CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
What goals do you have for your time in office?
Improve Staff Morale
- Increase staff morale – end favoritism and nepotism hirings,
- Stop the mass exodus of new and senior teachers to surrounding districts or new careers. (30 percent staff turnover rate this year)
- Increase staff involvement in the hiring of school leadership
Increase Technical Education Awareness
- Develop new ways for our students to learn about our great technical education programs starting in middle school
- Provide equal access to our students in Callahan and Hilliard so they may travel back and forth and not lose instructional time in the classroom.
Smart Transparent Fiscal Responsibility
- Review the budget line by line
- Compare our district leadership positions with districts of similar size
- Freeze unnecessary job creations
- Establish a Community Budget Advisory Committee (voted down by current board)
- Vote no to millage rate increases because of poor money management.
Parent Rights
- Yes to parent review of library and curriculum materials
- No to any future mandates
What do you see as the biggest hurdle to quality education for kids in Nassau County?
To me, the biggest hurdle for our students is the focus on state assessments and college readiness. We are focusing on how to eliminate answers in question and not on solving real-world problems that pull in their learning from a variety of different concepts. Students in middle school who feel they will not be going to college need to see other avenues where they can be successful in life to keep them motivated through their remaining school years.
Nassau County has not been immune to the recent surge in teacher resignations. How will you work to address this issue?
Many will answer this question by saying they are leaving because of more pay. However, that is not the case. Our teachers and support staff work harder and beyond their contractual duties on an everyday basis. In 18 years in education, I have never seen staff work so hard than I did in my 2 years of working in NCSD. The teachers that are leaving are seasoned teachers, teachers who live in Nassau County, have children that are going to our schools. Working in the district you live in is very special, to leave all of that behind is not an easy decision and is not one made based on a few extra dollars. It is personal and we have to recognize that. I will address this by reviewing district hiring policy and review all recommended severances. We need to end the hiring of those in leadership positions who do not have the experience and expertise for the position. Favoritism and Nepotism with district leadership and school leadership among staff is very high, I will do what I can as a board member to end such practices and hold those accountable by having them answer questions in public.
“Don’t Say Gay” has taken effect. How will you support teachers and students through this controversial change?
I take offense to the wording of this question. Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill HB 1557 is about protecting our most vulnerable children who are a captive audience from sexual labeling and language. The bill reads, "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." I agree with this language of the bill. I believe at those ages we should respect the rights of parents to decide how they educate their children about those topics. As a board member it is very important to be up to date on district procedures to address the issues, let teachers know that we will not react without due diligence, and provide any training that is needed to our staff to keep them informed of current state policy.
What role do you think race and gender play in public education?
Race and Gender currently play a very big role in public education. We have had racial conflicts within our district this past year. I believe we need to make sure we are hiring qualified teachers and support staff of mixed backgrounds that represent our student body. Gender is playing a role only because of the current political mantra. Politics have no place in our schools. As a board member, it is our job to secure the safety of our students so they can be themselves without being intimidated or harmed (mentally and physically) to reach their maximum potential.
The Nassau County School District is already an A-rated district, placing second out of all the districts in Florida. How do you think it can improve?
Yes, we are ranked as an A-rated district, something we have achieved for the past decade and half. This is not something the current board or leadership has achieved. Our seasoned teachers and support staff (the ones that are leaving) have achieved this year after year. If we really want to improve we need to start comparing our district to national rankings and improve in areas that are not measured by state assessments.
What is your plan to address growing classroom sizes as more families move to Nassau County?
Classroom sizes are growing. We need to look at the impact fees on developers and work with the county commissioners to slow growth. The district is asking for a millage rate increase because they are in a big hole in the way they are using funds. If we don’t change the makeup of the board now, we will be in the same boat asking for another millage increase four years from now.
How will you support education support personnel such as bus drivers, food service workers and custodians?
I will be visible and available to all. I plan to be visible at school events across the district and available to listen to all staff. We need to validate and address staff concerns and stop waving them off. We need to support our staff and allow them to talk freely without fear of vindication.
Why do you think transparency is a key factor in how a school board operates?
To build trust with the school board and school leadership. Recently the board voted 4-1 to not establish a Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, which is active in other districts, even though discrepancies in the budget have been made aware of them during a board workshop meeting. Only one board member asked questions about the budget. The perception is they are hiding funds from their employees and stakeholders.
How will you ensure schools are safe places for kids?
Schools go through an annual safety inspection. It is the responsibility of district leadership to inform the board of the recommendations based off of the inspection. Currently, we have a safety concern at Bryceville Elementary that needs addressing with school opening days away. Working relationship with local Sheriff department(s) and proper training for our SRO(s), employees, students and also any substitute that works in our district.
CANDIDATE STATEMENT
Editor’s Note: Albert J. Wagner is running for School Board for Nassau County School, District 3. Wagner submitted the following for publication.
My name is Albert J. Wagner and I am running for District 3 School Board for Nassau County School District. I currently reside in Yulee with my beautiful wife and two daughters who are attending Yulee Middle School and Yulee Elementary respectfully.
I am running for school board because I believe that NCSD is slowly losing its bravado. What do I mean by that? Well, that is what my campaign is about.
1. Teacher/Staff Retention - We are currently sitting at 30% turnover this school year. We used to be a district where nobody left, we need to return back to being that district that maintains staff through respect and trust.
2. Fiscal Responsibility - We need to review our budget line by line before asking the county stakeholders for a tax. If we don't fix the actual problem with spending, then the district will be back in 4 years when that tax runs out asking for another tax increase.
3. Access for all our students to the great technical programs we have, but also advertising those programs to students in Middle School so they can start thinking about the programs they would be interested in.
I am Albert J. Wagner and I am running to be your voice from the Island to Hilliard and to find our bravado once again in being a district with high staff retention, fiscally responsible through accountability and transparency, and high student/parent satisfaction. Please vote for Albert J. Wagner for District 3 School Board.