Fayetteville School Board Candidates Field Questions During Forum

STAFF PHOTO J.T. Wampler Tim Hudson, left, and Tim Hollis, both Fayetteville School Board candidates, shake hands Tuesday before a forum hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Hudson is the incumbent in the race.
STAFF PHOTO J.T. Wampler Tim Hudson, left, and Tim Hollis, both Fayetteville School Board candidates, shake hands Tuesday before a forum hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Hudson is the incumbent in the race.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The two candidates for the Fayetteville School Board Zone 5 seat spent just over an hour Tuesday trying to convince 19 voters they're the best choice to be elected in the coming school elections Sept. 16.

Tim Hudson, incumbent who has served on the board 10 years and is the current president, said he wants to serve another term to help see the completion of the Fayetteville High School renovation and moving freshmen to the high school in 2015.

At A Glance

School Elections

The annual school elections are scheduled Sept. 16.

• Polls open: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Early voting: Sept 9-15.

• Who can vote: Only residents in Zone 5 in the Fayetteville School District can vote in the board race but all voters in the district can vote to retain the millage rate.

Source: Staff Report

Tim Hollis, challenger and a former teacher, said he wants to bring the perspective of a teacher to the board. He wants to see more transparency of board actions and respect for teachers who have been left out of decisions impacting their jobs and handed policies to follow without discussion.

The two men fielded questions ranging from charter schools to standardized testing and the loss of experience in the district when a veteran teacher leaves. They spoke at a forum sponsored by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and moderated by former School Board member Howard Hamilton.

Hamilton said it was the first of nine forums the chamber planned for local and state races involving two or more candidates.

Hollis claimed the new teachers need the veteran teachers to learn from but the culture in the district is so oppressive that teachers are leaving in droves.

"It takes 10 years for a teacher to find his or her feet in the classroom," Hollis said. "New teachers are not as good as the veterans. They are missing the mentoring from the veterans."

Hudson said he hasn't had any teachers hold back their concerns or problems. He said he doubted teachers were leaving the district "because it's such a horrible place to work." He noted about 35 of the teachers hired for the current school year are brand new to the profession. The district employs more than 700 teachers.

Cambre Horn-Brooks, a graduate of the high school and the parent of a student at Root Elementary School, asked about their respective vision for the future of the district.

Hudson said the board made a great decision in hiring Paul Hewitt, a former professor in education leadership at the University of Arkansas. The board and Hewitt plan a public session in the next two months to consider the vision and future of the district.

"I am one of seven on the board acting in concert with the others," Hudson said.

Hollis responded, "The answer is teachers. I hope there are teachers at this summit. Teachers are the key to quality. They need freedom and autonomy. We need to listen to teachers about what they want and need."

Hudson said he believes teachers work hard at the building level. "I don't think they are left out," he added.

Barbara Dillon asked how Hollis planned to work with the board, if elected, because he seemed angry.

"I won't be a board member to rubber stamp Mr. Hewitt. I'm not your man if you want a 'yes' man. I'll work with the board if they will work with me," he said.

Hudson said the School Board is a policy driven board whose main responsibility was supervision of the superintendent. The superintendent in turn is to run the district on a day-to-day basis.

"Our role is not to roll up our sleeves and be involved in the day-to-day management," Hudson said.

NW News on 08/27/2014

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