Davis for Local Education 2014 Davis County General Election Candidate Survey

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Survey Questions Question 1 (Q1) Do you believe the Common Core State Standards (also known as the Core) will prepare students to be college and career ready? Question 2 (Q2) Do you believe parents should be able to opt a student out of the Core aligned tests and the State Longitudinal Database System? Question 3 (Q3) Do you believe Utah should provide universal pre-K education for children? Question 4 (Q4) What are the three (3) most critical education issues in our county? Question 5 (Q5) Do you believe Davis County public schools are adequately funded? If not, please briefly specify changes that should be made to provide appropriate financial support. Question 6 (Q6) With regard to the Federal Department of Education, do you support: A) Keeping it as it is, B) Changing it to a small research and advisory organization, C) Completely eliminating it, D) Other (please specify) Question 7 (Q7) If you want to clarify any of your answers, please do so here. Question 8 (Q8) If you want to share a brief position on education issues, please do so here.

Survey Answers Blank fields indicate the candidate did not respond to that question or the survey. Candidate answers are presented exactly as received, including grammatical and spelling errors.

Office Candidate Party Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 – Issue 1 Q4 – Issue 2 Q4 – Issue 3 Q5-Answer Q5 – Changes Q6 Q7 Q8 US HOUSE 1 Donna McAleer Democrat US HOUSE 1 Rob Bishop Republican

I do believe Davis County public schools are not adequately funded. However, as a candidate for U.S. Congress, my position is that the federal government should not be Interference in Edcuation The lack of adequate funding for public education is a global issue, Lack of Adequate Funding for Meeting the Needs of Special involved in the education of Utah's children, but rather Completely eliminating Education is one of the best investments that our state and local System by Federal including inadequate teacher salaries, inadequate funds for equipment US HOUSE 1 Dwayne Vance Independent American No Yes Yes Public Education Needs Children No education is an issue that should be directed by the State of it communities can make in the future. Government and supplies, etc. Utah without any interference from the federal government, meaning the funding issue is also a matter to be dealt with by the State of Utah rather than the federal government.

Teachers being essentially Teachers unions that interfere Changing it to a small Craig Bowden forced to teach to a test instead with the process of getting rid of research and advisory US HOUSE 1 Libertarian No Yes No A lack of great teachers of helping prepare children for Yes bad teachers organization the world

I have a degree in education and have taught successfully in public, private and home school settings. I believe in supporting and Public lands should be returned to state control to help fund administering public education on the local level but also allowing Parental Choice and Responsive School District - Completely eliminating Shaun McCausland education state wide. Severence taxes on minerals and oil parents to choose other options including private, home and charter US HOUSE 2 Constitution No Yes No Control Funding Not Federal Interference No it taken from the state should also be used. schools. The responsibility for quality education resides first in the student, second with the parents and third with local schools under local control.

Other. Get Government The true unfunded liabilities are nearing 200 Trillion, that includes 20 to step aside eventually million government employees. I feel very sure Privatization is the only Common Sense not Teaching the Constitution and and move towards way to save this Country. If teachers and everyone else want to have a job Our children need to be taught values, if schools won't then this Privatizing education as we better get rid of the government and unions destroying free enterprise. country is history. A history lesson no current school will teach, in my US HOUSE 2 Wayne Hill Independent American No Yes Undecided Government Core. Teaching the 3 basic skills. Morals. Undecided I feel Private Schools should be given equal access. well as most For example the the Post office deficit is 5.5 Billion annually. Everything opinion. Government ran done by the private sector makes a profit or someone else takes over that entities. does.

US HOUSE 2 Chris Stewart Republican US HOUSE 2 Luz Robles Democrat US HOUSE 2 Bill Barron Unaffiliated

State Senate 18 Ann Millner Republican Changing it to a small 1-Inequality in educational Decision making is distant from Communities need to work together to create more Mat Wenzel research and advisory State Senate 18 Democrat No Yes Yes funding and opportunities those with experience Lack of technology No equitable funding organization State Senate 18 Dwight Steffner Libertarian

State Senate 21 Jerry Stevenson Republican State Senate 21 Sherri Tatton Democrat

State Senate 22 J Stuart Adams Republican State Senate 22 Kip Sayre Democrat

The system is fundamentally flawed and spending more money or tinkering with educational objectives won't change much. What is Vested interests maintaining Completely eliminating State Senate 22 Brent Zimmerman Libertarian Yes Yes No Lack of true school choice Government mismanagement Yes needed is educational choice in the form of vouchers or tuition tax the status quo it credits. Giving parents the power to send their children to whichever school they consider best will inspire all schools to be better.

