.
School Safety: Parents want to know their children are safe when they send them to school. We need to look at what can we do now while other plans are still in the works. For example, one of the first of the year procedures should be educating the students. I believe one conversation that needs to happen in all classrooms at the beginning of the year is you don’t open a door for anyone. If someone needs in the building, they should either have their keys or can go through the front office. Children are genuinely trusting and if they see someone at a door wanting to get in, they will let them in. We need to educate them about this topic. Second, there are numerous devices that can be installed in each classroom to protect from an intruder. As of now, our protocol is lock the door with our keys. This poses numerous issues. It requires stepping out into the hall and you have to have a key. What if that classroom has a substitute for the day? These devices do not require teachers to open their door and they can be left in a secure location. Those devices would also work for gyms and lunchrooms. Teachers can include in their substitute lesson plans where this device is. Substitutes can be trained at the beginning of the year on these devices as well. Another project would be looking into replacing all external windows with more protective ones. SROs seem to be the best option. Security should be left to those trained in that area. I believe the recently proposed plan is a great start, but not a final solution. If we are able to go in the direction of SROs, we will have to work with the sheriff’s department to determine what their role will be. The hot topic is preventing and protecting from intruders, but what about everyday issues. We need to make sure everyone is aware of what exactly their role will be. If two SROs is going to be the number, I believe we continue to work with our local departments to discuss where to place them. In my opinion our most vulnerable are the elementary schools and those with the current slowest response time of surrounding officers. If SROs are expected to be involved in everyday issues as well then maybe the two high schools would be the best location for them. We also have to make sure we are addressing issues such as doors that don’t operate effectively and cameras that do not function. At the end of the day, school safety should always be at the forefront and continue to be evaluated.
School Construction: I was in the initial meeting for the construction projects for WBHS because I was the softball coach at the time. It involved central office employees, administrators, football, softball and band because the proposed projects were related to those extracurriculars. We were offered a covered facility behind the softball field that would act as practice field for football, batting cages for softball, and band practice field. We were concerned with how three activities were going to function in one facility. Another idea with that project was football would receive a turf field. We asked about maintaining the field and it was our understanding the board would only pay for the initial cost and not upkeep. Ultimately, those projects were rejected and an agreement was made on the current construction still underway. I don’t have an issue with using board money for athletic facilities, but I am concerned with the amount that is spent on athletics versus the maintenance of our schools. I believe there are other ways to upgrade athletic facilities. While I was softball coach, we did over $30,000 in renovation to the softball field. We worked with local businesses and parents to compete the projects. If those projects were contracted out, they would have cost hundreds of thousands. My platform has been about needs and wants. If a board member hadn’t spoken up at a board meeting, a local school was going to have to use their local school fund to repair their floors. How do we have millions to spend, but then ask our local schools to use their money for repairs? Our main focus should be maintaining our schools and addressing those needs and working with athletics to fulfill their needs as well.
Academics: Our county report card from the state has consistently been a C average. I believe the first need to be addressed is protecting instructional time. We need to do our best to limit the times we pull teachers away from their classrooms. We have great teachers, but they cannot be effective if they are not in the classroom. Another need is communication. We have to make sure we are providing teachers with the resources they need to help our students. District administrators need to look at what each school is excelling in and work to see if those strategies can be implemented in other schools. I am all about academic freedom, but if something isn’t working, we need to be willing to change if it’s for the benefit of the students. We also need to reach out to other school systems that are similar to ours, but achievement is higher. I’m all for collaborating with those schools to hopefully find new ways to help our students. We also have a growing group of students with dyslexia so believe we need to boost our knowledge of how to address the needs of those students as well. As for the career tech programs, the state allots school systems so many vocational positions. I am interested in seeing how we can possibly grow that program as well for students who may be interested in choosing career paths versus college. For students who have chosen college, I believe we need to reach out to those students to determine if we are preparing them to the best of our abilities and determine if there are areas we need to address for future college bound students.
Teacher Recruitment: We are losing teachers at a high rate in Bibb County. The majority aren’t retiring. They are leaving for other school systems. I believe there needs to be a conversation as to what is the issue. Teachers and other school personnel need to be brought to the table in these conversations. There needs to be constant communication between the central office and each school. For this to be effective, I believe district administrators need to be more visible in the schools. It shouldn’t just be done through emails, texts or phone calls. Administrators, teachers and other school personnel are the lifeblood of our schools. We should utilize their advice. We have to give people reasons to come to Bibb County instead of leave. As for new teachers, we need to partner with as many local universities as possible. That way we will be able to have more of a selection than just certain universities. We have to be proactive and reach out to teachers/coaches and not wait for them to come to us. Our students, athletes, parents and community deserve this effort.
What would you say about campaign and how’s it going? Campaigning has been one of the enjoyments of this journey. It’s been stressful, but it’s been good stress. I have been able to reach out to many groups that I didn’t have a relationship with before this started. I was familiar with Woodstock, West Blocton and Centreville areas, but meeting new people in Randolph, Lawley, Antioch, Brierfield, Brent, Ashby, Eoline, and Pondville areas has been a great experience. We have great people and great communities who want what is best for their schools.
Parent Engagement: Over the last two years, we have learned there are a lot of parents who want to be involved in their child’s school. Our school system needs to take advantage of this eagerness. Student success is tied to parent engagement in most cases. As student’s get older, we see a drop in engagement from both parents and students. I feel as students get older there should be more independence from students, but with the same level of parent engagement. Once again, communication is the key. We need to look at what elementary schools are doing that is so effective and adapt that process to the upper grades.
Sent from my iPhone
Related email communications:
> wrote:
Mr. Daniel,
> wrote:
We can do that. No questions have been written yet but if the candidates agree we will get them prepared in advance of the forum.
Will we be given the questions in advance?
Thanks,
Kevin Cotner
We are inviting you to participate. If you participate the interviewer will be myself or David Daniel.
The possible dates are Monday June 13 or Wednesday June 15 between 3-5 p.m.
I can be reached at the cell phone number below or leave a message at the press office. I would call you but I do not have your number.
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2022
June
16
Daily Archives: June 16, 2022
Superintendent Candidate, Kevin Cotner Responds to Forum Questions
David Daniel
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June 16, 2022
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