The Bellingham Herald sent questionnaires to candidates for major offices in the November 2011 general election. Candidates answered the following questions in their own words.
These are unedited; candidates were limited to 300 words per question.
For quick links to each candidate's responses, click on their names below:
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Elected office you seek: Ferndale School District director (school board), District 3
Age: 31
Family: wife Leanne Ballew; sons Hunter and Tandy.
Education: I am a Ferndale High Graduate and I recieved my B.A. in Psychology from Western Washington University.
Work experience: I have worked for the Lummi Nation administration for the past seven years in the following roles: quality improvement officer for the general manager and office manager for the trial enrollment office. For the past three years I have also operated my own commercial fishing vessel.
Civic experience: school board member since April 2011 (completeing the remaining term of Bernie Thomas). Also, I have worked with tribal government and have experience drafting new policy as well as budget review.
Email: vote4timballew@gmail.com
Q & A
Candidates answered the following questions in their own words. These are unedited; candidates were limited to 300 words per questions.
What are your views on the Facilities Advisory Committee recommendations that include moving sixth grade to middle school and closing an elementary school? What are other options?
There are millions of dollars needed to cover the cost of repairs and maintance of our Ferndale Schools. The FAC recomendations are the most imediate solution to this problem. Before the Board decides on this issue we will (and are currently in the process of) get community feedback on the recomendation. The Board will only consider it if the community supports it.
The next option could be cutting school programs and services such as: sports, music, all day kindergarten, etc. This is not a desirable option because these all add value to the District and the community. Another option could be a levy. But in the current economy the District does not want to ask taxpayers to provide more than they already are paying. As I have already stated the FAC recomendations are the first solution that will be considered and only if the community supports the solution.
What should the district do to repair and upgrade school buildings? How would that be paid for?
The District has already begun this process by having the facilities reviewed and inventoried the repairs needed. The closure of a school could help offset some of the costs needed for other school buildings in the district. As mentioned in the previous question alternative ways to pay for this would be woring with the State, a levy or sacrificing school programs/services.
If the economic troubles continues, what cuts would you make, where and why?
The Ferndale School District budget is already streatched thin as it is. It is uncomfortable to think that we would have to cut any more than we already have. We had to reduce the amount of certified and classified staff already.
Rather than cut we would like to lobby the state legislature to provide more support and find more efficient ways to provide education that includes both the basic needs and the services that the community finds important.
How should the district provide academic options required to meet the needs of a diverse student body while staying on budget?
The district mission is to provide basic quality education to all students and is willing to provide services to all students. I think that the all day kindergarten, Aiming High and Windward high school are all good examples meeting the needs of our community. We are able to provide these options and keep a balanced budget.
What else can the school district do to involve the Lummi Nation in academics, activities, student engagement and parental involvement?
Recently the district entered into its 11th annual inter-local agreement with the Nation. As part of the compact both the Nation and district agreed to meet on a regualr schedule in order to better communicate. This is the next step in the direction of strengthening the relationship between the district and the Lummi Nation. In these meetings we will share ideas on how we can better educate all of our students.
What other issues do you see in the district and how would you address them?
The main concern that I and all other parents have is that Ferndale remains a school of exellence. I see that the Board's duty is to set goals that provides the administration with the guidance to provide our students with the best education possible. This includes being responsible with the budget available and meeting the needs of all students.
As School District Director I will continue to work with my fellow board members and district staff to provide a safe environment that students can learn to their potential.ow we achieve that climate.
Elected office you seek: Ferndale School District director (school board), District 3
Age: 75
Family: wife Nancy A Foulke; daughters Deb Pelham, Meredith Geffert, Olivia Foulke.
Education: Goddard College, Plainfield, Vt., bachelor of arts in political science, junior year in Sweden; Western Washington State College, Bellingham, bachelor of arts in education and added credits for certification; Central Washington University, vocational education certification.
Work experience: Taught 32 years in public, Christian, and home school environments, 17 at Ferndale High School; 7 years vocational, 21 years in private self employment and the US Army. Ferndale Education Association president and lead negotiator in Ferndale.
Civic experience: Ran for the State Legislature. Organized and supported Ferndale's first community library effort. Elected as fire commissioner for District 17, Saint Brendan's Vestry, delegate to state and national conventions. Own and operate Constitution Education Services, LLC.
Email: hnfoulke@comcast.net
Q and A
Candidates answered the following questions in their own words. These are unedited; candidates were limited to 300 words per questions.
What are your views on the Facilities Advisory Committee recommendations that include moving sixth grade to middle school and closing an elementary school? What are other options?