As a general rule, I don't think any Utah schools are Other. Because it is a adequately funded. That would then, of course, include federal department, my I have a child in high school, one in junior high, one in upper Davis County public schools. I cannot specify exact changes opinion regarding the elementary, and one in lower elementary. Education in this state is Funding (this is more a that would be the silver bullets to fix everything immediately. US Department of Utah issue than a recruitment and retention of I don't think there is any one specific change that could Education matters very VERY important to me. I have nothing but respect for those who State House 11 Amy Steed Morgan Democrat Undecided Undecided Undecided parental involvement qualified teachers Undecided educate. I think we can do better for our schools, and the best way to countrywide issue.) accomplish appropriate financial support. But, I can specify little. This is where we do better is to come together and work out the best solutions, not to that legislators MUST listen to, and not dismiss or ignore, rely on our pick sides and stand absolutely immovable. the opinions and suggestions of teachers and administrators congressional and state as we work toward sufficiently funding our schools. representatives.

State House 11 Brad Dee Republican

State House 12 Mike Schultz Republican State House 12 Joseph Marrero Democrat

Changing it to a small Dysfunctional leadership from There is a problem with funding although I'm not sure if it's research and advisory State House 13 Republican No Yes No Class room size Availability of materials school district Undecided inadequate funding or bad budgeting. organization

I support standardized national testing annually as a means of My understanding is that except for providing a lot of additional funding measuring student achievement to determine trends and compare adequate financial good recruitment and training of getting politicians out of trying Provide more funding through additional revenue at state with some strings attached, Dept of Ed really is just a small research averages both within and between states. You don't know what you State House 13 Bob Buckles Democrat Undecided Yes Yes resources for public K-12 teachers to manage curriculum No and/or local level Keeping it as it is organization. Are you proposing to eliminate those funds without don't measure. Having said that, I am also very skeptical of using test replacement? I believe that would be the result of proposed alternatives. scores to judge teacher or school performance without considering the external demographic factors impacting student performance.

State House 14 Cheryl Lynn Phipps Democrat State House 14 Curtis Oda Republican

I believe the issue is more complicated than lower funding per capita for students. Utah has the highest student age Regarding common core, I implement software applications for a living. I understand that the success of a product or program is primarily tied to population of any state and Davis county has nearly 40% of My father retired from North Summit School District where he taught the support of those who use it. I believe that common core is grounded its population under the age of 20. I believe that property tax 5th grade and music. As a child of educators, I believe I understand Using technology on principles that will help students in Utah and other states to be is inequitable for funding school. Those who choose to have better than most how important education is. I believe that those who State House 15 Rich Miller Democrat Yes No No effectively as a learning Teacher turnover No Keeping it as it is evaluated on common ground. I think that any significant problems with tool large families should bear the financial burden of educating the program are caused by implementation issues and particularly by choose to have larger families should bear the burden of educating children. One way to recoup this cost is to eliminate the children. I think that good technology decisions can cut costs and those who oppose it on political grounds rather than on their merits. It federal dependent exemptions for state income tax. The improve teaching. would be sad to see a program fail to reach its potential because of those increased tax revenue can be earmarked for schools in the working to undermine the program for non-educational motives county where the family resides.

State House 15 Brad R Wilson Republican

All legislatures espouse that education is their number one priority and it certainly is for me. As a member of the Public Appropriations Sub Additional financial resources are required to attract and Committee for the past four years, I have worked hard to fund growth retain professional educators. I favor measures to grow and and increase funding to the WPU. I have strongly supported STEM strengthen Utah's economy thus ensuring a more vibrant initiatives and funding, which is already paying dividends. The overall Enhancing SITLA funding to Completely eliminating flow of funds to public education. We also need to work control and direction of public education in Utah should reside with the State House 16 Steve Handy Republican Yes Yes Yes Overall funding Ensuring local control community councils No it diligently on all fronts to obtain control of Utah's public lands. duly elected local school district and not with the legislature and we It's the only solution big enough to bring Utah's per pupil should avoid the tendency to mandate and legislate education policy funding up to parity with other states. from Capitol Hill. Our children deserve our very best efforts and I highly value Utah's professional educators and will continue to do everything in my power to support them.

State House 16 Douglas Mcentire Sill Democrat State House 16 Jeffrey Ostler Constitution

State House 17 Republican State House 17 Eric Last Democrat

State House 18 Timothy D. Hawkes Republican State House 18 Richard Bagley Democrat

State House 19 Republican State House 19 Daniel N. Donahoe Democrat State House 19 Eli Cawley Independent American

