By Jean Jacques Bohl
The Blaine County School Board of Trustees has a vacancy to represent Zone 3. Hailey residents Irene Healy and Pamela Plowman both sent letters of interest. The board will interview these candidates at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Community Campus, in a meeting open to the public. If the four-member school board cannot agree on a candidate, the three Blaine County Commissioners will make the choice. More applications must be received by 3 p.m. Friday, Sept 16.
The Weekly Sun: What do you think is your greatest asset to the school Board?
Irene Healy: I will bring two strengths to the board: As a result of working for years with our district’s custodians and maintenance teams, our secretaries, guidance counselors, special services teachers, and building principals, I’ve acquired insights into how the whole system works together for the benefit of students. Second, during years of working on high school and district-wide committees, I learned how to engage others in discussions and planning. My focus was on getting a task done cooperatively with minimum friction and maximum efficiency. I’m offering those skills to the board to work toward the district’s goals.
Pamela Plowman: I have two especially valuable assets for the school board. First, I have closely followed Blaine County School District issues in recent years and am up to speed on financial and policy issues. I have a clear understanding of the dynamics and am ready and capable of stepping into the role. I am an outside, independent thinker who will represent the voice of the community. Secondly, I’ve had a lifetime focus on the wellbeing of children and families. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Florida in Gainesville, in 1977, in order to prepare myself to practice homebirth midwifery, which I practiced for 25 years. For the past 11 years, I have operated Owl House, a children’s sanctuary for children ages 1-5. Because of this history, in addition to prudent financial oversight, I will be able to be a consistent, dedicated advocate for the fundamentals of whole child wellness and research-based educational practices.
TWS: What do you see as the biggest issue in the school district?
IH: The principal goal is to facilitate learning for every student at every level. In order to do that, the district has to resolve the continuing issue of reconciling
revenues and expenses, and do it in a way that takes into consideration the needs of students, taxpayers, parents and staff.
PP: After attending more than three years of school board meetings, I believe that the biggest issue in the school district has come to be a divided board. Generally speaking, I see it as a conflict between those who think spending is being handled well and those who think there needs to be a serious restructuring of spending, especially at the administrative level. I believe that such restructuring is critical to reestablishing public trust. In my opinion, BCSD can do a better job of utilizing its financial resources so that they are focused on the needs of the children and their teachers. I want to be a part of instituting a transition to a leaner, more efficient administration, as a way to bring greater educational resources directly to the children in this Valley.
TWS: What is your position regarding administrative and teacher salaries?
IH: I think that some type of administrators’ salary schedule and a timeline for full implementation can be worked out that will save the district money without disenfranchising current employees. This will need to be discussed and analyzed in several board work sessions before it can be brought to the administrators’ group for official contract negotiations.
In principle, I support raises for teachers statewide. In our district, the Blaine County Education Association and the board have used interest-based bargaining for years to negotiate pay raises and benefits, and I trust the process.
PP: For the past few years, BCSD expenditures have exceeded revenues. Our people costs are a large part of the problem. If we are to prevent further cuts to programs and positions that directly benefit kids, we must look closely at all areas of the budget – including administrative overhead. Do we need as many high-level administrative positions as we currently have? Can we afford to keep giving our administrators expensive perks like company cars and family insurance that teachers don’t receive? Can we support a communications department with two full-time employees? These are difficult questions but ones that must be addressed.
Teachers should be highly valued and appreciated, and paid accordingly. Of course there should be cost-of-living raises and raises for greater seniority. I’d like to know how teachers feel about the steps-and-ladders program, which ties greater pay to master’s degree holders.
Sun: Would you support a supplemental levy?
IH: In Idaho, 94 out of 115 school districts collected money from supplemental levies in 2015-16. Eventually, if our enrollment, programs and salaries grow and state financial support does not, our district might have to join the other 94 and ask for a supplemental levy. I’d support a levy if the circumstances demanded it.
PP: The district needs to develop financial prudence to instill confidence in the public before asking for additional tax money. Before I would support any additional collection of money from taxpayers, I would like to see some solid reasons for needing more money.