School Board Election Forum Set For May 27

Democracy In Action (DIA) will host an election forum for candidates for the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the South Middle School Cafeteria at 2 Indiana Street in Rapid City. All school board candidates for Areas 1 and 2 (Robbinsdale and southern part of the city) have been invited to participate. In the first hour candidates will answer questions that DIA has conveyed to them in advance. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates during the second hour. Residents of the Rapid City School District are invited. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

Questions for School Board Candidates

DIA School Board Forum

South Middle School

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

6:45 – 9:15 p.m.

1. What is your plan to improve communication between the School Board, school administrators, RCEA, teachers and the public?
2. Average teacher salaries in South Dakota rank either 50^th or 51^st, depending on which statistics you consult.  If elected, what would you do to make Rapid City a top choice for new teachers?
3. If the funding crisis in the Rapid City schools continues, how would you make cuts in programs and personnel?  Would you support an opt-out of current property tax limits?  Why or why not?
4. How would you increase public participation in planning the changes being considered by the school district?  These include possible new construction, remodeling some schools, closing others and changing attendance boundaries. 
5. What questions would you ask administrators to determine whether our schools are culturally sensitive?  How can we close the gaps between cultures and develop clear understanding and cooperation among all cultural and racial groups in our schools?  How can we minimize the incidence of hate crimes? 
6. When funding is cut, frequently the first programs to go are art and music.  Last year, in fact, private contributions saved the music program.  How can the school district avoid cuts in art and music in the future? 
7. Now that students, by law, must stay in school until the age of 18, what programs, if any, do you think will be necessary to engage those students who no longer want to be in school?  How will the district pay for these programs? 
8. What are your views on school-provided early childhood education?  If you think they belong in the schools, how should those programs be funded? 
9. How can Rapid City schools develop curriculum that is more life-relevant?  Should the public be engaged in curriculum development?  If yes, how?  If no, why not? 
10. What are your views on an age-appropriate, comprehensive program of sex education in the Rapid City schools? 
11. Do you favor the institution of “magnet” or “charter” schools in Rapid City?  If so, why?  If not, why not? 
12. Some school districts in the state have disciplined disproportionate numbers of minority students, who then ultimately end up in the criminal justice system.  How can Rapid City schools avoid this “school to prison pipeline?”

For more information about the candidates, click on their names in the sidebar on the right.