According to the Center for Public Education, “School boards are the education watchdogs for their communities, ensuring that students get the best education possible for the tax dollars spent.” Ms. Lara Stone’s guest opinion, printed in the Express on August 10, 2016, criticizing my efforts as a Blaine County School District (BCSD) trustee, shows that she has a different opinion about the role of a school board trustee.
Let me be clear. I will always prioritize the needs of children in every dollar spent.
Recently, the community was able to see exactly where district administrations’ priorities lie, when the superintendent released her proposed budget in April. Ms. Stone, who aligns herself with the superintendent, was a supporter of that budget, which cut the Hispanic and Special Needs Parent Liaisons. Those positions benefitted some of the highest needs students. The superintendent’s budget also eliminated the world-renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) program that benefited over 1,000 children in grades 6 through 10.
The budget was just as noteworthy for what it didn’t cut. It preserved district administrators’ generous salaries, and extra benefits that teachers don’t enjoy, such as 9.02 percent deferred compensation, family medical benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, cellphones, and for some district administrators, the free use of a district vehicle.
The superintendent herself earns $173,880, the highest salary in the state and about twice as much as the highest paid teacher. In addition, this year she will receive an extra $31,281 in retirement contributions, $15,684 deferred compensation, family health benefits, $250,000 life insurance, disability insurance, cellphone and free use of a district car. Aside from the retirement contribution, BCSD teachers receive none of these extra benefits.
The message was clear: there would be no shared pain by district administrators.
In May, I proposed an alternative budget that would have reinstated Hispanic and Special Needs Liaisons and the IB program. To pay for this, I proposed cutting some district administrators’ extra benefits and the $200,000 Communications Department. That department has been a sore point with many teachers and community members since it was created by former Superintendent Lonnie Barber in 2011.
This alternative budget received overwhelming community support: over 300 community members signed a petition urging the board to “put students first” and reject and redo the superintendent’s budget. Despite this, the superintendent’s budget narrowly passed by a 3-2 vote at the annual budget hearing in June. The board member who cast the swing vote resigned the next day. Now that swing seat is open.
Because I have questioned the superintendent on budget and other important matters, district administrators, aided by Ms. Stone, have continually harassed me. Most regrettably, this harassment has included a failed attempt to recall me, conducted in large part by district office staff. Ms. Stone’s latest personal campaign to discredit me refers to BCSDCoalition emails. She fails to say the entire board received most of these emails from citizens as far back as 2014 and implies that something nefarious was being communicated. That’s intentionally misleading.
The open board seat represents a tipping point. On one side will be many community members who think the district should be accountable, transparent and prioritize needs of children. On the other side will be a few, like Ms. Stone, who continually lobby for the financial and other interests of the district administration. It is my hope that a well-qualified person, who will represent the priorities and values of the community, will be appointed.
What priorities and values do you think the new board member should represent? Please let the board know by emailing Board Clerk Amanda LaChance at amandalachance@blaineschools.org.
Elizabeth Corker
Blaine County School District Trustee