FAC recommendations....closing one elementary school.... I oppose closing Custer Elementary School. Everything good about local interest in a local school is true about Custer. If the building structure at Custer is not safe, it should be fixed to make it safe. If there is an elementary school that does not have the long community tradition as Custer does, then closing that elementary school for cost saving may in fact be practical so long as such a move is also justified for academic reasons and cost saving reasons.
Adding a 6th grade to the "7 - 8" Middle School..... The Facility Advisory Committee has discussed closing one elementary as a cost saving step. Overall Ferndale Schools are experiencing a decline in student population. This could allow the middle schools to take on sixth graders. If this move were coupled with teachers teaming to take a group of 25 students from 6th grade through to 8th grade, there might be great merit in that especially if teachers tracked the success of those students and the District developed criteria for that measurement. As a Board Member, I would encourage this tracking approach by the professionals, the teachers as long as it did not involve excessive testing. Such accounting by cooperating teachers would go along way toward cutting the drop out rate.
What should the district do to repair and upgrade school buildings? How would that be paid for?
If a building is not safe for kids, the building should be repaired. Normal replacement maintenance should continue if it is called for to prevent building loss as in the case of a leaky roof as happened at North Bellingham School. Other building upgrades SHOULD WAIT until the economy turns around. Belt tightening is called for at all levels of government. We should NOT propose a building levy in our current circumstances unless there are unsafe conditions for students and teachers. The recent Lynden School levy went down AND their levy did not follow a teacher strike.
If the economic troubles continues, what cuts would you make, where and why?
Budget Cuts...... First, all budget makers, even those at the Federal level, have to prioritize. Closing one school may do it. Coming down from the Federal government "Stimulus High" given to the District will make cutting hard. The recently approved teacher pay increase will make cutting hard. The Board needs to place emphasis on basic education and those programs that encourage the employability of graduates. The Board ought to publicly support the development of the Gateway Pacific Terminal which will eventually help our tax base. Ferndale has already cut administrative staff in response to shrinking resources from Olympia. If more cuts are called for, they must NOT be made at the expense of classroom basic education, the District's first responsibility and mission.
How should the district provide academic options required to meet the needs of a diverse student body while staying on budget?
Diversity Education..... Diversity education programs should NEVER come at the expense of basic education. There are already enough distractions to basic education. There are already enough signs of American cultural disintegration. We should honor every kid that comes to the school house door no matter what his or her cultural background is. America has a great culture. We should not take it for granted. We should teach it. No kid of Chinese, Russian, Lummi, Latin or even Californian background should be discriminated against. The greatest favor we can do for Red, White and Black kids is to KNOW WHAT WE WANT TAUGHT and do it. Every teacher in his or her own way ought to be sensitive to the cultural back ground of his or her students WHILE TEACHING BASIC EDUCATION.
What else can the school district do to involve the Lummi Nation in academics, activities, student engagement and parental involvement?
LUMMI PARENT INVOLVEMENT...... One week ago, a nice ceremony was held at the Ferndale School District office to honor the long School Board service of Bernie Thomas. Mr. Thomas, a tribal member, recounted for us how his father insisted that he and his 8 sisters complete their high school education. He made them go to school even when they did not want to go. They all graduated. Clearly the Thomas family made a success of maintaining Lummi culture and learning the culture of the wider public school as we all do. The Thomas family provides a great model for all of us. The Founders wanted our culture and its public participation ideas taught. The Founders wanted diversity of thought and diversity of religious practice.
What other issues do you see in the district and how would you address them?
OTHER ISSUES...... As a Ferndale School Board member I will want to see that Ferndale Schools place sufficient emphasis on:
- A Consumer Math/Life Skills......balancing a budget, wants vs NEEDS, modern resume writing, employer expectations in skills and attitudes....we need producers and active participants, not indifferent self indulged observers.
- B Social Studies... Constitutional Principles of the Founders and the culture that produced the Declaration, the Constitution and a very productive and dynamic and free society of self restrained and self directed people. Wealth of Nations taught us about the golden goose that laid the golden egg and how NOT to kill it. Civic responsibilities and participation.
- C Vocational Education. Especially FFA and the introduction of marketing education and technology education.
- D Cost Savings. Education for the children of legal residents only.
- E Accountability. Refresh the purpose of education and lower the drop out rate. As a Board Member I will examine and or visit other schools that have good reputations for fewer drop outs and good initial success of their graduates.
Elected office you seek: Ferndale School District director (school board), District 2.
Age: 43
Family: wife Jennifer; son Alexander, 22; daughter Danielle, 18; stepsons Austin, 16, Alec, 13; stepdaughter Ashlynn, 11.
Education: bachelor of science, business administration; Warner Pacific College, Portland, Ore.; associate of arts, Clark Community College, Vancouver, Wash.