State House 20 Donna Taylor Democrat State House 20 Becky Edwards Republican

#1 This was difficult to answer with only three choice. The explanation will give a better reflection about my direction. I actually stand for good standards with local control and parental I know that keeping local involvement. control with parental Parents, educators, leaders and involvement is critical to community members must work Our common standards, which include minimum standards for each grade our district. The together for a common cause, are appropriate and I am comfortable with these standards. For example, diminishing role of the our children. We need more third graders will learn to multiply by 2 digits, 5th graders will write a family in education is too open communication about how complete paragraph. There is a need to increase financial support. It doesn't prevalent. This is most we can work as a community for always mean an increase in taxes to get more funding for evident for our at-risk the students. Even when ideas I am concerned about how our teachers have been asked to teach these schools. Legislators and the state school board must work I have given my life to education. I taught school in Utah and children. No public may differ, honest open standards. We lack the training and professional development for this The division that "common together to create positive change together. We can also Colorado, schooled my own children at home, taught in a private program can compensate communication is vital to the Completely eliminating process to run smoothly. This has created issues for our teachers and State School Board 5 Laura Collier Belnap NA Undecided Yes No core" has created in our No leverage technology and open doors for businesses to get school and now serve on the State Charter Board. I appreciate that on a large scale for the success of our children. As community. involved in our schools. As we make positive relationships it their ability to present these standards in a way that our children can learn there is not a one size fits all our children. I bring a unique life-critical values, these relationships are the information. This creates holes and gaps for our children and their we can work together to increase funding for our children. perspective as I view education from many different view points. priorities, and discipline constructed, our community will learning. There are some teachers who do this intuitive but that is not the We must work with businesses and create partnerships with that must be instilled in a have more open dialog and whole. the schools. successful individual. respectful discussions. As we However, for some of our become a collaborative team, We MUST be very concerned about the curriculum that has been used. students, our schools are student opportunities for a great Curriculum wasn’t created at the implementation of these standards so the only opportunity for education will increase in Davis teachers and schools were left to search and find resources on their own. them to receive these County. Teachers found curriculum to use that often didn't reflect the direction for values and valuable skills. our state and the values we have here. I know that our district is working to correct this problem by writing their own curriculum that reflects the values of each community. This again has put our children’s education in jeopardy.

I believe there are huge misconceptions about the Common Core and the Utah Core. I believe in high standards for our students. I believe we as parents should have the opportunity to understand what is I believe we need more funding statewide, not only in Davis actually being taught to our children and that our voices should be Completely eliminating Mark H. Bouchard County, in order to provide teacher development. We also heard, if only at the local school board level to filter up. I believe State School Board 5 NA Yes No Yes Teacher Development Classroom Sizes (K-6) Testing No it need to give teachers fair increases each year. parents should have the opportunity to learn the new curriculum if they so choose. I believe teachers should have proper development and training with new curriculum. And I believe that testing should be done once a year at the end of the year. Whew!

Davis School 3 David S Nelson NA Davis School 3 Julie Tanner NA

Davis School 5 David Lovato NA Changing it to a small Education was never meant to be a role of the federal government. Keep The public needs more say at board meetings. Also, Parent and Gordon Eckersley research and advisory Davis School 5 NA No Yes No Growth Local control Parental input Yes Reduced salaries of district officers. it local. student need more control over classes and transcript. organization

Other. I am not a fan of big government, but I #1 - There is not enough data available to show if the Utah core will The legislature needs to give the schools all of the State tax don't what good or bad prepare students for college or for a career. #3 - We don't have the money Davis School 6 Thomas Waggoner NA Undecided Undecided No Student safety Funding Class size No money they are entitled to, according to the State the federal department Constitution. of education does for to adequately fund the education programs we have now, where are we going to get the money to provide universal pre-K education. Utah education. I would have to study it more.

We need greater representation for parents on the school board. Completely eliminating Currently, only 1 out of the 7 board members has children in school. If Mona Andrus Davis School 6 NA No Yes No Parental Rights Public Voice Local Control Yes it elected, I will be the only candidate to have children in Elementary, Jr. High, and High School throughout my term in office.

Davis School 7 Tamara Lowe NA Davis School 7 Freddie Cooper NA

Davis Commissioner, Seat A P. Bret Millburn Republican

1. No test or standard will ever take the place of a great teacher and student interaction. Test and standards are but measurements on a map, they will never capture the heart of learning. 2. If the State decides on standard tests to provide measurement, feedback and insight it is in the common good to gather as wide of input as possible. All should clearly understand the limitations of tests and not use them a litmus for success or failure. Post Secondary Education continues to receive a greater share of the limited State educational budget. Our K-12 3. The best Pre-K education is in a loving and supportive home, but not Our children deserve the very best we can provide. I sense the no Changing it to a small all students are fortunate to be raised in such an environment. Programs students continue to suffer with lack of per student funds. one is satisfied with where we are today and this is a good thing. Can research and advisory that try to supplement this deficit should be rigorously review monitored Davis Commissioner, Seat A Steven J. Andersen Democrat No No No Education Funding Classroom Size Teacher Support No These funds should be wisely spent where the learning we unify in common cause and knock down each of the barriers organization for effectiveness and potency. Throwing money at problem always happens, between the teacher and the student. We should between our children and the finest education? attract the finest teachers and give them to tools to succeed. creates a greater problem. 6. We have legacy departments all over government that should be frequently reviewed for purpose and outcomes. If a department is not achieving desired outcomes it much change until it does. Clearly US education continues to slip on all international scales. Sadly the successful models for education are sitting before us in countries such as Finland and Singapore but we have neither the will or ability to adopt them. This must change as our children are our future.

Davis Commissioner, Seat B Ryan A. Macfarlane Constitution Davis Commissioner, Seat B Jim Smith Republican Changing it to a small Davis Commissioner, Seat B Pamela Udy Democrat Undecided Yes No economic vitality air quality County debt No research and advisory organization