The questions below were sent to each candidate competing in the race for Richmond School Board.
E.J. 'Emmett Jay' Jafari
What's your perspective on RPS200?
RPS200 is a plan in its infancy, having only 2 years in operation to adjudge its effectiveness. At this stage the deference must be to RPS’ Board Members and the Educational Professionals who, when charged with a duty come together and to craft a plan to improve student grades and attendance, thought this approach was the best option at that time; hindsight is always 100%. For the most part parental and teacher reviews have been favorable. Given that some districts have opted for year-round school attendance, it would appear the RPS found a median means. The RPS district is realizing improved grades and attendance.
What is your take on the Dreams4RPS strategic plan? What would you change and what would you keep?
I appreciate the meticulous articulation of goals and improvements but, being a certified paralegal and welder/metalcrafter myself, and having enjoyed self-employment and self-sufficiency, I have realized firsthand the value in learning a vocation or trade that prepares students to realize success whether they attend college or not. I would like to see the inclusion of more rigorous offer of contemporized vocational trades offerings.
How will you address the needs of students from diverse backgrounds, including English learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students?
Here in the 8th District we are witnessing an influx of families from diverse backgrounds, and presently economically disadvantaged. Of course these conditions are far more complex and defy instantaneous resolution, and often clear understanding, by those viewing momentarily, and only from the outside. I would likely take the approach that I previously applied as RPS’ first Safety Resource Officer ever hired by the school division, effective identification of those needs situations and effective outreach to meet with the parents or guardians, identify serviceable areas, and connect those families to available resources within RPS, the City, and the surrounding regions. Only through collaborations can RPS successful allay the challenges presented by language diversity and other disadvantages.
What is your stance on the role of standardized testing in schools? How should student success be measured?
There must be a means and method of assessing the comprehension and instructional efficacy in any school, whether scholastic, collegiate, or otherwise. While we must act affirmatively to ensure that such tests, testers, and testing methods are devoid of historic or cultural blind spots and obstacles we must concomitantly utilize such tests to see where RPS is and how our students are progressing. As an RPS product I know that the school division provides a great foundation for success, as I, my wife, my children, and grandchild have all benefited from that RPS start. My Grandson recently graduated from J.S. Reynolds with an Associate’s Degree 2 weeks before his graduation from RPS’ Huguenot H.S. Its hard work but I want to avail the same opportunities to more of RPS’s students and families, city wide.
What's your strategy to address absenteeism?
The prioritized key to understanding and tackling absenteeism, as I directly participated in and observed while performing attendance outreach for RPS at Oakgrove, Bellemeade, and Blackwell Schools, and Truancy intervention for Goochland and Fluvanna Co. Schools, early identification and intervention, and early and ongoing community and family outreach. Inclusion of and communication with parents/guardians allow for building trust and confidence and developing that indispensable communication link between our schools and parents. Parents must be involved.
What role does the district play in addressing gun violence?
District students are the foretellers of danger spots in our schools and communities. Having worked closely with Richmond’s Police Dept and its officers while serving the City of Richmond as its Facilities security manager, I developed an understanding of how to effectively interact with and collaborate on approaches and plans aimed at delivering safety and security within the City’s venues and to all who might attend and gather in those spaces. I rely upon CPTED principles but Always taught my staff and personnel to be vigilant and steadfastly observe the surroundings and those entering same. In or to reach those in our communities and convince them of viable options to the paths of violence that they have chosen, and to lessen their proclivities for instant and thoughtless gun violence we must craft alternatives to their chosen lifestyles. I believe that, as I learned as an RPS athlete, that many of such violence-prone actors would prefer athletics, or learning a trade, if shown a pathway and offered that opportunity. Otherwise, I do have plans on reducing the numbers of guns existing in our communities and the hands of youth in our society but will only share same with RPD upon becoming a Member of the School Board.
What are your suggestions for addressing students' mental health?
Certain demeanors, behaviors, and interactions, or withdrawals, serve to identify students in experiencing mental health issues and standing in need of intervention and counseling. Prompt identification, parental collaboration, and referral to proper RPS resources provide the best means of early and effective addressing of students’ mental health situations. However , care must be taken that such students in need of services are channeled to those professionals trained to evaluate and assist such students and families. Those students are not there to be exploited by laymen or “have their brains picked” or “to see what makes them tick”, as my opponent expressed during a public forum. Our students are not experiments or guinea pigs. Leave such interventions, depending upon severity of situation and needs of the student, up to those hired by RSP or the City of Richmond to address and hopefully resolve.
PH 'Cruz' Sherman
What's your perspective on RPS200?
My perspective on RPS200 that it is a progressive attempt to address chronic absenteeism, add more instructional time to help students improve in core studies.
Many students struggle with reading, math, English and science. Therefore concept is a great project.
However, I would be interested in seeing the data from all of the pilot school to determine if the program should be expanded.
In addition, funding and staffing resources would have factor in regarding expansion as well. Fairfield Elementary School did have good outcome performance. More data is needed.
What is your take on the Dreams4RPS strategic plan? What would you change and what would you keep?
My take on Dreams4RPS is it shows the determination of the current RPS administration to development a comprehensive short term and long term plan to improve the quality of education for our students.
I believe it is too early to determine which areas should remain and which items should be shelved.
How will you address the needs of students from diverse backgrounds, including English learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students?
I am supportive of expanding areas of services to address the needs of English learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students.
Every student deserve the best education that RPS can provide. I feel wrap around services add an extra layer to ensure the success of our students.
We must also make sure that we are allocating enough funding and resources to sustain those critical services.
A continued evaluation is in order to provide a fair assessment.
What is your stance on the role of standardized testing in schools? How should student success be measured?
My stance on role of standardized testing it handcuffs our educators. In my opinion our students are being instructed, not taught.
While some students thrive with the model of testing now, others have been hampered by the standardized testing.
There has to be a balance between the two. Allow creativity, students grasp and retain information differently therefore our methods of teaching and testing should reflect those differences.
What's your strategy to address absenteeism?
In order to address absenteeism, we need to do deep dives to determine the root causes. Once the causes have been discovered, we developed precise action plans to reduce absenteeism.
We have to start separating out individual issues and deal with them accordingly and not one shoe fits all solutions.
As a governing body, we can put in policies, but we also are tasked with ensuring we are providing resources to support the administration as they tackle the various causes.
What role does the district play in addressing gun violence?
Sherman did not provide a response to this question.
What are your suggestions for addressing students' mental health?
Many of the social issues all come by to tools and supportive resources. We can encourage and educate. We can and should continue to implement proactive measures to keep our students and staff safe.
In addition, continue to partner with local and state agencies to ensure that we using every tool or measure available to keep our schools safe.
Yes, there are always cost factors, however with that being said, how do we factor in the cost of lives?
My first suggestion is to understand that many times disruptive behavior can be contributed to mental health issues and or some form of trauma.
I feel that RPS, both the board and administration are prioritizing action plans to address mental health issues.
That focus has to continue to be priority. Addressing and finding realistic solutions, in my opinion will have positive impact in the areas of low test scores, chronic absenteeism and low graduation rates.
Because of the issues brought forth with this questionnaire, we must continue to press our General Assembly for additional funding and resources.
In addition, we must continue to partner with the public and private communities to ensure quality education for our students.
In closing, we need to continue to encourage the parents to stay engaged and to partner with RPS to ensure that we continue to build a world class educational system for all of our students.
