Amanda Glass
(District 1)
Why are you running for school board? My involvement in Northside Elementary and Woodford County Middle has given me the experience and knowledge needed to serve the First District on the school board and to be a strong voice for not only my district, but for all of the students and families in Woodford County. Having been involved in our schools and the Woodford County community for many years, I have built strong relationships with our community and school leaders. Where do you stand on moving forward with a new high school and spending general fund dollars on the project? I agree with the community and the current board that a new high school is very much needed. If elected, I look forward to meeting with the board and chief financial officer to learn about the current funding plan for the new school and any impacts on the district as a whole. I understand that school and government finances are much different from personal, or even business finance and I don’t want to prejudge without all of the facts. What are your thoughts on the behavior at school board meetings over the last year and what would you do to improve the tone of discussions? The working relationship between the superintendent and board has deteriorated, and is not a representation of collaborative governance. I will always remember that our community and children are watching and will engage in discussions that move our district forward. We need to leverage our district’s strengths to continue to improve. For example, in the coming year we will have the opportunity to celebrate Mr. Hawkins’ accomplishments, he has contributed a great deal to our district’s success. That success will aid our ability to attract and hire a new leader who will guide our district into the future. What’s your view on in-person and virtual learning in our schools? I believe there is no question that in-person learning is best for most of our students. With that being said, the Healthy at School protocols designed by the state must be followed to ensure our students’ and staff safety. I also believe the current virtual platform needs to be improved, especially at the middle and high school levels. Having the best online learning plan is vital for our students who are remaining virtual learners and because we continue to face uncertainty during the pandemic. Ian Horn (District 1)
Why are you running for school board? I have been a lifelong citizen of Woodford County. When I was a student, I enjoyed a lot of success as a student and an athlete. I credit much of that to the support that I received from my teachers, coaches, parents, and especially from the Woodford County community. I feel that it is time for me to give back to the community so that our children receive that same support. Where do you stand on moving forward with a new high school and spending general fund dollars on the project? I stand in favor of a new high school. However, given the global pandemic and the economic instability through which we currently live, I do not believe that we should pursue the option at this time. I think it would be prudent to wait out the crisis before making any steps forward. We simply don’t know what is going to happen (e.g., people leaving in search of jobs, economic crisis, funding availability, etc.). What are your thoughts on the behavior at school board meetings over the last year and what would you do to improve the tone of discussions? I am a firm believer in civil, respectful conversation. I will strive to create and maintain such an environment. I received my undergraduate degree from a Quaker-affiliated college. From that experience, I have learned the importance of listening, respecting opinions, being non-judgmental, and most importantly, the power of consensus. I firmly believe that our school board needs to take a more consensus-based approach in decision making. What’s your view on in-person and virtual learning in our schools? I have very mixed feelings about the subject. I believe every family has a right to choose what they believe is safest for its child and family. I also want to take this opportunity to applaud our teachers and staff who have adapted so quickly to such a changing environment. Because of the nature of my position in state government, I have been very involved with the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center and Kentucky Department of Health. I work with Kentucky’s COVID-19 data on a daily basis. Perhaps, because of this, I may be biased in my preference for more precautions. Angela McKale (District 3)
Why are you running for school board? Our district is facing new challenges in the way of a growing community, financial security, and now a pandemic. My professional and volunteering experience will give me a unique set of skills to bring to the Board’s table. I have lived and worked in this community for the last 18 years. My kids go to school here. I have served on the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce, as Treasurer for Central Kentucky Hockey Association, Treasurer for the Huntertown PTO, and as a CASA in Lexington, which advocates for children in family court. I know I can make a difference. Where do you stand on moving forward with a new high school and spending general fund dollars on the project? I do not support the use of general funds to build a new high school. I support fiscal conservatism, and certainly budget reviews are needed, and the district needs to be responsible in how we spend any funds. Right now, our number one priority should be the safe return of all kids to school. In lieu of that, we need to make sure all kids have appropriate resources to be successful in whatever their current environment is. What are your thoughts on the behavior at school board meetings over the last year and what would you do to improve the tone of discussions? Our current board has had trouble creating a collaborative, strong leadership unit to guide the district over the last couple of years. I would work with the school board representatives, staff, administration, teachers, and the community like I do with any professional group – give everyone a respectful voice, learn as much as I can about topics under discussion, and remain professional at all times. What’s your view on in-person and virtual learning in our schools? I believe our number one goal should be to bring all kids safely back to school in person. Our teachers and administration have done everything they can to make virtual learning possible, but kids need to be in the classroom. Sherri Springate (District 4)
Why are you running for school board? I am running for school board because I love our schools and our community. I have the training (Level 5 Certificate of Leadership from the Kentucky School Boards Association), experience, and ability to provide ethical leadership. I have lived in District 4 for 20 years and all of my children graduated from Woodford County High School. This allowed me to be an active volunteer for many years. My service demonstrates my dedication to our students and staff. Citizens can count on my independent judgment. I am not afraid to stand up and be the lone voice of reason. Where do you stand on moving forward with a new high school and spending general fund dollars on the project? Paying for a school using general fund dollars requires us to make significant cuts to programs and staff. That is why I am opposed to building a new school in this manner. The pursuit of this substandard high school has caused us to run a deficit for the last two fiscal years and has come at a significant cost. We have had to make up the difference out of our savings account-the contingency fund. We cannot continue to drain our contingency fund, which is meant for emergencies like re-opening schools during the pandemic. What are your thoughts on the behavior at school board meetings over the last year and what would you do to improve the tone of discussions? I have been appalled and embarrassed by the behavior of school board members during meetings this past year and a half. I requested the meetings be recorded so that there would be accountability and transparency. I have asked that we receive training from KSBA. I believe that we can and should provide leadership by example. I know that if we follow the laws and statutes, our own policy and procedures, and listen to the advice of our attorney, we can have orderly and professional meetings once again. What’s your view on in-person and virtual learning in our schools? I advocated for and voted for the Two Choice Model so everyone could make the best decision for their family – in person or virtual. I believe we have to follow the guidelines of the CDC, our local health department, KDE’s Healthy at School requirements, and our own policy and procedures. We have to be flexible; but we must provide leadership and vision so that there is consistency. Piper White (District 4)
Why are you running for school board? I choose to be active in our community. That may mean helping restore one of our parks or helping someone who is having a hard time. I would like to serve on the school board to further help our community and to ensure that our schools are given a strong foundation. I look forward to building the new relationships that will come with this position. It’s no secret that there are issues with our current situation, I plan to be a positive influence to find the solutions that we all need. Where do you stand on moving forward with a new high school and spending general fund dollars on the project? We need a new high school. Two years ago, our community was clear when it voted down the nickel tax, that means that all options need to be evaluated. I’ve followed, which hasn’t been easy at times, all the financial presentations that have been made over the last several months. I look forward to getting more information so that I can fully participate in the decisions that need to be made to make the new high school a reality. It’s critical that the board be judicious and critical of the spending of the district. What are your thoughts on the behavior at school board meetings over the last years and what would you do to improve the tone of the discussions? The school board is a consensus board. Consensus boards meet their goals when everyone is on the same page. I will be a team member on the board, the board has to move forward, has to make progress. Currently, there is a trend to revisit the same topics and this is causing division. I’ll strive to be a strong contributing member of the board while representing the needs of my district. What’s your view on in-person and virtual learning in our schools? There is no substitute to in-person learning. However, we have to have the flexibility to provide virtual learning that enables our students to be successful. There have been many issues expressed by parents with our current virtual platforms. We have to be able to adapt, making the necessary changes, that will allow our students to be successful during this trying time.