Andy Lacy, Candidate for District 11
1. What do you see as one of the county’s main challenges regarding special education and what ideas do you have to improve this? I think one of the biggest problems with our current board is parents feel like they have no representation on the board. Parents have not been allowed to speak at some meetings and when they do the board does not listen. I would love to see parents with special needs children set down with the school board, teachers, and Mr. Phillips and see how we can best meet the needs of students.
2 How can we be sure to recruit, train, and retain skilled and caring educators and support staff? We should recruit teachers that have a calling on their life and a passion to work with special needs kids. Teachers are overworked and underpaid. The school should be providing the best training available to give our teachers the best tools to work with. I would rather invest 3.5 million in our school staff than a dilapidated horse barn (Comer Barn).
3 How can we improve inclusion in the schools, both academically and socially? We should do full inclusion if it's best for the kids and if it’s not, we should customize a plan that is in the best interest for the students. It is so important to build up all children’s self-esteem and let them know they are all different but uniquely made, valuable, and loved.
4. What would you do as a school board member to ensure that students involved in special education were consistently considered in communications and planning and why might this be important? What I have run on is I will be an advocate for parents on the school board. I will listen to parents of special needs kids. I think parents and groups like yours should be brought in as advisors when the Board makes decisions that will involve special needs children. All voters should be heard and listened to.
Comments