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Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
See below for questions on
charter schools,
special needs students,
proficiency tests
Click on a name for other candidate information.
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1. What effect would the community (charter) schools have on the public schools in your district?
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Answer from John Pennycuff:
State law does not permit charter schools in my district.
Answer from George Wharton:
The community schools compete for students and drain state support and other resources from the district. Parents should have a choice as to where they want to send their children. As a public district we must do a better job of educating our students to compete with community schools.
Answer from Cynthia Lee Richardson:
There are no community schools in the Winton Woods School District at this time. I feel that the effects of community schools upon the public schools system in any district would depend upon how the schools would help to improve the quality of education of all students in that community.
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2. Evaluate the adequacy of support services, beyond state standards, presently provided for special-needs students in your district.
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Answer from George Wharton:
The district can do a much better job of providing services to students with special educational needs. The district needs to find a way to implement programs such as summer school for those failing subjects, tutoring, and early intervention and corrective programs for students with disciplinary situations to help retain and graduate students.
Answer from John Pennycuff:
We have a strong Special Education program that attracts parents to move into our district. In the mandating legislation, Congress promised to pay 40% of the cost. However, Congress is paying only 7% of costs.
Answer from Cynthia Lee Richardson:
The district does provide support for special needs students. However, as in most school districts, going beyond state standards raises issues of funding for staff and other enhanced support. Also with the number of special needs students consistently increasing, this will most likely continue to be a progressive endeavor.
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3. Has the use of proficiency tests in your school improved the education of students?
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Answer from Cynthia Lee Richardson:
The use of proficiency tests have initiated a greater concern for staff development and providing the students with the necessary skills to perform adequately on the tests. In improving the education of the students, however, I feel that there is more involved than just scoring appropriately on a written exam. Education also includes emotional and social development; and I think there needs to be just as much emphasis placed in these areas as there is in academics.
Answer from John Pennycuff:
Our graduates do exceptionally well. Each year the seniors are awarded $2-3 million in college scholarships. However, not all of our students fulfill their potential. We have strengthened the elementary programs by adding more time for reading and math instruction.
Answer from George Wharton:
It is questionable whether the use of proficiency tests have improved the level of education of students in the Winton Woods School District. The use of proficiency tests has raised the awareness that students need to achieve at a certain level. However, test scores for the district are among the lower half of districts in the state, indicating lower achievement overall for students. The district needs to look toward increasing student achievement through innovative teaching techniques, greater parental involvement, and increased financial support systems.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League, but formatted for Web display.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
