Byrum responds to News-Herald questions
Published 10:45 pm Tuesday, October 28, 2008
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last of three installments featuring Suffolk School Board candidates. The News-Herald has featured answers from a questionnaire sent to all the School Board candidates. Each feature also is available online by clicking the Election ’08 logo at www.suffolknewsherald.com. Today, the Whaleyville Borough candidates are featured.
Phyllis Byrum is a longtime Suffolk resident and teacher. She graduated from Forest Glen High School and received her bachelor’s degree from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College). She taught history and government for 30 years in Suffolk Public Schools, and was the social studies department head for eight years. She was named the Suffolk Teacher of the Year in 2000.
1. What is your opinion on the Suffolk Public Schools budget? Do you think City Council in past years has over-funded or under-funded the schools? What items should be priorities when crafting a budget?
The current school budget is 153.5 million and of that 31.4 percent is contributed by the city. The remainder is funded by the state and federal government plus the proceeds form the Virginia lottery. For the current budget, city council allocated nearly $3 million less than the board requested. Today’s economic conditions are more difficult for everyone. We are forced to live within a fixed budget. The school board must likewise be frugal. Priorities for future budgets must focus on instructional and curricular needs, transportation, safety, maintenance, and capital improvement concerns.
2. How should teacher raises be determined? By merit (students’ test scores), experience (years in education, degrees earned), or a combination of both?
As a former teacher of the Suffolk Public Schools system, I believe all teachers should be held to high standards. I believe ultimately that experience should determine the pay raises of teachers. The retention of highly qualified veteran teachers is most important for an excellent school system.
3. What will you do to ensure all schools meet SOL and AYP standards if you are elected?
SOL and AYP standards must be met by all Suffolk schools. To ensure that this occurs, the board must provide adequate personnel so that student/teacher ratio remains small, allocate remediation for students as needed, provide safe learning environments and funding for improved instruction and curriculum. A key factor also is the student’s family. We must totally involve the students and the family to be successful.
4. How can the schools improve the dropout and graduation rates?
We can improve graduation and dropout rates by early intervention in elementary and middle schools. By getting students totally involved not only in academics, but by teaching the whole child – mentally physically, and socially. The school system needs more music, art, sports and extra curricular activities in the elementary and middle schools. In the high schools, these programs would continue offering more opportunities for all students. Also, more emphasis should be placed on vocational and technical education. We must continue to meet the standards that will prepare our students for success in the twenty-first century.
5. What is your opinion on the alternative programs for behaviorally-challenged students? Should there be a night alternative, day alternative, or combination of both programs?
I favor a day alternative program. In a day alternative program, students who are behaviorally-challenged would continue as the other students on a similar schedule. The objective of an alternative program is to eventually return the students to the typical school day. The alternative program would prepare them for this situation.
6. How can school safety be improved while still maintaining a learning environment?
School safety is a key ingredient for a good learning environment. The increased involvement of parents and community organizations in schools from kindergarten through high school would improve the safety of our schools. I favor neighborhood schools which foster community spirit and generate pride in quality education. Resource officers are also needed in our schools as a deterrent for bullying, gangs and violence.
7. How can Suffolk Public Schools improve its recruitment of qualified instructors and other staff?
Qualified teachers and staff are crucial for an excellent educational system. As a former department chair in Suffolk Public Schools, I know the importance of recruiting excellent teachers and staff. The recruitment process should involve department chairs, lead teachers and administrators. By offering competitive salaries and benefits, highly qualified applicants will be employed. Once an individual is employed, we must provide a strong mentor program for the success of that employee and diligently work to retain our dedicated teachers.
8. What is the best way to ensure the success of learning-disabled students?
As a former inclusion teacher, I have experienced success with learning-disabled students. Inclusion classes blend all students together regardless of their abilities. By using appropriate learning strategies from the students’ IEPs, a productive learning environment becomes possible. For ultimate success, you must have a small student/teacher ratio and qualified support staff. The Parent Resource Center, SOS (Strategies for Success), the Special Education Advisory Committee and a strong evaluation team are necessary tools for the success of learning disabled students.
9. What are the most-needed capital improvements in Suffolk Public Schools?
The projected cost of Suffolk Public Schools ten year capital improvement plan is $428 million. In recent months, the school board has announced the establishment of a capital improvements committee. I strongly support this concept. In the Whaleyville borough, we need schools that meet standards of the twenty-first century. Across the city, other schools are also needed. Along with these concerns, we need to revisit school zoning issues.
10. How will you encourage an open, transparent School Board?
An open, transparent school board should involve the parents and the communities in the educational process. To accomplish this, as a school board member, I would involve myself in PTAs, be available for parental concerns by telephone or e-mail and continue to educate myself on school board issues and concerns. I would attend civic leagues and community events as a representative of the Suffolk School Board. All of these would prepare me to be a representative of my constituents.