Work experience: Skagit County Assessor; real estate appraiser; 11 years, Washington Mutual Bank; senior appraiser, Vancouver Appraisal District, Vancouver, Wash., six years; Riley & Marks, associate appraiser/trainee, Vancouver, Wash., two years; student and various part-time employers.
Civic experience: Salvation Army advisory board; Clark County, Wash.; three years, with one year as chairperson, Orchards Soccer Club Board; Vancouver, Wash.; two years in various offices, Kelso Soccer Club Board; vice president, Columbia Heights Chess Club; Kelso; organizer, supervisor, Kulshan Middle School Chess Club; Bellingham.
Email: Marks4schoolboard@yahoo.com
Facebook page: Jeffrey Marks 4 Ferndale School District
Q and A
Candidates answered the following questions in their own words. These are unedited; candidates were limited to 300 words per questions.
What are your views on the Facilities Advisory Committee recommendations that include moving sixth grade to middle school and closing an elementary school? What are other options?
The Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) did an outstanding job of looking at all information regarding the facilities, the demographics, and all potential solutions. The recommendations reflect the 18 months of time, energy, and research of the committee members. The school board solicited volunteers for this study, the members reflect the good cross sample of the community, and their recommendations should be followed.
From my personal experience having one child complete sixth grade in an elementary school, and one child complete sixth grade in a middle school environment, I think the additional year in middle school better prepares the student for high school. My research does not show any clear, convincing, definite proof that one system is "the magic solution" and always works. Duke University has a study that leans heavily to the elementary environment, while numerous other studies lean toward the middle school environment. One theme that constantly reappears, the "where we sixth graders" pales in importance to the "what and how we teach sixth graders".
Demographics indicate the district has too much class room space. Well, perhaps the better statement is that the classroom space is laid out in configurations that fail to meet the needs of current enrollment. Closing an elementary school seems like a first step in changing the entire facility make-up of Ferndale School District.
Whether or not a school is closed, attendance boundaries need to be addressed.
What should the district do to repair and upgrade school buildings? How would that be paid for?
While focus is changing, it is time for the district to recognize the value of maintaining facilities. Ferndale schools have sacrificed budget dollars in maintenance for keeping programs alive. As the old FRAM filter slogan stated, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later", later has arrived. Most facilities need some level of major repair, and like it or not, replacement is necessary for some facilities.
I favor keeping our outlying neighborhood schools in Custer and North Bellingham. Both of these facilities need to be replaced. The only option to funding replacement of these facilities is through a capital improvement bond.
Currently the the district has four elementary schools within a mile and a half of district headquarters. I would like to see research into combining these into 2 larger capacity facilities. New facilities could result in lower overall utility expenses.
I favor exploring all available options to replace FHS. The Church Road property seems unlikely given the existence of a stream through the property and current development criteria regarding wetland setbacks.
Unfortunately the only way any facility can be improved is through Capital Improvement Bonds. No one wants to pay more taxes, yet this is the only option available. The children of Ferndale deserve to learn in facilities capable of supporting 21st Century learning.
If the economic troubles continues, what cuts would you make, where and why?
The economic trend shows little sign of changing in the immediate future, and the easy cuts have been exhausted. The only cuts left are programs or staff.
I would like to see research on potential outsourcing. While this may not result in huge savings, it could result in "ongoing" savings for when we reach strong economic times.
How should the district provide academic options required to meet the needs of a diverse student body while staying on budget?
A return to basic education is where we should be focusing our energy. One thing I find highly perplexing is the use of calculators by students in math classes as low as seventh grade. It is my understanding that no calculators are used for the standardized testing. Seems highly logical that students should be practicing according to how the test will be given.
What else can the school district do to involve the Lummi Nation in academics, activities, student engagement and parental involvement?
It appears that the district and the Lummi Nation are striving to find balance and a working relationship that provides both sides with positive outcomes. I am in favor of equality of all groups within our school community, but not setting any group ahead the other groups. While I appreciate the uniqueness of the Lummi's status as a Sovereign Nation, I am concerned about the uniqueness lends itself to the appearance of special, not equal, treatment.
What other issues do you see in the district and how would you address them?
Communication. Somewhere there is a breakdown between the Administration office and the final end user group, the parents. I am confident that Superintendent and Board are trying to strive for transparency, yet the parents continue to state "I was unaware of this committee, that meeting, the topic being discussed". While it is certainly not the sole responsibility of the district, if the Administration is being transparent, then the breakdown must be happening at the individual school level. Surprisingly, when talking with community members, I repeatedly hear, "I wish the communication were better" or "why bother calling anyone at the district, they never return calls". I am personally aware of folks waiting for return calls that were promised two or three years ago.
Accountability has to become the climate within the district, yet I am not sure how we achieve that climate.
