Kermit Dance-

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Candidate for School Board

Issue Positions - Go to Mr. Dance’s Background Information

Why You? I will bring to the Board an intuitive perspective that is too often absent from the decision-making process—the perspective of one who recently has been “in the trenches.” Since my 2003 retirement I have continued to be close to practicing educators. They know they have my ear and that I have the capacity to empathize with their daily plight at the classroom and school building levels. As an educational leader I often demonstrated an “outside-the-box” approach to addressing the challenging needs of students and staff. This capability will be an asset to the Board in setting policies, developing creative programs, and setting expectations.

Issues: Pick 5 (or more, or less) issues you think are important to Manassas and give your thoughts on them

Providing High quality education services when financial resources are significantly limited, particularly in the current economic downturn. Very often quality can be improved and maintained without significant increase in financial allocations. No. 2 below, for example, involves having school-level and central office instructional leaders who clearly articulate vision, set expectations, and value employees so that the culture described in #2 below is achieved. It also involves all educators routinely “doing the right thing”—making decisions and engaging in practices that are held to one basic standard---what is in the best interest of children.
Fostering at each school site a climate/culture that is safe, positive, student-centered, and staff-supportive so that optimal learning and teaching are experienced. The elaboration given in point #1 is also applicable here.
Helping parents to become more empowered partners in the schooling process. Parenting education needs to be brought to the forefront as a comprehensive effort by MCPS if children are to benefit fully from the system’s instructional offerings. For several generations now parents have played increasingly lesser roles in schooling their children. Correspondingly schools more and more have taken on parenting roles. Reversing these trends can happen if the MCPS makes a planned, concerted effort to do so.
Stemming the tide of parents choosing home schooling and private schooling perceived as better alternatives to the Manassas City Public Schools. We need to study those alternatives and incorporate into public schooling effective features that seem advantageous in those settings. Given the choices of private schooling, home schooling, and schooling in other districts, MCPS can offer the best of all worlds. I have no doubt that we can be the education program of choice for all Manassas residents.
Improving educators’ compensation: Every effort should be taken to have MCPS compensation packages (not just the salaries) competitive with surrounding districts. We are tapping into the same applicant pool, and we should be in positions to attract the brightest, the most professionally dedicated, and the most skillful. Retention is also important. A competitive compensation structure, along with supportive working conditions, will help Manassas City to avoid losing seasoned professionals to neighboring school jurisdictions.

Is there a particular issue you are especially committed to? If so, explain how you plan to address it if elected:

Fostering at each school site a climate/culture that is safe, positive, student-centered, and staff-supportive so that optimal learning and teaching are experienced. The elaboration given in point #1 is also applicable here.

Authorized by the Candidate

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