FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : Heil, McGinty vie for Position 2
Posted on Saturday, September 6, 2008
Fayetteville Public Schools patrons will choose between incumbent Susan Heil and newcomer James McGinty for the at-large Position 2 seat when they go to the polls on Sept. 16 to vote in the Fayetteville Board of Education election.
Early voting for the election starts Tuesday. Whoever is elected will serve a five-year term on the board.
With the Fayetteville school district grappling with such issues as a longstanding debate regarding the future of the high school, a retiring superintendent and plans to redraw attendance zones, the school board election attracted a lot of interest this year.
One of the immediate issues the candidate will likely deal with is the high school, as the University of Arkansas recently withdrew an offer to buy the campus property last month. The school board had planned to sell the current campus to help subsidize new construction elsewhere, but all indications now point to the board developing a plan to renovate the cur- rent site.
Other issues coming up within the next year include the hiring of a new superintendent, as Superintendent Bobby New is scheduled to retire after this school year, and developing new attendance zones for elementary schools.
The candidates were asked to respond to a survey of questions about their views on school issues. The following is a summary of their responses.
1. Tell us about your background. Why did you decide to run for school board, and what do you believe your qualifications are ?
SUSAN HEIL Heil has served on the school board for seven years and has two children who currently attend Fayetteville Public Schools. Her oldest child has graduated from FHS, and she herself was an FHS graduate. She previously worked at IBM for 15 years and said she wants to continue to serve the district. She counts improving technology in the district and increasing the student-to-computer ratio during her tenure on the board as one of her accomplishments.
I am running again because I am well versed in the issues that are before the board. I am ready to take on these challenges today, she said.
JAMES MCGINTY I am running for the Fayetteville School Board because my granddaughter will be starting school in a few years, and I believe I can make a real change in the way decisions have been done in the past, he said.
McGinty said he hopes his construction experience, which includes 25 years as an electrical contractor and currently working as a consultant for pb 2 in Rogers, will be useful given the building decisions the district is facing. His children are FHS graduates, and he is proud of the education they received.
I have a unique view of school issues through the eyes of a seasoned educator, my wife, he added.
2. Please list in detail your thoughts on the high school situation.
SUSAN HEIL Heil said she thinks moving the school to Morningside Drive would have been a good option if the district were able to negotiate a sale to the UA. As the high school decision could impact Fayetteville for years to come, she does not regret the time spent debating the topic.
It is now time to move forward, but putting up a millage without educating the public and putting a plan together would be irresponsible, she said. Heil does not favor revisiting the decision to add ninth grade to the high school.
JAMES MCGINTY He favors utilizing the current site and creating a plan to build a new school there.
I believe that the proposed sale of Fayetteville High School to the University of Arkansas was a mistake and poorly handled by the administration and school board, he said.
McGinty also said he is concerned about adding ninth grade to the campus.
With the addition of more students in the high school, we will be looking at one big school. I dont know if this is the best idea, he said.
3. How do you think the district should approach redrawing attendance zones ? It is an issue the board is planning to tackle in the coming months.
SUSAN HEIL There are many factors to consider, she said. Proximity to school, all members of a neighborhood being kept together, walkability, longevity of the plan and time allowed for families to get notice of changes, just to name a few. We should prioritize the educational needs of our students and a strong plan that has longevity when making rezoning decisions.
JAMES MCGINTY I believe that children should be given the opportunity to walk or ride their bikes to school whenever possible, he said.
An important objective, he added, should be class-size equity across the schools. He also said boundaries should be contiguous, and they should be logical and bordered by natural borders such as major streets, highways, etc. He said he would also like to work with neighborhoods to determine where sidewalks are needed to improve walkability.
4. Superintendent Bobby New is scheduled to retire in June. What are some qualities and qualifications you will look for when hiring the next superintendent ?
SUSAN HEIL Heil said she likes the description a 2007 summer committee developed, which states in part that the superintendent should be a seasoned education professional the people of Fayetteville can trust. There was also prioritization given to high competence and high character.
Our superintendent will have to work closely with the citizens of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas while at the same time run our school system, she said.
JAMES MCGINTY He listed 15 qualities he believes the next superintendent should possess. These include having excellent communication skills, inspiring trust, having an ability to build consensus and commitment among individuals and groups, having the ability to develop and maintain relationships with the business community and having experience as a teacher and principal.
The superintendent also should display mental toughness because no one can lead without facing criticism.
5. Are there any other issues affecting the district that you are concerned about ? What would you do to address these issues ?
SUSAN HEIL One of her main concerns is that the City Council, school district and University of Arkansas need to work more closely together.
Each have decision-making authority that affects the other two, yet work independently of each other. I would like to see a plan for these three entities, which are so important to the success of Fayetteville, to work closer together.
JAMES MCGINTY McGinty said he wants to make sure students are leaving the district with an understanding of their potential and skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. He listed a series of questions that could be asked to evaluate this. He said he believes the administration must consult students, teachers and community before implementing changes.
Im concerned that the curriculum needs improvement, he said.
6. Do you have any family members who work for the school district or in education, and have you ever worked for the Fayetteville school district or other school districts ?
SUSAN HEIL Her father, Ben Winborn, worked at the school district for 30 years, beginning his career as a teacher and ending it as an assistant superintendent. Her mother was a high school secretary.
JAMES MCGINTY His wife, Phyllis, has taught at Fayetteville High School for 20 years and oversees the apprenticeship program. McGinty also noted he taught evening electrical classes at Northwest Arkansas Community College from 2003 to 2005.
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